give someone the cold shoulder, bury your head in the sand, get something off your chest, off the top of your head, drag your feet: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 idioms from Idioms set 6. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. give someone the cold shoulder · idiom/ɡɪv ˈsʌmwʌn ðə koʊld ˈʃoʊldɚ/

   to ignore someone or be unfriendly on purpose

   I saw Craig at the movies last night but he gave me the cold shoulder. I asked him what was wrong, but he ignored me.

   Origin: Possibly from medieval hospitality — welcome guests got hot meat; unwelcome ones got a cold shoulder of mutton.

2. bury your head in the sand · idiom/ˈbɛri jʊr hɛd ɪn ðə sænd/

   to choose to ignore a problem or avoid talking about it

   It is very hard for Sarah to talk to her husband and discuss their issues because he chooses to bury his head in the sand instead of facing those issues.

   Origin: Based on the false belief that ostriches bury their heads to avoid danger; recorded by Pliny in 77 AD.

3. get something off your chest · idiom/ɡɛt ˈsʌmθɪŋ ɔf jʊr tʃɛst/

   to finally say something that has been making you unhappy

   Harry finally told his wife that he wants a divorce. He felt very relieved because he finally got it off his chest.

   Origin: Dates to the 1500s, from the idea of the chest as the seat of feelings — releasing emotion lightens it.

4. off the top of your head · idiom/ɔf ðə tɑp əv jʊr hɛd/

   without thinking carefully

   Those are just some really quick examples off the top of my head to help you get thinking about ways to make some money.

   Origin: Mid-20th-century American expression suggesting an answer comes from the surface, without deep thought.

5. drag your feet · idiom/dræɡ jʊr fit/

   to do something slowly because you do not want to do it

   Conor has been dragging his feet about getting his DNA test done because he is scared.

   Origin: From the slow shuffling walk of unwilling soldiers or schoolchildren; an image of reluctant progress.