What is blood?

Blood is the red liquid that runs through our veins and carries oxygen around our bodies.

FUN FACT – There is no plural for blood, it’s always singular. For example

I cut myself and blood was spurting everywhere.
There was blood all over the murder weapon.

blood idioms list

Let’s look at some popular body idioms that contain the word ‘blood’.

bad blood
meaning – bitterness/hostility between people
example – There is bad blood between us. We fell out over a fence years ago.
blood brothers
meaning – men who swear to treat each other as brothers
example – This means that we’re blood brothers and that we’ll always have to stand by each other.
blood is thicker than water
meaning – family is more important than any other relationship
example – Do I go to my cousin’s wedding or a festival with my friends? Blood is thicker than water.
blood money
meaning – money received due to others misfortune/suffering
example – I could never be a hitman; blood money makes me sick.
blood runs cold
meaning – be terrified/frightened
example – The screams of the trapped workers made everyone’s blood run cold.
draw blood
meaning – make someone bleed
example – My parrot bit me. Luckily it didn’t draw blood, they have sharp beaks.
draw first blood
meaning – the first person to score/succeed/attack
example – The greens have drawn first blood, this is going to be one hell of a match.
flesh and blood
meaning – a close relative
example – Mary shopped her son to the police. How could she do that to her own flesh and blood.
have blood on one’s hands
meaning – be responsible for someone’s death
example – The president sent the troops to war without proper weapons. He’s got blood on his hands.
in cold blood
meaning – deliberately, ruthlessly, without emotion
example – Joey was killed in cold blood whilst walking home from a party.
in one’s blood
meaning – a skill/characteristic you have inherited from your family
example – I’m good with numbers, it’s in my blood. My dad and grandad are accountants.
like getting blood from stone
meaning – very difficult to get something from someone
example – Good luck trying to get your money back from Michael. It’s like getting blood from a stone.
make one’s blood boil
meaning – makes you very angry
example – It makes our blood boil to think he was living under our roof and stealing from us.
out for blood
meaning – determined to beat/punish someone
example – Jeff slapped his girlfriend. Her brothers are out for blood.