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Discussion » Questions » Language » AnswerMug Challenge Series: Not a Body Part Edition:

AnswerMug Challenge Series: Not a Body Part Edition:


  In the English language, what are some words that name human body parts AND can also mean, describe or refer to other parts of speech or inanimate objects that are decidedly not human body parts?  Any tense of the word can be used as long as its root names a human body part

EXAMPLES:

  1. head over to the ranch
  2. the first leg of the trip took us through thick woods
  3. she kneed him in the groin (knee as a verb in the past tense)
  4. they only gave us a thumbnail sketch
  5. just mouth the words; your singing is horrible
  6. the well is bone-dry
  7. don't butt in when Ma is speaking
  8. I never eat the heel of a loaf of bread
  9. you shouldn't elbow your way into this


FOOTNOTE: HOMONYMS are words that sound alike but have different meanings. HOMOGRAPHS are words that are spelled the same but have different meanings.

~

Posted - August 18, 2018

Responses


  • ... go to the head of the class.
    ... in a gun fight, you need to be armed.
    ... he fingered the rest of the gang..
    ... salt the lip of the glass.
    ... in the eye of a storm.

      August 18, 2018 6:51 AM MDT
    6

  • 22907
     . . . you need to toe the line
     . . . knucklehead (sort of maybe fits)
     . . . mouth of the river
     . . . a** backwards
     . . . a hair's breath away from an accident
     . . . don't be cheeky
     .  . . tooth and nail
     . . . get your teeth into it
      August 18, 2018 9:21 AM MDT
    4

  • 9874
    Please explain why 'kneed him in the groin' does not refer to human body parts. Do you need a knee in the groin as an illustration?
      August 18, 2018 12:13 PM MDT
    1

  • 52936

      It's a verb, that's why. (Re-read the question; parts of speech.)

      You've disappointed me. Reported. 
    :|
      August 18, 2018 12:21 PM MDT
    0

  • 9874
    So what you want is word that is a noun that refers to a body part but is also used as another part of speech that is not a noun and may or may not refer to that same body part? Like if you gum your food or I hand you a restraining order? How is this challenging?

    You've disappointed me. Reported.
      August 18, 2018 5:42 PM MDT
    2

  • 52936

      It doesn't have to only be a noun. It can be any word in the English language.

    ~
      August 18, 2018 10:41 PM MDT
    0

  • 9874
    Yes, I am familiar with the parts of speech. You asked for names of body parts which by definition would be a noun.
      August 19, 2018 6:36 AM MDT
    1

  • 52936

      Why are you on this kick about nouns?  I didn't use the word noun at all:

    "In the English language, what are some names of human body parts that can also mean, describe or refer to other parts of speech or inanimate objects that are decidedly not human body parts?"

      Of all the other people who have answered so far, not one of them seems to have misunderstood the challenge, so I can only chalk this up to something unique to you.  Do the examples help clarify the parameters?  Never mind,  I'll tell you what I'm willing to do. I'll edit the question to make it clearer. Deal?
    ~
      August 19, 2018 12:49 PM MDT
    0

  • 17
    Brow of a hill
    Hip to be square
    I totally heart this song
    A call to arms
    The butt of a joke
    Palms grow in warm regions
    Eye of the needle
    12 inches = 1 foot
    Foot the bill
     Wrist pins
    Thumb drive
    Kidney beans
    Air bladder
    Shoe tongue
    Second hand store
    Gear tooth pattern
    I have to bone up on social studies for a test next week This post was edited by mojo at August 19, 2018 8:11 AM MDT
      August 18, 2018 3:16 PM MDT
    4

  • 3523
    "To pull a boner"
    "To have skin in the game"
      August 18, 2018 3:28 PM MDT
    4

  • 18

    ear of corn
    hand of bananas
    turn back the hands of time
    vein of gold
    rib: a small open boat 
    sole: a marine flatfish
    heel: untrustworthy person
    neck: kiss
    grease nipple
    have a change of heart
    spine: a tall mass of viscous lava

      August 18, 2018 5:35 PM MDT
    4

  • 32664
    Toe the line
    Head over heels
    Eyeballing someone
    Nosey neighbors
    Necking
    Hair of the dog
    Hip to be square
    Heel (command to a dog)
    Green thumb
    Belly buster
    Back up
    Elbowed to your head
    Long on the tooth
    Spineless coward
    Scalped
    Rear ended

      August 18, 2018 6:43 PM MDT
    4

  • 22891
    not sure
      September 9, 2018 5:41 PM MDT
    0