his

An Englishman's home is his castle. (British, old-fashioned)

something that you say which means that British people believe they should be able to control what happens in their own homes, and that no one else should tell them what to do there. An Englishman's home is his castle. The government has no right to interfere in our private lives!

See also: castle, home

A bad workman blames his tools.

something that you say when someone blames the objects they are using for their own mistakes. 'This oven burns everything.' 'You know what they say, a bad workman blames his tools.'

See also: bad, blame, tool

everyone and his brother (American)

a very large number of people. We couldn't get in to see the movie - everyone and his brother had decided to go.

See also: brother, everyone

A fool and his money are soon parted.

something that you say which means that stupid people spend money without thinking about it enough. Gianni relishes his extravagant lifestyle - but then a fool and his money are soon parted.

See also: fool, money, soon

God rest her/his soul. (old-fashioned)

something that you say when you are talking about someone who is dead, to show that you respect them. My old father - God rest his soul - now he could drink a pint or two.

See also: god, her, rest, soul

he/she doesn't have a [jealous, mean, unkind etc.] bone in his/her body

something that you say in order to emphasize that someone is not jealous, mean, unkind etc.. He'd never deliberately hurt someone's feelings - he doesn't have a mean bone in his body.

See also: body, bone, doesn't, her, she, unkind

in his/her/their (infinite) wisdom (humorous)

something that you say when you do not understand why someone has done something and think that it was a stupid action. The council, in their wisdom, decided to close the library and now the building stands empty.

See also: her, wisdom

a man of his word

someone you can trust because you know they will do what they say they will do. Rae was a woman of her word - if she said she'd be here on Friday, she'd be here on Friday.

See also: man, word

what's his/her face (informal)

a way of talking about someone whose name you have forgotten. Have you seen the new Bond film with Pierce Brosnan and what's her face, that model?

See also: face, her

(all) the world and his wife (British & Australian, informal)

a very large number of people. It's a huge outdoor concert - I imagine the world and his wife will be there.

See also: world

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a man of his word

a man who tells the truth and keeps promises. He's always been a man of his word, that I must say.

See also: man, word

what's his face

a person whose name is forgotten or not known. They were thinking about hiring what's his face, the guy with the yellow shirt.

See also: face