The nose is used in many popular expressions. Some people are able to lead other people by the nose. For example, if a wife leads her husband by the nose, she makes him do whatever she wants him to do. Some people are said to be hard-nosed. They will not change their opinions or positions on anything.
It is always helpful when people keep their nose out of other people’s business. They do not interfere (干涉). The opposite of this is someone who noses around all the time. Such people are interested in other people’s private matters. They’re considered nosy. Someone who keeps his nose to the grindstone (磨石) works very hard. This can help a worker keep his nose clean or stay out of trouble.
One unusual expression is that is no skin off my nose. This means that a situation doesn’t affect or concern me. We also say that sometimes a person cuts off his nose to spite his face. That is, he makes a situation bad for himself by doing something foolish because he is angry.
More problems can develop if a person looks down his nose at someone or something. The person acts as if something is unimportant or worthless. This person might also turn up his nose at something that he considers not good enough. This person thinks he is better than everyone else. He has his nose in the air.
In school, some students thumb their nose at their teacher. They refuse to obey orders or do any work. Maybe the students do not know the correct answers. My mother always told me when I was a student, “If you study hard, the answers should be right under your nose or easily seen.”
小题1:If we say a wife leads her husband by the nose, we probably mean she _____.
A．loves her husband very much
B．controls her husband’s actions
C．gets on well with her husband
D．does whatever her husband wants her to do小题2:Which of the following expressions could be used to tell someone to stay away from your private affairs?
A．Don’t keep your nose to the grindstone.
B．Keep your nose out of my business.
C．Please keep your nose clean.
D．You are really hard-nosed.小题3:We can use the expression “has his/her nose in the air” to describe someone _____.
A．who is too proud of himself/herself
B．who is very angry about something
C．who often makes a situation bad
D．who doesn’t care about anything小题4:If a student thumbs his/her nose at his/her teacher, the teacher would most probably feel _____.
A．happy
B．excited
C．angry
D．relaxed
