This is a very interesting area in language. Body parts can be used metaphorically in language to refer to different things, and, usually, these metaphorical uses are not to learners of a language, so can you mention some examples from your languages? I’ll give you some examples from Arabic, so that you will be able to form a better idea:
In Arabic we have a couple of metaphorical expressions in which we use the word ‘head’ to express several ideas. For example, if we say اكلت راسي [ʔakalt ra:si:] (you ate my head) this would mean that you are too annoying, or that you’ve been asking more questions that I can handle and I need you to stop. In English there is an expression which is similar, but can’t be considered equivalent 100% because it has different usages and this expression is bite someone's head off.
In English, they would use ‘in cold blood’ to mean doing something without feeling or with cruel intent (Frequently said of a crime, especially murder.)
In Arabic, on the other hand, we use ببرود أعصاب (in cold nerves) to express the same meaning. Now that the idea is a bit clearer, can you please tell me some of the expressions you have in your languages related to body parts with translation or gloss in English.
"My eyes got out" طلعت عيوني
"His head got bigger" كبر راسه
"you fell out from my eyes" سقطوا من عيوني
"My gallbladder has exploded" فقعت مرارتي
"You've broken my heart" كسرت قلبي
"you sit on the core of my heart" متربع وسط قلبي
"wipe it out on my face" امسحها بوجهي
@Wafa: you made me laugh;)
@Su.ki.: we also say "you raised my blood pressure": رفعت ضغطي, when someone makes us angry O_o
I believe Arabic language is full of examples(,")
I guess the English expression: "Break a leg" applies in this case as well and it's used to wish someone good luck :)
As I'm learning English language, I have to memorize some expressions to give my language a sense of a native speaker. Here are some expressions I like.
have a frog in your throat
to have difficulty in speaking because your throat feels dry and you want to cough.
have egg on your face
You have egg on your face if you've said or done something wrong, and it's made you feel embarrassed or stupid.
have a chip on your shoulder
to blame other people for something bad that has happened to you and continue to feel angry about it
For example,She’s always had a real chip on her shoulder because she didn’t go to university.
a weight off your shoulders
You can say a weight is off your shoulders if you no longer have to worry about something or deal with something difficult.
easy on the eye
If something is easy on the eye, it is pleasant to look at.
grease someone's palm
If you grease someone's palm, you pay them a bribe
pay through the nose
If you pay through the nose for something, you pay more than the usual price for it.
tongue-in-cheek.
describes something that is meant to be understood as a joke, although it might appear to be serious.
I'm keeping my eye on you (watching you, incase you have done something wrong, or if you are not well someone will keep their eye on you to look after you)
Keep your hair on (someone is annoyed, so someone else says keep your hair on - do not be angry)
A hair-raising experience (a scary experience)
Keep your nose out of it (stop being nosey - stop caring about other people's business)
Can I give you a hand with that? (can I help you with that?)
To jump down somebody's throat (similar to biting someone's head off).
To get cold feet (with withdraw from something you had agreed to, often out of fear)
To have your heart in your mouth (to be terrified).
To put your foot in your mouth (to say the wrong thing, or something you wish you hadn't)
To give somebody the cold shoulder (to refuse to speak to them, or to shun them).
Itchy feet (to be anxious to get away, for example to travel).
