the (same) neck of the woods
The expression is quite often the same neck of the woods. It means literally: the same area, the same community or neighbourhood:
Originally the neck of the woods was a narrow strip of woodland connecting a larger area of woodland.
There are many idiomatic expressions which refer to parts of the body. In earlier replies we have looked at skin and bone, legs and feet, head, brain and mind idioms. If you want to revise these, look them up under the confusing words and expressions part of the archive. Press the button which says 'more questions' at the bottom of this page.
Let's spend a little time today on neck and nose idioms, of which there are many.
Neck idioms include the following:
1. neck and neck
2. breathe down someone's neck
3. stick your neck out
4. save someone's neck
5. be up to your neck
6. break your neck
7. a pain in the neck
See if you can work out what they mean by studying these examples of use:
Now check your understanding of the examples against these explanations:
1. neck and neck - competitors who are level, each with an equal chance of winning.
2. breathe down someone's neck - stand over somebody and watch them very closely.
3. stick your neck out - bravely say or do something which may turn out to be wrong.
4. save someone's neck - prevent someone losing their job or reputation.
5. be up to your neck - be exceptionally busy or deeply involved in something.
6. break your neck - kill or injure yourself badly by doing something dangerous.
7. a pain in the neck - an irritating, annoying or boring person.
Nose idioms include the following:
1. under your nose
2. keep your nose clean
3. get up someone's nose
4. poke your nose into something
5. pay through the nose
6. powder your nose
7. turn up your nose at something
See if you can work out what they mean by studying these examples of use:
Now check your understanding of the examples against these explanations:
1. under your nose - right in front of you.
2. keep your nose clean - stay out of trouble and behave well.
3. get up someone's nose - annoy or irritate someone.
4. poke your nose into something - interfere in something which does not concern you.
5. pay through the nose - pay too high a price for something.
6. powder your nose - a euphemism for go to the toilet (ladies only).
7. turn up your nose at something - reject something because you think it is not good enough.
(By Roger Woodham)