Be on the tip of your

• foot

• tongue

• ear

• nose

"I do a bit of teaching now and then just to KEEP MY HAND IN."

It means...

• you do something enjoyable for as long as you want to do it

• to practise a skill often enough so that you do not lose the skill

Things GOT a little OUT OF HAND at the party and three windows were broken.

It means...

• to say something by accident that embarrasses or upsets someone

• out of control

You've got a whole week to yourself and you can read to your heart's content.

It means...

• you do something enjoyable for as long as you want to do it

• to practise a skill often enough so that you do not lose the skill

I really PUT MY FOOT IN MY MOUTH – I asked her if Jane was her mother, but she said Jane is her sister.

It means:

• to say something by accident that embarrasses or upsets someone

• out of control

The business has lurched from one financial crisis to another but we have managed to KEEP OUR HEADS ABOVE WATER.

It means:

• to pay too much money for something

• to try to manage a difficult situation, especially when it involves a lot of work or a lack of money

We PAID THROUGH THE NOSE to get the car fixed.

IT MEANS:

• to pay too much money for something:

• to try to manage a difficult situation, especially when it involves a lot of work or a lack of money

We can't make a decision yet. Let's just PLAY IT BY EAR.

IT MEANS...

• to decide how to deal with a situation as it develops, rather than acting according to plans made earlier

• to pay attention to everything that is happening around you and to what people are saying

My sisters don't SEE EYE TO EYE with me about the arrangements.

• to decide how to deal with a situation as it develops, rather than acting according to plans made earlier:

• they don't agree with each other

It felt like I was HITTING MY HEAD AGAINST A BRICK WALL because I had no support from my boss.

• out of control

• to try repeatedly to do something with no success: