1.To hand down something (or hand something down) is to give or teach something to someone who is younger than you: someone who will be alive after you have died. Examples of use: a) This violin has been handed down from my great grandmother and my grandmother. b) My Christmas pudding recipe was handed down [...]
To hand out something (or hand something out) is to give something to each person in a group of people. Give out is similar to hand out. Examples of use: 1. He handed the toys out to the children. 2. The teacher handed the homework sheets out to the students. 3. Emergency food parcels were [...]
To huddle up is to move closer to other people, or to keep your arms and legs very close to your body, usually because you are cold or frightened Examples of use: 1. Our hotel room was freezing so we huddled up in front of the fire. 2. Lost in the snow storm, they huddled [...]
To keep your chin up is to stay positive and cheerful in difficult circumstances. Keep your chin up is something you say to somone to try and cheer them up, and help them stay positive in difficult circumstances. This expression is often shortened to chin up. Examples of use: 1. Keep your chin up: your [...]
To knuckle down is to start to work or study very hard. Examples of use: a) You need to knuckle down and finish your homework. b) I haven't done much revision for my exams – I must knuckle down before it's too late. c) I'm not very impressed with your work: knuckle down, or [...]
To be led by the nose is to be dominated or controlled by someone or something. To lead someone by the nose is to dominate or control them. led (verb) – past tense and past participle of 'lead' Examples of use: 1. He was led by the nose by his father for years. 2. Should [...]
A nosy parker is someone who is very inquisitive and too interested in other people's private lives and business. Informal British English. This idiom can also be written as 'nosey parker'. The expression is used to show that you disapprove of, or find annoying, a person who is asking too many questions. The origins of [...]
