Heads, elbows and knees

Some body parts can also be used as verbs. For example, in the Italy-U.S.A. match, De Rossi got a red card for elbowing McBride in the face. In the morning, when the underground (AmEng subway) is really crowded, sometimes you have to elbow people out of the way to get on or off the train.

If you mix with people of a higher social class than you, however, you wouldn't want to elbow them, but you could rub elbows with them.

Elbowing people out of the way is a bit aggressive, but kneeing a man in his "privates" is even more so. This might not get you on the train, but it could save your life if attacked on a dark street at night.

When you go down on your knees, say to pray or to propose to somebody (ask them to marry you), this is called kneeling.

A very important skill for a footballer is being able to head the ball in the direction you want it to go. A painful skill perfected by football hooligans is headbutting (hitting someone with your head) each other. However, headbutting can also be used as a self-defence (AmEng defense) technique.

Another way to say that you are going somewhere or in a certain direction, is to say that you are heading there, or in that way. For example, "I'm heading into town if you want a lift." (To give someone a lift or a ride is to take them somewhere in your car.)

Fingers and toes

Spanish people often don't know that in English we have different names for the digits on our hands and the digits on our feet.

On your hands you've got eight fingers and two thumbs (the "b" is silent). On your feet, you've got 10 toes. While the fingers and thumbs all have names, on your feet, only the big toe and little toe are called something different.

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Some expressions using the word finger:

Suzanne gets whatever she wants because she can wrap the boss round her little finger / she's got the boss twisted round her little finger.
(to be able to easily get someone to do what you want)

None of the older kids at school dares lay a finger on Sebastian because his big brother protects him.
(to harm someone)

There's something strange about Jessamyn, but I can't quite put my finger on it.
(to identify clearly why a situation is the way it is, especially when something is not right)

If Paraguay don't go through to the next round, they'll surely point the finger at the player who scored that own goal.
(to accuse someone of being responsible for something bad)

Sophie never lifts/raises a finger around the house; her husband has to do everything.
(to not make any effort to help)

Ask Frederick, he'll know, he's got a finger in every pie.
(to be involved in and have influence over many different activities, often used negatively)

How rude! I only asked him how he was and he gave me the finger!
(offensive gesture)

Can you think of any more?