Nose and Ears: He Has His Nose In the Air

Written by Jill Moss    23 July 2006

Now, the VOA Special English program, Words and Their Stories.

A person’s nose is important for breathing and smelling. The nose is also used in many popular expressions.   

Some people are able to “lead other people by the nose.”  For example, if a wife “leads her husband by the nose,” she makes him do whatever she wants him to do.

Some people are said to be “hard-nosed.”  They will not change their opinions or positions on anything. If someone is hard-nosed, chances are he will never “pay through the nose”, or pay too much money, for an object or service.

It is always helpful when people “keep their nose out of other people’s business.”  They do not interfere.  The opposite of this is someone who “noses around” all the time.  This kind of person is interested in other people’s private matters. He is considered “nosey.”

Someone who keeps his “nose to the grindstone” works very hard.  This can help a worker “keep his nose clean” or stay out of trouble.  

One unusual expression is “that is no skin off my nose.” This means that a situation does not affect or concern me.  We also say that sometimes a person “cuts off his nose to spite his face.”  That is, he makes a situation worse for himself by doing something foolish because he is angry. 

More problems can develop if a person “looks down his nose” at someone or something. The person acts like something is unimportant or worthless. This person might also “turn up his nose” at something that he considers not good enough. This person thinks he is better than everyone else. He has his “nose in the air.”

In school, some students “thumb their nose” at their teacher.  They refuse to obey orders or do any work.  Maybe these students do not know the correct answers.  My mother always told me, if you study hard, the answers should be “right under your nose” or easily seen. 

I think we have explained the “nose” expressions.  What about ears?  Well, I hope you are “all ears”, or very interested in hearing more expressions.  We might even “put a bug in your ear,” or give you an idea about something.  We also advise you to “keep your ear to the ground.”  This means to be interested in what is happening around you and what people are thinking. 

If you are a good person, you will “lend an ear” to your friends.  You will listen to them when they have a problem they need to talk about.  Our last expression is to “play it by ear.”  This has two meanings.  One is to play a song on a musical instrument by remembering the tune and not by reading the music.  “Play it by ear” also means to decide what to do at the last minute instead of making detailed plans.  

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This VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES, was written by Jill Moss.  I’m Faith Lapidus.