arm

noun

/ɑːm/

/ɑːrm/

part of body

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either of the two long parts that stick out from the top of the body and connect the shoulders to the hands

He escaped with only a broken arm.
Pearl wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tightly.
She threw her arms around his neck.
He was running forward, waving his arms.
by the arm The officer grabbed him by the arm (= grabbed his arm).
in somebody's arms She cradled the child in her arms.
They fell asleep in each other's arms (= holding each other).
on somebody's arm He walked in with a tall blonde woman on his arm (= next to him and holding his arm).
under somebody's arm He was carrying a number of files under his arm (= between his arm and his body).
He held the dirty rag at arm's length (= as far away from his body as possible).
They walked along arm in arm (= with the arm of one person linked with the arm of the other).
She touched him gently on the arm.
Vincent folded his arms across his chest and turned to walk away.
He has a tattoo on his upper right arm.

Collocations Physical appearancePhysical appearance

A person may be described as having:

Eyes

(bright) blue/green/(dark/light) brown/hazel eyes
deep-set/sunken/bulging/protruding eyes
small/beady/sparkling/twinkling/(informal) shifty eyes
piercing/penetrating/steely eyes
bloodshot/watery/puffy eyes
bushy/thick/dark/raised/arched eyebrows
long/dark/thick/curly/false eyelashes/lashes

Face

a flat/bulbous/pointed/sharp/snub nose
a straight/a hooked/a Roman/(formal) an aquiline nose
full/thick/thin/pouty lips
dry/chapped/cracked lips
flushed/rosy/red/ruddy/pale cheeks
soft/chubby/sunken cheeks
white/perfect/crooked/protruding teeth
a large/high/broad/wide/sloping forehead
a strong/weak/pointed/double chin
a long/full/bushy/wispy/goatee beard
a long/thin/bushy/droopy/handlebar/pencil moustache

Hair and skin

pale/fair/olive/dark/tanned skin
dry/oily/smooth/rough/leathery/wrinkled skin
a dark/pale/light/sallow/ruddy/olive/swarthy/clear complexion
deep/fine/little/facial wrinkles
blonde/blond/fair/(light/dark) brown/(jet-)black/auburn/red/(British English) ginger/grey hair
straight/curly/wavy/frizzy/spiky hair
thick/thin/fine/bushy/thinning hair
dyed/bleached/soft/silky/dry/greasy/shiny hair
long/short/shoulder-length/cropped hair
a bald/balding/shaved head
a receding hairline
a bald patch/spot
a side/centre(British English) parting

Body

a long/short/thick/slender/(disapproving) scrawny neck
broad/narrow/sloping/rounded/hunched shoulders
a bare/broad/muscular/small/large chest
a flat/swollen/bulging stomach
a small/tiny/narrow/slim/slender/28-inch waist
big/wide/narrow/slim hips
a straight/bent/arched/broad/hairy back
thin/slender/muscular arms
big/large/small/manicured/calloused/gloved hands
long/short/fat/slender/delicate/bony fingers
long/muscular/hairy/shapely/(both informal, often disapproving) skinny/spindly legs
muscular/chubby/(informal, disapproving) flabby thighs
big/little/small/dainty/wide/narrow/bare feet
a good/a slim/a slender/an hourglass figure
be of slim/medium/average/large/athletic/stocky build

Extra Examples

He held out his arms with a broad smile.
He placed a comforting arm around her shoulder.
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
His arms slid around her.
He ran towards her and flung his arms around her.
Kris collapsed into her mother's waiting arms.
Her arms tightened convulsively around the child.
She lay curled up in the crook of his arm (= where the arm bends at the elbow).
She moved closer to her father and took his arm (= linked her arm through his).
The couple linked arms and set off along the beach.
He stood there with crossed arms, looking angry.
The figure in the boat raised an arm.
He used his good arm to support his weight.
His arm hung awkwardly against his side.
His arms clutched his stomach.
Lucy felt the warm sun on her bare arms.
She carried the dog under one arm.
She ducked his flailing arms.
the muscles of the upper arm

Topics Bodya1

of clothing

the part of a piece of clothing that covers the arm synonym sleeve

The arms will need shortening.

of chair

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the part of a chair, etc. on which you rest your arms

She perched on the arm of his chair.

of a machine

a long narrow part of an object or a machine, especially one that moves

a robotic arm

Topics Engineeringc1

of water/land

a long narrow piece of water or land that is joined to a larger area

A small bridge spans the arm of the river.

of organization

[usually singular] arm (of something) a section of a large organization that deals with one particular activity synonym wing

the research arm of the company
The bank plans to sell part of its US finance arm.

Word Originnoun Old English arm, earm, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch arm and German Arm.

Idioms

(with) arms akimbo

with your hands on your hips and your elbows pointing away from your body
- She stood looking at him with arms akimbo.

as long as your arm

(informal) very long
- There's a list of repairs as long as your arm.

a babe in arms

(old-fashioned) a very small baby that cannot yet walk

bear arms

(old use) to be a soldier; to fight

chance your arm

(British English, informal) to take a risk although you will probably failTopics Difficulty and failurec2

cost/pay an arm and a leg

(informal) to cost/pay a lot of money

fold your arms

to put one of your arms over the other one and hold them against your body
- He stood watching her with his arms folded across his chest.
- She folded her arms and stared at him.

fold somebody in your arms

(literary) to put your arms around somebody and hold them against your body

give your right arm for something/to do something

(informal) used to say that somebody is willing to give up a lot in order to have or do something that they really want
- I'd have given my right arm to have been there with them.

keep somebody at arm’s length

to avoid having a close relationship with somebody
- He keeps all his clients at arm's length.
- She kept him at arm's length until he stopped smoking.

the long arm of something

the power and/or authority of something
- There is no escape from the long arm of the law.

a shot in the arm

something that encourages somebody/something or gives them the help they need
- Their enthusiasm has been a shot in the arm for all of us.

twist somebody’s arm

(informal) to persuade or force somebody to do somethingTopics Discussion and agreementc1

with open arms

if you welcome somebody with open arms, you are extremely happy and pleased to see them