Idioms about the Five Senses

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The term ‘five senses’ is used to refer to the faculties of sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch. Today we’re going to take a look at five idioms about each of the five senses and tell you what they mean.

Sight:

In the blink of an eye - in an instant
Out of sight, out of mind – an expression used to suggest that one is likely to forget someone/something when they are/it is no longer present/visible
The apple of someone’s eye – a person whom someone admires very much
To see things eye to eye – to agree on things
To turn a blind eye – to pretend not to notice

Smell:

To follow your nose – to follow your instincts
To smell a rat – to suspect a trick/lie
To sniff around/out – to investigate/discover something through investigation
To turn your nose up at something – to show distaste for something in a way which implies it is beneath you
Under someone’s nose – directly in front of someone

Hearing:

Ears are burning – to hear your name being talked about/to be subconsciously aware that you are being criticised
Nothing between your ears – not very clever (no brain)
Out on your ear – disgraced and dismissed
To bend someone’s ear – to talk to someone at length/to pester someone for a favour
To keep your ear to the ground – to keep well informed on happenings and trends

Taste:

A bad taste in your mouth – A strong feeling of disgust after an experience
An acquired taste – a thing you come to like after a long period of time
In poor taste – vulgar/offensive/thoughtless
To give someone a taste of their own medicine – to treat someone badly in the same way they treated you
To taste blood – to achieve an initial success which leads you to wanting more

Touch:

“Touch wood!” – a superstitious expression said after a confident statement to ward off bad luck (usually while touching something that is made from wood)
To hit a nerve – to upset/provoke someone by talking about a particular subject
To keep in touch – to remain in contact
To touch base – to briefly renew contact with someone to check that they are all right/show that you are all right
Touch-and-go – a phrase used to describe the uncertainty leading up to an outcome

If you found this post useful, why not take a look at our other articles on idioms?

Twenty Idioms for New Beginnings
Sixty Clothing Idioms – Part One and Part Two
Thirty Colourful Idioms
Thirty Scary Idioms for Halloween
Twenty Five Idioms about Time
Thirty Five Idioms about Money
Fifty Idioms about the Human Body – Part One and Part Two
Thirty Idioms about Food
Fifty Animal Idioms and What They Mean
Fifty Atmosphere and Weather Idioms and What They Mean – Part One and Part Two
Thirty Sports Idioms to Help You Through the Summer
Twenty Idioms about Nature

Are there any idioms you’d like to know the meanings or origins of? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter, or in the comments below and we’ll include them in a future blog.

Have a good week!

26 May 2015
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Idioms about the Five Senses

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