head and shoulderssuperior, better, a cut above Her work is superior - head and shoulders above the others.on one's shouldersone's responsibility I don't want to have the failure of the project on my shoulders.rub elbows or shoulders with someonebe in the same place (with others), meet and mix with others We went to the party in order to rub shoulders with some interesting artists.rub elbows/shouldersbe in the same place (with others), meet and mix At the party we were able to rub elbows with many important people.rub shoulders withwork with, associate with Art dealers rub shoulders with people from all the professions.come from the shouldersto fight or prepare to fighton sb's shouldersin sb．'s care；as sb．'s responsibility归某人管；为某人的责任The success of the program rests on your shoulders．此项计划的成功就取决于你了。 head and shoulders aboveIdiom(s): head and shoulders above sb or sth Show
Theme: SUPERIORITYclearly superior to someone or something. (Often with stand, as in the example. Fixed order.) have broad shouldersIdiom(s): have broad shouldersTheme: RESPONSIBILITYto have the ability to take on unpleasant responsibilities; to have the ability to accept criticism or rebuke.• No need to apologize to me. I can take it. I have broad shoulders. • Karen may have broad shoulders, but she cant endure endless criticism. have a good head on one's shouldersIdiom(s): have a good head on one's shouldersTheme: INTELLIGENCEto have common sense; to be sensible and intelligent.• Mary doesn't do well in school, but she's got a good head on her shoulders. • John has a good head on his shoulders and can be depended on to give good advice. carry the weight of the world on one's shouldersIdiom(s): carry the weight of the world on one's shouldersTheme: BURDENto appear to be burdened by all the problems in the whole world.• Look at Tom. He appears to be carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. • Cheer up, Tom! You don't need to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. Rub shouldersIf you rub shoulders with people, you meet and spend time with them, especially when they are powerful or famous.Weight off your shouldersIf something is a weight off your shoulders, you have relieved yourself of a burden, normally a something that has been troubling you or worrying you.good head on one's shoulders|good|head|shoulder|shn. phr. Good sense; good judgment. Jack has a good head on his shoulders; he never drives too fast. Alice is a girl with a good head on her shoulders, she always keeps good company. George showed he had a good head on his shoulders by refusing to cheat.have a good head on one's shoulders|good head|havev. phr. To be smart; intelligent; well educated. Rob is not the handsomest guy in the world but the girls appreciate him because he has a good head on his shoulders.head and shoulders|head|shoulder|shouldersadv. phr. 1. By the measure of the head and shoulders. The basketball player is head and shoulders taller than the other boys. 2. By far; by a great deal; very much. She is head and shoulders above the rest of the class in singing. See: FAR AND AWAY.on one's shoulders|on|shoulder|shouldersadv. or adj. phr. In your care; as your responsibility. The success of the program rests on your shoulders. He acts as if he had the cares of the world on his shoulders.rub elbows|elbow|elbows|rub|rub shouldersv. phr. To be in the same place (with others); meet and mix. City people and country people, old and young, rub elbows at the horse show. On a visit to the United Nations Building in New York, you may rub elbows with people from faraway lands.square one's shoulders|shoulder|shoulders|squarev. phr. To stand strong and ready to give battle; be brave. Jack squared his shoulders and entered the game. Graduates must square their shoulders and face the world.world on one's back|back|shoulder|shoulders|weightn. phr. A very heavy load of worry or responsibility; very tired or worried behavior, as if carrying the world; behavior as if you are very important. Don't look as if you had the weight of the world on your shoulders, Henry, just because you have to mow the lawn./ John acts as if he were carrying the world on his back because he has a paper route.broad shoulders, havebroad shoulders, haveBe able to accept considerable responsibility, as in With his broad shoulders, he can easily handle both departments. [Second half of 1300s] good head on one's shoulders, have agood head on one's shoulders, have aBe intelligent or shrewd; have good sense or good judgment. For example, We can depend on George to figure it out—he has a good head on his shoulders. This term originated in the 1500s as have an old head on young shoulders, alluding to the wisdom of age and physical youth. It took its present form in the 1800s. shrug one's shouldersshrug one's shouldersShow indecision or indifference, as in When I asked her if she minded staying home, she just shrugged her shoulders. This redundant idiom—shrug means “to raise and contract the shoulders”—dates from about 1450. square one's shoulderssquare one's shouldersPrepare to face adversity, as in She knew it wouldn't be easy but she squared her shoulders and faced the hostile audience. This expression transfers standing erect with the shoulders pulled back, forming an angle much like a square's right angle, to the situations calling for this stance. It was first recorded in 1819. |
