Ants in one’s pants People who have ants in their pants are very restless or excited about
something
“I wish he’d relax. He’s got ants in his pants about something today!”
Bare your heart (or soul) to someone If you bare your heart or soul to someone, you reveal your innermost
thoughts and feelings to them.
“John couldn’t keep things to himself any longer. He decided to bare
his soul to his best friend.”
Bear the brunt (of something) A person who bears the brunt of something is the one who suffers the
most when something bad or unpleasant happens.
“When things go wrong, his assistant always has to bear the brunt of
his anger.”
Bent out of shape If you get bent out of shape, you become very annoyed or upset
about something that is usually not that important or cannot be
avoided.
“Don’t get bent out of shape if you’re delayed. We’ll wait for you.”
Beside yourself (with an emotion) If you are beside yourself (with an emotion), you lose your self-control
because of the intensity of the emotion you are feeling.
“He was beside himself with grief when he lost his son.”
Carry the torch If you carry the torch, you have strong feelings for someone with whom
you do not or cannot have a relationship..
“He’s been carrying the torch for Julie since their college days, before she
married Ted.”
Wouldn’t be caught/seen dead If someone says that they wouldn’t be caught or seen dead in a
particular place or doing something, they mean that they would be
too ashamed or embarrassed.
“My seven-year-old son thinks he’s a big boy; he wouldn’t be caught
dead holding my hand!”
Cause a stir If something causes a stir, it creates an atmosphere of excitement
or great interest.
“The arrival of the actress caused quite a stir in the village.”
Wouldn’t be caught/seen dead If someone says that they wouldn’t be caught or seen dead in a
particular place or doing something, they mean that they would be
too ashamed or embarrassed.
“My seven-year-old son thinks he’s a big boy; he wouldn’t be caught
dead holding my hand!”
Cheesed off If someone is cheesed off with something, they are annoyed, bored
or frustrated.
“Julie is absolutely cheesed off with her job.
A chip on your shoulder If someone has a chip on their shoulder, they feel resentful because
they feel they are being treated unfairly, especially because of
their background, their sex or their colour
. Close to home If a remark or comment is close to home, it is so true, or it affects you
so directly, that you feel uncomfortable.
“Alan looks embarrassed. Bob’s comment must have been close to home!”
Come apart at the seams To say that someone is coming apart at the seams means that they are
extremely upset or under severe mental stress.
“Bob has had so many problems lately, he’s coming apart at the seams.”
Cork something up If you cork something up (feelings, emotions), you fail to show or
express them.
“It would be better for her if she showed her grief and didn’t cork up her
feelings.
” Cut to the quick If you cut someone to the quick, you hurt their feelings or offend
them deeply.
“Alan was cut to the quick when Jack expressed doubts about his
sincerity.”
