Idioms

chill somebody to the bone/marrow

to make someone feel very frightened 

The sound of scraping at the window chilled me to the bone.

feet of clay

if you say that someone you admire has feet of clay, you mean they have hidden faults

 Some of the greatest geniuses in history had feet of clay.

square your shoulders

to show determination and a lack of fear 

When the judge asked her if she was guilty or not guilty, she squared her shoulders, looked the judge in the eye, and said, “Not guilty.”

more (to something) than meets the eye

Fig. [there are] hidden values or facts regarding something. There is more to that problem than meets the eye. What makes you think that there is more than meets the eye?

Pull the other leg/one (it's got bells on)!

something that you say in order to tell someone that you do not believe what they have just said Helen, going rock climbing? Pull the other one - she can't even climb a ladder without feeling sick!

somebody's eyes are out on stalks  (informal) also somebody's eyes are popping out of their head (informal)

if someone's eyes are out on stalks, they are looking at someone or something in a way that shows that they think that person or thing is extremely surprising or attractive

Usage notes: In funny drawings, people and animals are often drawn with their eyes coming out of their head to show that they are very surprised.

You should have seen Pete when Bec turned up in her short skirt. His eyes were out on stalks.

make no bones about something

to say clearly what you think or feel about something He made no bones about how bad he thought the food was.

have your finger on the pulse

to be familiar with the most recent developments Whoever designed the new model obviously had their finger on the pulse - it's precisely the sort of computer everyone's been waiting for.

keep one's nose clean

Fig. to keep out of trouble, especially trouble with the law. I'm trying to keep my nose clean by staying away from those rough guys. John, if you don't learn how to keep your nose clean, you're going to end up in jail.

Out of the mouths of babes (oft times come gems).

Prov. Children occasionally say remarkable or insightful things. Mr. and Mrs. Doyle were quietly bickering in the kitchen when their seven-year-old daughter came in and said, "You guys should get counseling." After a surprised pause, Mrs. Doyle remarked, "out of the mouths of babes." Child: Don't eat so much candy, Mommy. Candy is bad for your teeth. Mother: out of the mouths of babes oft times come gems.