British English

neck

I. neck¹ S2 W2 /nek/ BrE AmE noun
[Language: Old English; Origin: hnecca]
1. PART OF THE BODY [countable] the part of your body that joins your head to your shoulders, or the same part of an animal or bird
around sb’s neck
Jean wore a string of pearls around her neck.
Mike rubbed the back of his neck.
You have a lot of tension in your neck muscles.
He patted his horse’s neck.
She had a mass of golden hair, which she wore in a coil at the nape (=back) of her neck.
The dog picked up the puppy and carried it by the scruff (=back) of the neck into the house.
2. CLOTHING [countable] the part of a piece of clothing that goes around your neck
neck of
The neck of his shirt was open.
The sweater has a round neck and long sleeves.
V-necked/open-necked etc
a navy V-necked sweater ⇨ ↑crew neck, ↑polo neck, ↑scoop neck, ↑turtleneck, ↑V-neck
3. NARROW PART [countable] the narrow part of something, usually at the top
neck of
Lara put the cork back in the neck of the bottle.
a crack in the neck of the violin
4. be up to your neck in something
a) to be very busy with something:
She’s up to her neck in work.
b) to be in a difficult situation that is hard to escape from:
Jim’s up to his neck in debt.
5. neck and neck (with somebody) informal if two competitors or groups are neck and neck in a competition or race, they are level with each other:
Opinion polls show the two main parties are running neck and neck.
6. in this/sb’s neck of the woods informal in a particular area or part of the country:
I haven’t been in this neck of the woods for years.
7. get it in the neck British English spoken to be punished or criticized:
If we don’t make some changes we’ll all get it in the neck.
8. by a neck informal if a race, especially a horse race, is won by a neck, the winner is only a very short distance in front:
Our horse won by a neck.
9. ATTITUDE [uncountable] (also brass neck) British English informal a confident attitude that makes you able to do unreasonable or shocking things without feeling embarrassed SYN nerve, cheek:
I don't know how they have the neck to charge that much!
10. LAND [countable] a narrow piece of land that comes out of a wider part:
a neck of land between a lake and the sea
11. (hang) around your neck if something hangs around your neck, it keeps causing you problems ⇨ be breathing down sb’s neck at ↑breathe(5), ⇨ I’ll wring sb’s neck at ↑wring(6), ⇨ pain in the neck at ↑pain¹(3), ⇨ risk your neck at ↑risk²(1), ⇨ save sb’s neck at ↑save¹(11), ⇨ stick your neck out at ↑stick out(3)

ankle

an‧kle /ˈæŋkəl/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Language: Old English; Origin: ancleow]
1. the joint between your foot and your leg
break/twist/sprain your ankle
Janet slipped on the stairs and twisted her ankle.
slender ankles
2. ankle socks/boots socks or boots that only come up to your ankle
 

knee

I. knee¹ S2 W2 /niː/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Language: Old English; Origin: cneow]
1. the joint that bends in the middle of your leg:
Lucy had a bandage round her knee.
on your knees
She was on her knees (=kneeling), weeding the garden.
sink/fall/drop to your knees (=move so that you are kneeling)
Tim fell to his knees and started to pray.
a knee injury
2. the part of your clothes that covers your knee:
His jeans had holes in both knees.
3. on sb’s knee on the top part of your legs when you are sitting down:
Daddy, can I sit on your knee?
4. knees knocking (together) if your knees are knocking, you are feeling very afraid or very cold
5. on your knees in a way that shows you have no power but want or need something very much:
He went on his knees begging for his job back.
6. bring somebody/something to their knees
a) to defeat a country or group of people in a war:
The bombing was supposed to bring the country to its knees.
b) to have such a bad effect on an organization, activity etc that it cannot continue SYN cripple:
The recession has brought many companies to their knees.
7. put/take somebody over your knee old-fashioned to punish a child by hitting them
8. on bended knee(s) old-fashioned in a way that shows great respect for someone
⇨ learn/be taught something at your mother’s knee at ↑mother¹(4), ⇨ the bee’s knees at ↑bee(5), ⇨ weak at the knees at ↑weak(13)

stomach

I. stom‧ach¹ S3 W3 /ˈstʌmək/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: estomac, from Latin stomachus 'throat, stomach', from Greek stomachos, from stoma 'mouth']
1. the organ inside your body where food begins to be ↑digested:
I was so hungry my stomach hurt.
His stomach was full of food.
2. the front part of your body, below your chest:
He turned round and punched Carlos in the stomach.
3. do something on an empty stomach to do something when you have not eaten:
You shouldn’t take the pills on an empty stomach.
4. turn your stomach to make you feel sick or upset:
The sight of the slaughtered cow turned my stomach.
5. have no stomach for a fight/task etc to have no desire to do something difficult, upsetting, or frightening
6. have a strong stomach to be able to see or do things that are unpleasant without feeling sick or upset:
Don’t go and see this film unless you have a strong stomach.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ full (=full of food) A lot of these children don't know what it is like to have a full stomach.
▪ empty (=with no food in) It was 11 o'clock, and my stomach was empty.
▪ an upset stomach (=a stomach affected by illness) Debbie was at home because she had an upset stomach.
■ stomach + NOUN
▪ (a) stomach ache I had terrible stomach ache last night.
▪ stomach pains/cramps He complained of acute stomach pains.
▪ a stomach bug (=an illness you have caught that affects your stomach) He's off work with a stomach bug.
▪ a stomach upset (=when your stomach is affected by illness) The boy had a stomach upset after eating berries from the garden.
▪ a stomach ulcer Too much stress can cause stomach ulcers.
▪ stomach cancer She was diagnosed with stomach cancer last year.
■ verbs
▪ somebody's stomach rumbles (=it makes a noise because they are hungry) She felt her stomach rumble.
▪ somebody's stomach churns (=they feel sick because they are nervous or frightened) Her stomach was churning with anxiety.
▪ somebody's stomach lurches/tightens (=it suddenly feels tight because they are frightened) Her stomach lurched at the thought of leaving Millfield.
▪ settle somebody's stomach (=to stop it feeling uncomfortable) The doctor gave me some tablets to settle my stomach.

head

I. head¹ S1 W1 /hed/ BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: noun: ↑head, ↑heading, ↑overhead, ↑header, ↑headship; adjective: ↑overhead, ↑heady, ↑headless, ↑headed; verb: ↑head, ↑behead; adverb: ↑overhead]
[Language: Old English; Origin: heafod]
1. TOP OF BODY [countable] the top part of your body that has your face at the front and is supported by your neck:
He kissed the top of her head.
Alan fell asleep as soon as he put his head on the pillow.
They dived head first into the water.
She was dressed in black from head to toe (=over all her body).
He still has a full head of hair (=has all his hair, even though he is getting rather old).
2. MIND [countable] your mind or mental ability:
The problem only exists inside his head.
do something in your head (=calculate something mentally)
I can’t do those figures in my head.
Use your head to work out the answer.
come into/pop into your head
Jackie said the first thing that came into her head.
get something into your head (=understand something)
‘It’s over, Jake,’ she said. ‘Try and get that into your head.’
take/get it into your head (to do something) (=decide to do something, especially something stupid)
At about two in the morning, Alan took it into his head to go for a swim.
get/put something out of your head (=stop thinking or worrying about something)
Try to put it out of your head for the time being.
put something into sb’s head (=make someone think or believe something)
What’s put that idea into her head?
get your head round something British English (=be able to understand something)
I just can’t get my head round what’s been going on here.
3. CALM/SENSIBLE
a) keep your head to remain calm and sensible in a difficult or frightening situation:
We need a candidate who can keep his or her head even when clients get aggressive.
keep a clear/cool/calm head
Get to sleep early tonight – you’ll need to keep a clear head tomorrow at the trial.
b) lose your head to become unable to behave calmly or sensibly in a difficult or frightening situation:
You’ll be OK as long as you don’t lose your head and forget he’s the real enemy.
c) have your head screwed on (straight/right) informal to be sensible and able to deal with difficult situations:
He wondered what Gemma thought about it all. She seemed to have her head screwed on.
4. PERSON IN CHARGE [countable]
a) a leader or person in charge of a group or organization
head of
You should discuss the matter with your head of department.
A meeting of Commonwealth heads of state will be held next month.
head waiter/chef/gardener etc (=the person in charge of a group of waiters etc)
b) (also head teacher) British English the person in charge of a school SYN principal American English:
From now on all violent incidents should be reported directly to the head. ⇨ ↑crowned head, ↑head boy, ↑head girl, ↑headmaster, ↑headmistress
5. FRONT/LEADING POSITION [singular] the front or the most important position
(at) the head of something
Jenny marched proudly at the head of the procession.
At the head of the table (=the place where the most important person sits) sat the senior partners.
at sth’s/sb’s head
The band of soldiers marched into the yard, their defeated captain at their head.
6. CRAZY [countable usually singular] used in particular phrases to talk about someone being crazy or very stupid:
People going out in conditions like this need their heads examined.
be off your head British English:
You must be off your head if you think that.
If I walk in looking like that, they’ll think I’m not right in the head.
7. a head/per head for each person:
Dinner works out at $30 a head.
average incomes per head
8. RIVER/VALLEY [countable usually singular] the place where a river, valley etc begins
9. come to a head (also bring something to a head) if a problem or difficult situation comes to a head, or something brings it to a head, it suddenly becomes worse and has to be dealt with quickly:
Things came to a head in the summer of 1997.
10. FLOWER/PLANT [countable] the top of a plant where its flowers or leaves grow:
She was outside cutting the dead heads off the roses.
head of
a head of lettuce
11. HEIGHT/DISTANCE [singular] the length of a head, used to measure height or distance:
She saw her father, a head above the rest of the crowd.
by a (short) head (=used to say that a horse won or lost a race but only by a small amount)
12. COIN heads the side of a coin that has a picture of a person’s head on it
heads or tails? British English spoken (=used to decide something, by asking someone which side of a coin they guess will be showing when you throw it in the air and it lands) ⇨ tails at ↑tail¹(5b)
13. laugh/shout/scream etc your head off informal to laugh, shout etc very loudly:
Fans were screaming their heads off.
14. have a good/fine/thick etc head of hair to have a lot of hair on your head
15. get/put your head down informal
a) to start working in a quiet determined way:
It’s time you got your head down and did some revision.
b) British English to sleep
16. keep your head down to try to avoid being noticed or getting involved in something:
Do what you’re told and keep your head down.
17. as soon as your head hits the pillow if you fall asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow, you fall asleep as soon as you lie down
18. be out of/off your head informal
to not know what you are doing because you have taken drugs or drunk too much alcohol:
He was off his head on various drugs.
19. go to sb’s head informal
a) if alcohol goes to your head, it quickly makes you feel drunk
b) if success goes to someone’s head, it makes them feel more important than they really are:
She never let fame go to her head.
20. TOOL [countable usually singular] the wide end of a long narrow tool or piece of equipment
21. put your heads together to discuss a difficult problem together:
The next morning, we all put our heads together to decide what should be done.
22. go over sb’s head
a) to be too difficult for someone to understand:
The explanation went completely over my head.
b) to do something without discussing it with a particular person or organization first, especially when you should have discussed it with them
23. can’t make head or/nor tail of something informal to be completely unable to understand something
24. have your head in the clouds to think about something in a way that is not practical or sensible, especially when you think things are much better than they really are
25. have a (good) head for figures/facts/business etc to be naturally good at doing calculations, remembering facts etc
26. head for heights the ability to look down from high places without feeling ill or nervous
27. a big head informal the opinion that you are much better, more important, more skilful etc than you really are:
I suppose I did do OK, but I’d be silly to get a big head about it.
28. keep your head above water to manage to continue to live on your income or keep your business working when this is difficult because of financial problems:
For years they struggled to keep their heads above water.
29. be/stand head and shoulders above somebody to be much better than other people:
One contestant stood head and shoulders above the rest.
30. hold up your head (also hold your head high) to show pride or confidence, especially in a difficult situation:
If you do this, you’ll never be able to hold your head up again.
31. be (like) banging/bashing etc your head against a brick wall spoken used to say that you are making no progress at all in what you are trying hard to do:
I’ve tried to talk some sense into them, but it’s like banging my head against a brick wall.
32. bang/knock sb’s heads together spoken used to say that two people or groups should be forced to stop arguing and start to behave sensibly
33. bite/snap sb’s head off to talk to someone very angrily with no good reason:
I offered to help her, but she just bit my head off.
34. turn/stand something on its head to make people think about something in the opposite way to the way it was originally intended:
The attorney quickly turned his main defense argument on its head.
35. give somebody their head to give someone the freedom to do what they want to do
36. be/fall head over heels in love to love or suddenly start to love someone very much:
Sam was head over heels in love with his new bride.
37. heads will roll spoken used to say that someone will be punished severely for something that has happened:
Heads will roll for this!
38. on your own head be it spoken used to tell someone that they will be blamed if the thing they are planning to do goes wrong
39. do your head in British English spoken informal to make you feel confused and annoyed:
Turn that noise down – it’s doing my head in!
40. be/get in over your head to be or get involved in something that is too difficult for you to deal with:
In business, start small and don’t get in over your head.
41. be over your head in debt American English to owe so much money that there is no possibility of paying it all back
42. go head to head with somebody to deal with or oppose someone in a very direct and determined way:
Rather than go head to head with their main rivals, they decided to try a more subtle approach.
43. heads up! American English spoken used to warn people that something is falling from above
44. BEER [countable] the layer of small white ↑bubbles on the top of a glass of beer
45. ELECTRONICS [countable] a piece of equipment that changes information on a recording tape, a computer ↑hard disk etc into electrical messages that electronic equipment can use
46. head of cattle/sheep etc [plural] a particular number of cows, sheep etc:
a farm with 20 head of cattle
47. head of water/steam pressure that is made when water or steam is kept in an enclosed space
48. get/build up a head of steam to become very active after starting something slowly
49. LAND [singular] British English a high area of land that sticks out into the sea – used in names:
Beachy Head
50. INFECTION [countable] the centre of a swollen spot on your skin
51. give (somebody) head informal to perform ↑oral sex on someone
⇨ bury your head in the sand at ↑bury(8), ⇨ knock something on the head at ↑knock¹(16), ⇨ off the top of your head at ↑top¹(18), ⇨ somebody can do something standing on their head at ↑stand¹(40), ⇨ turn sb’s head at ↑turn¹(18), ⇨ two heads are better than one at ↑two(8)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ turn your head John turned his head to look at the boy.
▪ shake your head (=move it from side to side, especially to show disagreement) ‘It’s too much,’ he said, shaking his head.
▪ nod your head (=move it up and down, especially to show agreement) The audience nodded their heads enthusiastically.
▪ sb’s head hurts/aches/throbs Her head was throbbing and she needed to lie down.
▪ raise/lift your head (=look up) Tom raised his head to listen, then went back to his book.
▪ bow/bend/lower your head (=look down) He bowed his head and tried not not to look at her.
▪ hang your head (=look down, especially because you are ashamed) She hung her head, not sure how to reply.
▪ scratch your head (=especially because you do not understand something) He scratched his head and started looking through the drawers again.
▪ cock your head (=hold your head at an angle) The big dog cocked his head to one side and raised his ears.
■ adjectives
▪ bare The sun beat down on her bare head.
▪ bald His bald head shone with sweat.
▪ sb’s blonde/dark/grey etc head (=with blonde etc hair) I saw my son’s blond head sticking out from the car window.
■ head + NOUN
▪ head injury Wearing a helmet reduces the risk of head injuries.

mouth

I. mouth¹ S2 W1 /maʊθ/ BrE AmE noun (plural mouths /maʊðz/) [countable]
[Language: Old English; Origin: muth]
1. FACE the part of your face which you put food into, or which you use for speaking:
He lifted his glass to his mouth.
Liam was fast asleep with his mouth wide open.
2. keep your mouth shut informal
a) to not tell other people about a secret:
He demanded £2,000 to keep his mouth shut.
b) to not say something even if you think it:
I wished that I’d kept my mouth shut.
3. open your mouth to prepare to speak:
‘I’ll go,’ Travis said quickly before she could open her mouth.
open your mouth to say/speak/protest etc
Julia opened her mouth to reply, but they were interrupted.
4. (you) watch your mouth spoken informal used to tell someone not to speak in such a rude way
5. ENTRANCE the entrance to a large hole or ↑cave:
As the train entered the mouth of the tunnel, the lights came on.
6. RIVER the part of a river where it joins the sea:
the mouth of the River Tees
7. BOTTLE/CONTAINER the open part at the top of a bottle or container
8. big mouth informal if someone has a big mouth, they say too much or tell another person’s secrets
9. me and my big mouth/you and your big mouth etc spoken used to criticize yourself or another person for saying something that should not have been said:
Oops, I shouldn’t have said that. Me and my big mouth.
10. mouth to feed/hungry mouth someone who you must provide food for, especially one of your children:
To these parents, a new baby is just another hungry mouth.
11. make your mouth water if food makes your mouth water, it smells or looks so good you want to eat it immediately:
The smell of the cooked fish made her mouth water. ⇨ ↑mouth-watering
12. down in the mouth informal unhappy:
Tim’s looking very down in the mouth.
13. out of the mouths of babes (and sucklings) used humorously when a small child has just said something clever or interesting
14. be all mouth British English spoken if someone is all mouth, they talk a lot about what they will do but are not brave enough to actually do it
⇨ be born with a silver spoon in your mouth at ↑born²(8), ⇨ by word of mouth at ↑word¹(13), ⇨ be foaming at the mouth at ↑foam²(2), ⇨ put your foot in your mouth at ↑foot¹(15), ⇨ put your money where your mouth is at ↑money(18), ⇨ put words into sb’s mouth at ↑word¹(21), ⇨ shut your mouth at ↑shut¹(2), ⇨ shoot your mouth off at ↑shoot¹(12), ⇨ ↑foul-mouthed, ↑mealy-mouthed
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ open/shut/close your mouth He opened his mouth wide so the doctor could examine his throat.
▪ cover your mouth She laughed, covering her mouth with her hand.
▪ wipe your mouth He laid down his fork and wiped his mouth.
▪ purse your mouth (=bring your lips tightly together, especially to show disapproval or worry) Ian looked at her and pursed his mouth.
▪ kiss somebody on the mouth She walked boldly up to him and kissed him on the mouth.
▪ sb’s mouth falls/drops open (=in surprise) ‘Me?’ she said, her mouth dropping open.
▪ sb’s mouth tightens written (=their lips are pressed tightly together, usually in anger) ‘You mean you knew about this?’ His mouth tightened.
▪ sb’s mouth twists written (=moves into an unhappy or angry expression) His mouth twisted in a sneer.
■ adjectives
▪ dry (=especially because someone is nervous or ill) My mouth was dry and my hands were shaking.
▪ a big/large/wide/small mouth He had a big nose and a big mouth. | Billy’s wide mouth stretched into a grin.
▪ a generous mouth (=a large mouth that is attractive) On her generous mouth was a smile.
▪ a full mouth (=with large attractive lips) She had heavy-lidded eyes and a full mouth.
▪ a thin mouth (=with thin lips) a woman with a sharp nose and a thin mouth
▪ a rosebud mouth (=a small red attractive mouth) The girl had huge brown eyes and a rosebud mouth.
■ phrases
▪ the corner/side of your mouth A smile lifted the corners of her mouth.
▪ the roof of your mouth (=the top inside part) He made a clicking sound with his tongue on the roof of his mouth.
▪ with your mouth full (=with food in your mouth) Don’t talk with your mouth full.
▪ with your mouth open He chews with his mouth open.
▪ (with your) mouth agape written (=with your mouth open in surprise) She stared at him, mouth agape.
• • •
THESAURUS
■ parts of a river
▪ mouth the part of a river where it joins the sea: Havre-Marat was a port at the mouth of the River Seine.
▪ bank land along the side of a river: the river bank | He owns a chateau on the banks of the River Loire.
▪ source the place where a river or stream starts: The source of the River Nile was discovered by a British explorer, John Speke.

nose

I. nose¹ S2 W2 /nəʊz $ noʊz/ BrE AmE noun
[Language: Old English; Origin: nosu]
1. ON YOUR FACE [countable] the part of a person’s or animal’s face used for smelling or breathing ⇨ nasal, nostril:
Someone punched him on the nose.
2. (right) under sb’s nose
a) if something bad or illegal happens under someone’s nose, they do not notice it even though it is happening very close to them and they should have noticed it:
The drugs were smuggled in right under the noses of the security guards.
b) if something is right under someone’s nose, they cannot see it even though it is very close to them:
The key was right under my nose all the time.
3. stick/poke your nose into something to become involved in something that does not concern you, in a way that annoys people ⇨ nosy:
She always has to stick her nose into matters that do not concern her.
4. keep your nose out (of something) spoken to avoid becoming involved in something that does not concern you:
I wish he’d keep his nose out of my business!
5. turn your nose up (at something) informal to refuse to accept something because you do not think it is good enough for you:
My children turn their noses up at home cooking.
6. with your nose in the air behaving as if you are more important than other people and not talking to them:
She just walked past with her nose in the air.
7. have a (good) nose for something to be naturally good at finding and recognizing something:
a reporter with a good nose for a story
8. get (right) up sb’s nose British English spoken to annoy someone very much:
I wish he wouldn’t keep interrupting. It really gets up my nose.
9. keep your nose clean spoken to make sure you do not get into trouble, or do anything wrong or illegal:
Sid’s got to keep his nose clean or he’ll end up back in prison.
10. on the nose American English spoken exactly:
He gets up at 6 a.m. on the nose every morning.
11. keep your nose to the grindstone informal to work very hard, without stopping to rest:
Jim had decided he was going to keep his nose to the grindstone.
12. have your nose in a book/magazine/newspaper to be reading a book etc, especially with a lot of interest:
She always had her nose in a book.
13. by a nose if a horse wins a race by a nose, it only just wins
14. have a nose around British English spoken to look around a place in order to try to find something, when there is no one else there
15. put sb’s nose out of joint informal to annoy someone, especially by attracting everyone’s attention away from them:
His nose has been put a bit out of joint ever since Marion got here.
16. nose to tail especially British English cars, buses etc that are nose to tail are in a line without much space between them:
Traffic was nose to tail for three miles.
17. PLANE [countable] the pointed front end of a plane, ↑rocket etc
18. SMELL [singular] the smell of a wine or tobacco SYN bouquet
⇨ ↑hard-nosed, ↑brown-nose, ⇨ cut off your nose to spite your face at CUT OFF(10), ⇨ ↑nose job, ⇨ lead somebody by the nose at ↑lead¹(16), ⇨ look down your nose at somebody/something at ↑look¹(8), ⇨ pay through the nose at ↑pay¹(16), ⇨ as plain as the nose on your face at ↑plain¹(1), ⇨ poke your nose into something at ↑poke¹(7), ⇨ powder your nose at ↑powder²(2), ⇨ rub sb’s nose in it/in the dirt at ↑rub¹(9), ⇨ thumb your nose at somebody/something at ↑thumb²(2)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ big See that guy over there, the one with the big nose?
▪ small She had high cheekbones and a small nose.
▪ long His nose was long and his chin square.
▪ straight Her nose was long, straight and elegant.
▪ runny (=with liquid coming out) A runny nose may be the result of an allergic reaction.
▪ snotty (=with unpleasant thick liquid coming out) a group of dirty children with snotty noses
▪ blocked (=so that you cannot breathe easily) My nose is really blocked and I can't smell anything.
▪ red (=because you are cold or drunk, or have a cold) His nose was red from the cold.
▪ a snub/turned-up nose (=one that curves up at the end) She had big eyes and a turned-up nose.
▪ a hooked nose (=one that curves down at the end) an old man with a hooked nose
▪ a Roman/aquiline nose formal (=one that curves out near the top) He had a thin face with an aquiline nose.
▪ a broken nose (=one that is not straight because the bone has been broken by a hit or fall) a boxer with a broken nose
■ verbs
▪ blow your nose (=clear your nose by blowing strongly into a piece of soft paper or cloth) She blew her nose on a large white handkerchief.
▪ wipe your nose (=wipe liquid away from your nose) The boy wiped his nose on his sleeve.
▪ pick your nose (=remove substances from inside your nose with your finger) Stop picking your nose, Freddy.
▪ wrinkle your nose (=move the muscles near your nose when you do not like something) Susan looked at the meal and wrinkled her nose.
▪ hold your nose (=so that you cannot smell a bad smell) The smell was so revolting that I had to hold my nose.
▪ breathe through your nose Close your eyes and breathe through your nose.
▪ somebody's nose is running (=liquid is coming out) She was crying hard and her nose was running.
■ phrases
▪ the bridge of your nose (=the upper part, between your eyes) Sam pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose.

eye

I. eye¹ S1 W1 /aɪ/ BrE AmE noun
[Language: Old English; Origin: eage]
1. FOR SEEING WITH [countable] one of the two parts of the body that you use to see with:
He’s got beautiful eyes.
There were tears in her eyes as she listened to the story.
Ow! I’ve got something in my eye!
blue-eyed/one-eyed/bright-eyed etc
a brown-eyed girl ⇨ ↑wide-eyed
2. WAY OF SEEING/UNDERSTANDING [countable usually singular] a particular way of seeing, judging, or understanding something:
Go through your shopping list with a critical eye for foods with a high fat content.
with the eye of somebody
The magazine combines the accuracy of the scientist with the eye of the artist.
to sb’s eye(s)
The picture quality, to my eye, is excellent.
through the eyes of somebody (=from the point of view of a particular person)
The story is told through the eyes of a refugee child.
in the eyes of somebody (=according to a particular person or group)
Carl could do no wrong in the eyes of his parents.
3. keep an eye on something/somebody to look after someone or something and make sure that they are safe:
Mary will keep an eye on the kids this afternoon.
We keep a watchful eye on our elderly neighbors.
4. have/keep your eye on somebody to carefully watch everything that someone does, especially because you do not trust them:
We want Taylor in jail where we can keep an eye on him.
5. eye contact when you look directly at someone at the same time as they are looking at you:
People who are lying tend to avoid eye contact.
In a formal interview, try to maintain good eye contact with the interviewers.
6. keep/have one eye/half an eye on somebody/something to be watching someone or something at the same time that you are doing something else:
Louise was stirring the soup with half an eye on the baby.
7. have your eye on something to want something that you think might become available:
He has his eye on the bigger apartment next door.
8. the naked eye if you can see something with the naked eye, you can see it without using any artificial help such as a ↑telescope or ↑microscope
with the naked eye
It’s just about possible to see the planet with the naked eye on a clear night.
visible/invisible to the naked eye
Dust mites are tiny creatures, invisible to the naked eye.
9. before your very eyes (also (right) in front of your eyes) especially spoken if something happens before your very eyes, it happens where you can clearly see it:
The murder had apparently taken place before our very eyes.
10. can’t take your eyes off somebody/something to be unable to stop looking at someone or something, especially because they are extremely interesting or attractive:
She looked stunning. I couldn’t take my eyes off her all evening.
11. under the (watchful/stern etc) eye of somebody while being watched by someone who is making sure that you behave properly or do something right:
We went to dances, but only under the watchful eye of our father.
12. run/cast your eye over something to look at something quickly:
She cast her eye over the front page of the paper.
13. set/lay/clap eyes on somebody/something spoken to see something or meet someone, especially for the first time:
I loved that house from the moment I clapped eyes on it.
14. keep an eye open/out (for somebody/something) to watch carefully so that you will notice when someone or something appears:
Keep an eye out for rabbits in the field.
15. with an eye to (doing) something if you do something with an eye to doing something else, you do it in order to make the second thing more likely to happen:
Most novels are published with an eye to commercial success.
16. close/shut your eyes to something to ignore something or pretend that you do not know it is happening:
Most governments know that we’re heading for an environmental catastrophe but they shut their eyes to it.
17. have an eye/a good eye for something to be good at noticing a particular type of thing, especially something attractive, valuable, of good quality etc:
Ernest has an eye for detail.
She’s definitely got a good eye for a bargain.
18. keep your eyes peeled/skinned spoken to watch carefully and continuously for something
keep your eyes peeled/skinned for
She stumbled along, keeping her eyes peeled for a phone box.
19. with your eyes open knowing fully what the problems, difficulties, results etc of a situation might be:
I’ve no-one to blame but myself – I went into this deal with my eyes open.
20. can do something with your eyes shut/closed to be able to do something very easily:
Believe me, you could run that place with your eyes closed.
21. make eyes at somebody/give somebody the eye informal to look at someone in a way that shows you think they are sexually attractive:
Don’t look now, but that guy over there is really giving you the eye.
22. an eye for/on/to the main chance if you have an eye for the main chance, you will take advantage of any possible opportunity to get what you want – used to show disapproval
23. one in the eye for somebody British English spoken something that will annoy someone or give them a disadvantage – used especially when you think this is a good thing:
This latest judgement will definitely be one in the eye for the fast food corporations.
24. an eye for an eye the idea that if someone does something wrong, you should punish them by doing the same thing to them:
An eye for an eye is no way to run a civilised justice system.
25. for sb’s eyes only used to say that something is secret and must only be seen by one particular person or group:
The information is for police eyes only.
26. have eyes in the back of your head to know what is happening all around you, even when this seems impossible:
We’ll have to be really careful – old Jonesey has eyes in the back of his head.
27. get/keep your eye in British English informal to practise or to continue practising an activity so that you become good at it
28. have eyes like a hawk to notice every small detail or everything that is happening, and therefore be very difficult to deceive:
We never got away with anything in Mrs. Podell’s class – she had eyes like a hawk.
29. his/her etc eyes were popping (out of his/her etc head) British English especially spoken to be very surprised, shocked, or excited by something you see
30. be up to your eyes in something British English informal to be very busy doing something:
He’s up to his eyes in paperwork.
31. have eyes bigger than your belly spoken used to say that you have taken more food than you are able to eat
32. only have eyes for somebody if someone only has eyes for someone, they love and are interested in that person only
33. my eye! old-fashioned spoken used to say that you do not believe something
34. all eyes are on/watching/fixed on etc
a) used to say that everyone is looking at someone or something:
All eyes were on the speaker, and nobody noticed me slip into the hall.
b) used to say that a lot of people are paying attention to a particular person or situation:
For the time being, all eyes are on the White House.
35. in a pig’s eye! American English spoken used to show that you do not believe what someone is saying
36. CAMERA [singular] the eye of the camera is the way that you appear in photographs:
Fashion models are completely comfortable with the eye of the camera.
37. NEEDLE [countable] the hole in a needle that you put the thread through
38. FOR FASTENING CLOTHES [countable] a small circle or U-shaped piece of metal used together with a hook for fastening clothes
39. STORM [singular] the calm centre of a storm such as a ↑hurricane
40. POTATO [countable] a dark spot on a potato that a new plant can grow from
⇨ BIRD’S-EYE VIEW, ↑black eye, ↑Catseye, ↑private eye, ↑red eye, ⇨ the apple of sb’s eye at ↑apple(2), ⇨ not bat an eye at ↑bat²(2), ⇨ turn a blind eye (to something) at ↑blind¹(3), ⇨ see something out of the corner of your eye at ↑corner¹(8), ⇨ the evil eye at ↑evil¹(5), ⇨ give somebody the glad eye at ↑glad(6), ⇨ look somebody in the eye/face at ↑look¹(7), ⇨ in your mind’s eye at ↑mind¹(40), ⇨ here’s mud in your eye at ↑mud, ⇨ open sb’s eyes (to) at ↑open²(17), ⇨ in the public eye at ↑public¹(4), ⇨ make sheep’s eyes at at ↑sheep(4), ⇨ a sight for sore eyes at ↑sight¹(14), ⇨ in the twinkling of an eye at ↑twinkling, ⇨ keep a weather eye on at ↑weather¹(5), ⇨ pull the wool over sb’s eyes at ↑wool(4)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ colour
▪ brown/blue/grey/green Both their children have blue eyes.
▪ dark brown/pale brown His eyes are dark brown.
▪ deep blue/pale blue She looked into his deep blue eyes. | The tiny child 's pale blue eyes stared up at her appealingly.
▪ hazel (=pale brown and slightly green or golden) He was a quiet, kindly man, with hazel eyes.
▪ sleepy/tired (also weary literary) He rubbed his tired eyes and yawned.
▪ moist/watery/tearful (=full of tears) Bethan’s eyes grew moist as she talked about her family.
▪ sad He gazed at her with sad eyes as she slowly walked away.
▪ cold/cruel (=unfriendly or unkind) He smiled, but his blue eyes were cold and cruel.
■ shape/position
▪ big She looked at me with those big brown eyes.
▪ small His small cold eyes seemed full of menace.
▪ round/wide The children gazed at the screen, their eyes wide with excitement.
▪ narrow He has a thin face and narrow eyes.
▪ bulging (=round and sticking far out) His bulging eyes made him rather look like a frog.
▪ beady eyes (=small round and bright, and noticing a lot of things) His beady eyes darted around the room.
▪ deep-set (=far back in someone's face) Mac’s eyebrows were thick and dark, above deep-set eyes.
▪ close-set (=close together) He had a small nose and close-set eyes.
▪ wide-set (=wide apart) Claudette studied the wide-set eyes that looked so innocent.
▪ sunken (=having fallen inwards, especially because of age or illness) The man's eyes were sunken, with deep black rings around them.
■ showing your feelings/character
▪ sleepy/tired His eyes looked sleepy. | Her hair was a mess and her eyes were tired.
▪ sad Her beautiful eyes suddenly looked sad.
▪ tearful/moist/misty (=feeling that you want to cry) As she left a village, people waved at her with tearful eyes.
▪ bright (=happy or excited) the bright eyes of the children
▪ cold (=unfriendly and not showing any emotion) Her eyes were cold and uncaring.
▪ red/bloodshot (=red because you are upset, tired, ill etc) My mother's eyes were red from crying.
▪ puffy (=swollen because you are ill or upset) The girl's eyes were puffy and full of tears.
▪ soulful eyes (=showing strong emotions, especially sadness) The dog looked up at her with big soulful eyes.
▪ wild/mad eyes (=very angry, afraid etc) He stared at them with wild eyes.
▪ hungry/greedy eyes (=showing that you want something very much ) The men looked around the room with their greedy eyes.
■ verbs
▪ open your eyes I slowly opened my eyes.
▪ sb’s eyes open Suddenly his eyes opened.
▪ close/shut your eyes Joe closed his eyes and tried to get back to sleep.
▪ sb’s eyes close She let her eyes close for just a moment.
▪ rub your eyes Anna rubbed her eyes wearily.
▪ shade/shield your eyes (=protect them from a bright light or the sun) They gazed out to sea, shielding their eyes from the sun.
▪ narrow your eyes (=partly close them, especially to show that you do not trust someone) She narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously.
▪ sb’s eyes narrow (=become half closed, especially because someone does not trust another person) Her dark eyes narrowed for a moment.
▪ sb’s eyes widen (=become more open because they are surprised) His eyes widened in shock.
▪ sb’s eyes sparkle/shine (=show that they are very happy) Jenny’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
▪ somebody's eyes light up (=become excited) His eyes lit up when I mentioned the word money.
▪ drop/lower your eyes (=look down at the ground) The servants lowered their eyes as the countess walked past.
▪ avert your eyes literary (=look away from something) He averted his eyes from the body.
■ phrases
▪ keep your eyes open (=prevent them from closing) I was so tired I could hardly keep my eyes open.
▪ have/keep etc your eyes glued to something (=be watching something with all your attention) Ted sat with his eyes glued to the television.
▪ sb’s eyes are full of tears When she put the phone down, her eyes were full of tears.
▪ sb’s eyes are full of hatred/fear etc The prisoners stared at him, their eyes full of hatred.
■ eye + NOUN
▪ an eye test (also an eye exam American English) (=to find out how well you can see) You should have an eye test every couple of years.
▪ eye make-up (=make-up that you put on your eyelids or eyelashes) She never leaves the house without lipstick and eye make-up.
■ COMMON ERRORS
► Do not say 'black eyes' when you mean dark brown eyes. You normally use 'black eye' when someone has a bruise around their eye, after being hit by someone.
II. eye² BrE AmE verb (present participle eyeing or eying) [transitive]
to look at someone or something carefully, especially because you do not trust them or because you want something:
The man behind the desk eyed us suspiciously.
A crowd of local children gathered around, eying us in silence.
eye somebody ↔ up phrasal verb
informal to look at someone in a way that shows you think they are sexually attractive:
There was a group of lads at the bar, eyeing up every girl who walked in.