Body part idioms

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Idioms related to body parts

간 (liver)

  • 간이 콩알만 해 지다. (be scared stiff, be terrified/I cringed and got sick to my stomach./I was walking alone last night and the cat came out of nowhere, I got the fright of my life!)
  • 간이 배 밖에 나왔다 -
  • 간에 기별도 안가다 - barely begin to satisfy one's hunger
  • 간에 붙었다 쓸개에 붙었다 하다 - be fickle
  • 간을 녹이다 - charm; fascinate; bewitch
  • 간이 뒤집히다 - to rebuke someone for laughing without reason
  • 간이 떨어지다 - to be suddenly surprised
  • 간이 붓다 - to be uppity
  • 간이 작은 - timid; faint-hearted
  • 간이 철렁하다 - be shocked
  • 간이 콩알만해지다 - to be frightened out of one's wits
  • 간이 타다 - be anxious (for) / pine
  • 간(을) 졸이다 - to worry oneself
  • 간(이) 크다 - be plucky, courageous


가랑이 (crotch)

  • 가랑이가 찢어지게 가난하다 - to suffer from extreme poverty

가슴 (chest)

  • 가슴에 맺히다 - to have vengence of fear knotting up inside you
  • 가슴에 못을 박다 - to be hurt emotionally
  • 가슴을 치다 - feel frustration; feel wronged
  • 가슴을 태우다 - be very anxious
  • 가슴이 내려앉다 - be greatly surprised; be startled
  • 가슴이 덜컹하다 - be suddenly surprised or shocked
  • 가슴이 미어지다 - be stricken with grief, pain, sadness, or emotion
  • 가슴이 부풀다 - be buoyant (with)
  • 가슴이 뿌듯하다 - be full of excitement and emotion
  • 가슴이 아프다 - be hearted-broken
  • 가슴이 찢어지다 - be heart-broken
  • 가슴이 철렁하다 - be suddenly surprised or shocked
  • 가슴이 후련하다 - feel relieved

간담 (liver & gall bladder)

  • 간담이 떨어지다 very surprised
  • 간담이 서늘하다 be suddenly frightened

귀 (ear)

  • 귀가 가렵다 to have a feeling someone is talking about you
  • 귀가 따갑다 to be sick of hearing (something); an earache
  • 귀가 먹다 to lose one's hearing; to be deaf
  • 귀가 밝다 to be sharp eared
  • 귀가 번쩍 뜨이다 to come to one's attention; to catch on
  • 귀가 설다 be unfamiliar to one's ears
  • 귀가 솔깃한 welcome to the ears; tempting to the ears
  • 귀가 어둡다 to be hard of hearing; to not be catch up on the news
  • 귀가 여리다 to be easily fooled or seduced by other's words
  • 귀가 얇다 to be easily fooled or seduced by other's words
  • 귀가 울리다 to have a ringing in one's ears
  • 귀가 절벽이다 to be stone deaf; to be out of touch with the world
  • 귀가 질기다 to be mentally slow and have a hard time understanding people
  • 귀를 기울이다 strain one's ears to hear
  • 귀를 뜨다 to begin to discern sound (as with a baby)
  • 귀를 의심하다 to (hear something that makes you) not believe your ears
  • 귀를 주다 to overhear someone
  • 귀 빠진 날 one's birthday
  • 귀에 거슬리다 to be harsh on the ears; grating
  • 귀에 거칠다 to be disagreeable to hear; offensive
  • 귀에 들어가다 to hear about (something)
  • 귀에 못이 박히다 to be tired of hearing (something)
  • 귀에 설다 to be unfamiliar to one's ears
  • 귀에 익다 to be familiar to one's ears
  • 귀청이 떨어지다 to be so loud that it hurts the ears
  • 귓가로 듣다 to listen without paying attention
  • 귓등으로 듣다 to pretend to be listening
  • 귓구멍이 넓다 to readily believe what people say
  • 귓문이 넓다 to readily believe what people say
  • 귓전으로 듣다 to half-way listen to someone


꼬리 (tail)

  • 꼬리가 길다 "Were you born in a barn?" (Used when someone forgets to close a door.)
  • 꼬리를 감추다 cover one's tracks; hide oneself
  • 꼬리를 달다 make an additional comment in support of something; attach a condition to something
  • 꼬리를 물다 continue one after another; in rapid succession
  • 꼬리를 사리다 to shrink from danger; to shrink back in fear
  • 꼬리를 밟히다 give a clue to (police); be traced by
  • 꼬리를 잇다 continue one after another
  • 꼬리를 잡다 discover the hidden mistakes of another
  • 꼬리를 치다/흔들다 (a girl tries to) seduce or entice (a man); flatter or butter up a person
  • 쥐꼬리 - is a rat's tail and used for things that are really small, usually used in conjunction with the grammar 만 한.
    • 쥐꼬리만 한 월급 - a really small salary, getting paid peanuts.
    • 쥐꼬리만 한 돈 - a really small amount of money, chicken feed.

낯 (face)

낯 means face, although 얼굴 is a lot more commonly used.

  • 낯을 못 들다 be ashamed of oneself; cannot hold one's head up
  • 낯이 깎이다 lose (one's) dignity
    • (너을 볼) 낯이 없다 I am too ashamed (to face you.)
  • 낯가죽 (the skin of the face)
    • 낯가죽이 두껍다 be brazen-faced

눈 (eye)

  • 눈이 높다 - to have high standards, be picky
  • 눈에 쌍심지를 켜다 - ?
  • 눈에서 멀어지면 마음에서도 멀어진다 - out of sight, out of mind
  • 눈도 깜짝 안 한다 to not bat an eyelid
  • 눈뜨고 볼 수 없다 disgusting; shocking
  • 눈먼 돈 an unexpected windfall; receive money unexpectedly
  • 눈밖에 나다 to be out of favor with someone
  • 눈에 거슬리다 to be offensive to the eye; be unpardonable
  • 눈에 넣어도 아프지 않다 be the apple of one's eye
  • 눈에 들다 to be in a person's favor
  • 눈에 띄다 to come in sight
  • 눈에 밟히다 to haunt one's memory
  • 눈에 불을 켜다 to be angry
  • 눈에 불이 나다 to become very angry
  • 눈에서 번개가 번쩍 나다 to see stars (when struck on the head)
  • 눈에 선하다 to have an object or an event flash back into your memory
  • 눈에 설다 to be unfamilar to you
  • 눈에 쌍심지를 켜다 to glare with anger
  • 눈에 어리다 to remain a vivid image in one's memory
  • 눈에 익다 to be familar
  • 눈에 차다 to see something you like
  • 눈에 헛거미가 잡히다 to have your eyes get fuzzy from hunger
  • 눈에 흙이 들어가다 to die
  • 눈썰미가 있다 to have a quick eye for learning things

눈썹 (eyebrow)

  • 눈썹도 까딱하지 않다 to remain unperturbed
  • 눈길을 끌다 to catch one's eye; to attract one's attention
  • 눈을 돌리다 to turn one's attention to
  • 눈을 딱 감다 to stop worrying (thinking) about something
  • 눈을 떼다 to take one's eyes off of something
  • 눈을 맞추다 to make eye contact with someone
  • 눈을 부라리다 to glare upon; to look fiercely at
  • 눈을 붙이다 to fall asleep
  • 눈을 속이다 to trick someone with slight of hand
  • 눈을 의심하다 to watch in disbelief.
  • 눈을 주다 to look toward someone; to signal someone with one's eyes
  • 눈을 피하다 to avoid another's observation
  • 눈을 흘기다 to look at someone sideways
  • 눈이 가다 to have one's eyes drawn to something or someone
  • 눈 깜짝할 사이 happen in the blink of an eye
  • 눈이 꺼지다 to be hallow-eyed
  • 눈이 높다 to have high ambitions; to have a discerning eye
  • 눈이 뒤집히다 to lose one's sober judgment; to run wild
  • 눈이 등잔만하다 to look with round-eyed wonder
  • 눈이 맞다 fall in love
  • 눈이 미치는 한 as far as the eye can see
  • 눈이 빠지게〔빠지도록〕 기다리다 to wait anxiously
  • 눈이 삐었지? Is something wrong with eyes (judgment)?
  • 눈이 어둡다 to have bad eyesight
  • 눈이 흐리다 to see something unclearly

다리 (leg)

  • 다리를 뻗고 자다 to sleep or live one's life with a clean conscience

등 (back)

  • 등을 대다 to rely or depend on someone else's power or influence
  • 등을 돌리다 to turn one's back on (someone)

마음 (mind, heart, spirit)

  • 마음에 두다 bare in mind; be mindful of
  • 마음에 들다 to like something
  • 마음에 새기다 take to heart
  • 마음에 짚이다 to suspect
  • 마음은 굴뚝 같다 be eager to
  • 마음을 고쳐먹다 reform onself; turn over a new leaf
  • 마음을 놓다 put one's mind at ease; relax
  • 마음을 먹다 make up one's mind; be determined
  • 마음을 붙이다 resolve to (do something)
  • 마음을 사다 have an interest in
  • 마음을 쓰다 concentrate on; pay attention to; mind
  • 마음을 열다 open up and speak freely to someone
  • 마음을 잡다 recover one's composure; get a grip on oneself
  • 마음을 졸이다 be anxious about; be uneasy about
  • 마음이 끌리다 be attracted by; take an interest in
  • 마음이 내키다 feel inclined to (do); feel like (doing)
  • 마음이 달다 be very worried about
  • 마음이 든든하다 feel secure; be reassuring
  • 마음이 들뜨다 feel excited; be in a buoyant spirit
  • 마음이 맞다 get along well with; hit it off
  • 마음이 쓰이다 be worried about
  • 마음이 죄이다 feel anxious; feel uneasy about
  • 마음이 커지다 be emboldened
  • 큰 마음 먹다 be generous; finally make a difficult decision

머리 (head, hair)

  • 머리가 나쁘다 - to be stupid
  • 머리하다 do one's hair
  • 머리가 가볍다 to feel refreshed and light
  • 머리가 굳다 to be ingrained (in someone's head); to be dimwitted
  • 머리가 굵다 to become an adult
  • 머리가 돌다 to go insane
  • 머리가 돌아가다 to be a quick thinker
  • 머리가 무겁다 to be in a bad mood; to feel heavy headed
  • 머리가 수그러지다 to take off one's hat to; to admire (someone)
  • 머리가 젖다 to be influenced by
  • 머리가 크다 to become an adult
  • 머리(를) 굽히다 to surrender
  • 머리(를) 깎다 to become a monk; to go to prison
  • 머리(를) 내밀다 to make one's existence known
  • 머리(를) 들다 to make one's views or objective known
  • 머리(를) 모으다 to put one's heads together
  • 머리(를) 숙이다 to show respect and admiration for (someone)
  • 머리(를) 식히다 to cool off
  • 머리(를) 싸매고 to tie a cloth around one's head; to commit to (something)
  • 머리(를) 썩이다 to worry about
  • 머리(를) 쓰다 to think; to view a matter from every angle
  • 머리(를) 얹다 to get married; to lose one's virginity
  • 머리에 들어가다 to understand or remember something
  • 머리(를) 짜다 to rack one's brains; to think hard
  • 머리(를) 풀다 to lose one's parents
  • 머리(를) 흔들다 to refuse; to deny

무릎 (knee)

  • 무릎(을) 꿇다 to submit or surrender
  • 무릎(을) 치다 to slap one's knee in surprise or glee

목 (neck or throat)

목에 핏대를 세우다 to get angry; to get excited 목에 힘을 주다 to act arrogant 목을 베다 to be fired 목을 자르다 to be fired 목을 축이다 to quench one's thirst 목이 곧다 to be stubborn or unyielding 목이 달아나다/떨어지다 to be fired 목이 메어 울다 to be choked with tears 목이 붙어 있다 to still be alive (or employed) 목이 빠지도록 기다리다 to wait anxiously for (someone) 목이 잠기다 to become hoarse 목이 타다 to feel very thirsty

몸 (body)

  • 몸과 마음을 다 바치다 put one's heart and soul into one's work
  • 몸 둘 바를 모르다 not know how to conduct oneself
  • 몸에 배다 get used to something
  • 몸을 두다 to live in a certain place
  • 몸을 망치다 shatter one's constitution; injure one's health
  • 몸을 받다 have an inferior do a difficult job or task in one's place
  • 몸을 바치다 to sacrifice one's life for a cause
  • 몸을 버리다 hurt one's health
  • 몸을 붙이다 to live in a certain place
  • 몸을 사리다 avoid exerting too much physical effort in a job
  • 몸을 쓰다 be physically active
  • 몸을 아끼다 avoid work or hardship
  • 몸이 달다 be anxious and nervous
  • 몸이 부서지도록 일하다 work oneself to the bone

발 (foot)

  • 발에 채다 to be scattered in abundance at one's feet
  • 발을 구르다 stamp one's feet with annoyance or chagrin
  • 발을 끊다 to end relations with (someone); to stop visiting (somewhere)
  • 발을 벗고 나서다 to actively participate in (something)
  • 발을 빼다 to wash one's hands of (an affair); sever connections
  • 발을 뻗고 자다 to feel peace of mind
  • 발이 길다 to arrive just in time for a treat
  • 발이 넓다 to know a lot of people; to get around
  • 발 디딜 틈도 없다 to be crowded with people
  • 발이 맞다 to be in step; to fall in step
  • 발이 묶이다 to be stranded without transport
  • 발이 떨어지지 않다 be unable to leave because of an attraction for the place or people
  • 손이 발이 되도록 빌다 to beg or pray so imploringly that you use both your hands and feet

발목 (ankle)

  • 발목(을) 잡히다 to be busy with (work); tied to a job

발바닥 (the sole of the foot)

  • 발바닥에 흙 안 묻히고 살다 to live a quiet and comfortable life

배 (belly)

  • 배를 채우다 to satisfy one's appetite for material goods
  • 배가 아프다 to feel intense jealousy
  • 배를 앓다 to feel intense jealousy
  • 배를 튕기다 to brazenly ignore someone's requests

볼 (cheek)

  • 볼(이) 붓다 to show an angry expression

뼈 (bone)

  • 뼈도 못 추리다 to boast that one will completely destroy an opponent
  • 뼈를 깎다 to feel unbearable pain (about something)
  • 뼈만 남다 to be skin and bones
  • 뼈만 앙상하다 to be skin and bones
  • 뼈에 사무치다 to have a deep, buring pain or grudge

살 (skin, fat)

  • 살로 가다 What one eats goes to fat.
  • 살을 붙이다 give body or shape to something, like a novel or a sculpture
  • 살을 섞다 have sex; live a married life; cohabit
  • 살을 에다 pain, sadness, or hardship (as from the cold) so intense that it "cuts at the flesh"
  • 살이 깊다 have thick skin; fleshy
  • 살이 내리다 become thinner; lose weight
  • 살이 두껍다 have thick skin; fleshy
  • 살이 빠지다 become thinner; lose weight
  • 살이 오르다/붙다 become fatter; put on weight

불알 (testical)

  • 불알 친구 - this means a really close friend. (origin?)


속 (one's insides, one's heart)

  • 속을 긁다 hurt a person's feelings, offend (a person)
  • 속을 끓이다 to worry about (something); be frustrated
  • 속을 떠보다 guess a person's mind or feelings
  • 속을 뽑다 sound out a person's views
  • 속을 썩이다 be bothered by a bad outcome or situation
  • 속을 주다 take a person into one's confidence
  • 속을 차리다 behave responsibly
  • 속을 태우다 worry oneself (about)
  • 속이 달다 be anxious or eager; be impatient
  • 속이 뒤집히다 feel nauseous
  • 속이 보이다 be transparent; easy to see through
  • 속이 살다 look calm on the outside, but be defiant on the inside
  • 속이 상하다 be distressed; be unhappy; feel depressed
  • 속이 시원하다 a refreshing feeling; feel relieved
  • 속이 썩다 be very troubled
  • 속이 앉다 the inside of cabbage develops
  • 속이 타다 be distressed (about); be nervous
  • 속이 트이다 be broadminded and open
  • 속이 풀리다 to calm down after being angry


손 (hand)

  • 손바닥 보듯이 알다 - know something like the back of your hand. However the Korean version is actually says like the palm instead of the back of the hand. In many Asian cultures, people know their palms because the common belief that there's information of one's life in their palms, i.e. the length of the lines on one's palms shows how long a person will live.
  • 손에 걸리다 to catch with one's hand
  • 손에 넣다 to get; to gain possession of
  • 손에 달리다 an outcome rests in someone else's hands
  • 손에 땀을 쥐다 to be in breathless suspense or with suppressed excitement
  • 손에 떨어지다 to have power or authority fall in one's hands
  • 손에 붙다 to get good at something
  • 손에 익다 to get used to doing something
  • 손에 잡히지 않다 be in no mood to work
  • 손에 쥐다 to gain possession of something
  • 손을 거치다 to pass through someone's hands; to go through an intermediary
  • 손을 끊다 sever one's connections with; cease to deal with
  • 손을 나누다 to seperate from someone.
  • 손을 넘기다 skip numbers when counting; miscalculate
  • 손을 내밀다 to ask to receive something
  • 손을 떼다 to quit a job
  • 손을 멈추다 to pause in one's work
  • 손을 붙이다 be begin; set one's hand to
  • 손을 벌리다 to irritatingly demand something (like money)
  • 손을 보다 show one's anger by using violence against somene
  • 손이 비다 have no work to do; be at leisure
  • 손을 빌리다 ask for help on a job
  • 손을 빼다 to quit a job before it is finished
  • 손을 뻗치다 to try a new line of work; to expand one's power or influence
  • 손을 씻다 to disassociate oneself from some questionable act or job
  • 손을 젓다 to turn down a request or to deny something
  • 손을 주다 use a stake to support a plant or vine
  • 손을 타다 have (one's rice) stolen little by little
  • 손을 털다 to lose all of one's investiment
  • 손이 거칠다 to be inclined to steal
  • 손이 곱다 have numb hands (fingers)
  • 손이 나다 to get a short break from work
  • 손이 놀다 to be at leisure
  • 손이 달리다 be short-handed; be undermanned
  • 손이 떨어지다 to be finished with a job
  • 손이 뜨다 to be a slow worker
  • 손이 많이 가다 require much work; be troublesome
  • 손이 맑다 be unlucky and have nothing; be stingy
  • 손이 맞다 be in cahoots with (someone)
  • 손이 맵다 to have a stinging hand (when hitting someone)
  • 손이 모자라다/부족하다 be short-handed; be undermanned
  • 손이 서투르다 be clumsy with one's hands; unskillful
  • 손이 설다 to be clumsy with one's hands; unskillful
  • 손이 싸다 to be quick-handed
  • 손이 미치다 to be within one's power or influence
  • 손이 작다 to have few options; to have few resources
  • 손이 잠기다 be busy; have one's hands full
  • 손이 크다 generous; open-handed; resourceful

손목 (wrist)

  • 손목을 잡고 말리다 to stop someone from doing something

손톱 (fingernail)

  • 손톱도 안 들어가다 to be firm and stingy
  • 손톱만큼도 not even the slightest ...
  • 손톱 여물을 썬다 to deal with a difficult situation on one's own
  • 손톱을 튀기다 to not work and only seek to enjoy oneself
  • 손톱 하나 까딱하지 않는다 to not lift a finger to help with work

쓸개 (gallbladder)

  • 간에 붙었다가 쓸개에 붙었다가 한다.

심장 (heart)

  • 심장이 강하다 to be pushy and strong-willed
  • 심장이 약하다 to be timid and weak-willed

어깨 (shoulder)

  • 어깨가 가벼워지다 be relieved of one's burden (responsibility)
  • 어깨가 무겁다 bear a heavy responsibility; be burdensome
  • 어깨가 움츠러들다 to shrink back in shame or embarrassment
  • 어깨가 으쓱거리다 to feel righteous and proud
  • 어깨가 처지다 one's shoulders drop
  • 어깨로 숨을 쉬다 breathe hard; pant
  • 어깨를 겨누다/겨루다 rank with another; can compare with another
  • 어깨를 나란히 하다 stand shoulder to shoulder; stay side by side
  • 어깨를 으쓱거리다 square one's shoulders
  • 어깨를 짓누르다 to feel strong pressure from duty, reponsibility, or restrictions

얼굴 (face)

  • 얼굴에 똥칠을 하다 cause someone to lose face; shame a person
  • 얼굴에 먹칠을 하다 cause someone to lose face; shame a person
  • 얼굴에 철판을 깔다 be brazen-faced
  • 얼굴을 고치다 fix one's makeup
  • 얼굴을 깎다 cause someone to lose face; shame a person
  • 얼굴을 내밀다 make an appearance: show oneself
  • 얼굴을 붉히다 to turn red in the face from embarrassment or rage
  • 얼굴을 하다 to show some facial expression
  • 얼굴이 깍이다 lose face; lose one's honor
  • 얼굴이 두껍다 bold self-assurance
  • 얼굴이 뜨겁다 to feel embarrassment
  • 얼굴이 반반하다 have regular (facial) features
  • 얼굴이 반쪽이 되다 look very haggard from sickness or pain
  • 어굴이 서다 save one's face
  • 얼굴이 팔리다 become famous or well-known
  • 얼굴이 피다 have a full, healthy-looking face

엉덩이 (the buttocks)

  • 엉덩이가 가볍다 do not stay long in one place; change jobs frequently
  • 엉덩이가 근질근질하다 be restless; fidgety
  • 엉덩이가 무겁다 be lazy; be indolent
  • 엉덩이를 붙이다 to sit down
  • 엉덩방아(를) 찧다 to fall on one's butt

이 (teeth)

  • 이가 갈리다 get angry about something
  • 이가 맞다 to be a perfect fit or match
  • 이가 빠지다 a piece chips off the edge of a dish or knife
  • 이를 갈다 lose one's baby teeth; grind one's teeth in anger
  • 이를 악물다 clench one's teeth with determination or strained patience

입 (mouth)

  • 입이 가볍다 - not good at keeping secrets, can't keep their mouth shut. literally means your lips are light.
  • 입이 무겁다 - tight lipped, good at keeping secrets, holding your tongue. Literally means your lips are heavy.
  • 입이 열 개라도 할 말이없다 - no words can justify my actions. Literally means even if I have ten mouths, I would have nothing to say.
  • 입만 살다 be all talk and no deed; be bold in word only
  • 입만 아프다 to talk in vain
  • 입 밖에 내다 speak of; mention
  • 입에 거미줄 치다 lose one's means of living
  • 입에 담다 speak of; mention
  • 입에 대다 taste; touch; eat
  • 입에 맞는 떡 an agreeable food or thing
  • 입에 맞다 suit one's taste or palate
  • 입에 발린 소리 lip service
  • 입에서 신물이 난다 be fed up with
  • 입에서 젖내가 난다 be babyish; be green
  • 입에 오르내리다 be the talk of the town
  • 입에 오르다 be the talk of the town
  • 입에 올리다 speak of; mention
  • 입에 침이 마르도록 speak highly of someone
  • 입에 풀칠을 하다 make one's living; win one's daily bread
  • 입을 놀리다 talk at random
  • 입을 다물다 keep silent
  • 입을 딱 벌리다 one's mouth drops in shock or amazement
  • 입을 떼다 begin to talk; break the silence; broach a subject
  • 입을 막다 silence a person
  • 입을 맞추다 kiss
  • 입을 모으다 a group of people all speak with one voice
  • 입을 씻기다 pay hush money; buy a person's silence
  • 입을 씻다 feign innocence
  • 입을 열다 tell; confess; disclose a secret
  • 입이 걸걸하다 be foulmouthed
  • 입이 고급이다 be a discriminating eater
  • 입이 궁금하다 desire to eat something
  • 입이 근질근질하다 be anxious to tell people about something you know
  • 입이 까다롭다 - ?
  • 입이 닳도록 over and over again
  • 입이 더럽다 be abusive; swear at
  • 입이 되다 try to eat only good-tasting food
  • 입이 떨어지다 to talk (usually used with negative verbs and adverbs)
  • 입이 뜨다 be silent or taciturn
  • 입이 많다 have a big family to feed
  • 입이 바르다 be frank; be outspoken
  • 입이 빠르다 one who spreads rumors
  • 입이 벌어지다 be in openmouthed amazement
  • 입이 싸다 be talkative; be loose-lipped
  • 입이 쓰다 be bitter, displeased, or unhappy
  • 입이 짧다 have a small appetite

젖 (breast)

  • 젖 떨어진 강아지 같다 fret or whine (like a puppy that has lost its mom's teat)
  • 젖 먹던 힘이 다 든다 to require a great deal of effort
  • 젖을 떼다 to wean a child
  • 젖이 지다 mother's milk seeping from swollen breasts

코 (nose)

  • 코가 꿰이다 be restricted or hindered by something or someone
  • 코가 납작해지다 be shamed by someone; lose one's nerve
  • 코가 높다 to put on airs; to act proud
  • 코가 석자 to be in way over one's head
  • 코를 골다 to snore
  • 코를 맞대다 to be nose-to-nose with someone
  • 코를 찌르다 to be offensive to one's nose
  • 코 먹은 소리 to speak through one's nose; to nazalize
  • 코 묻은 돈 used to make fun of the pocket change kids carry around
  • 코가 빠지다 to lose one's nerve or spirit
  • 코에 걸다 to brag about something
  • 코를 풀다 to blow one's nose
  • 코앞에 닥치다 be close at hand; be imminent

콧구멍 (a nostril)

  • 콧구멍만하다 a very small hole or something with a very small width

콧대 (the bridge or ridge of the nose)

  • 콧대가 높다 put on airs; to be puffed up with pride
  • 콧대가 세다 to be stubborn and ignore what others say
  • 콧대를 꺾다 put a person in his or her place; knock a person down a peg
  • 콧대를 세우다 act arrogant and conceited

탯줄 (umbilical cord)

  • 탯줄 잡듯 하다 hold very tight

팔 (arm)

  • 팔을 걷고 나서다 to enthusiastically take on a job

허리 (waist)

  • 허리가 꼿꼿하다 be unusually fit for one's age
  • 허리가 부러지다 be in a difficult to manage or a physically challenging situation
  • 허리가 휘다 be physically challenged by excessive labor or life's hardships
  • 허리를 굽히다 bow; show humility; show submission to a person
  • 허리를 못 펴다 be intimidated by someone
  • 허리를 잡다 to fall over laughing
  • 허리를 쥐고 웃다 to fall over laughing
  • 허리를 펴다 overcome personal economic hardships

혀 (tongue)

  • 혀가 꼬이다 - Literally means one's tongue is tangled. Can be used for when one is speaking too fast, tongue twitters or even when one slurs when drunk.
  • 혀가 잘 안 돌아가다 to be uneloguent in speech; mispronounce (a foreign language)
  • 혀가 잘 돌아가다 have a glib tongue; talk a lot; be eloguent in speech
  • 혀가 짧다 to stutter or not pronounce clearly
  • 혀가 꼬부라지다 be have slurred speech because of drink or sickness
  • 혀를 굴리다 make a slip of the tongue; blurt out; trill (the "r")
  • 혀를 내두르다 to be dumbstruck
  • 혀를 내밀다 make fun of someone behind their back; a gesture done to hide one's embarrassment
  • 혀를 놀리다 make a slip of the tongue; blurt out
  • 혀를 차다 click one's tongue, usually in disapproval

See also