gray matter

Meaning: Brain tissue and, by extension, intelligence.

Language: English

Literally: (Already vivid in English)

Category: Body & Senses

Origin: The expression refers to brain tissue, and suggests that one's intelligence is in direct proportion to size of one's brain.

More idioms — Body & Senses

• green around the gills — Sick to one's stomach; nauseated.
• green thumb — Natural ability to grow plants.
• hand in glove — Close or intimate.
• hand over fist — Extremely quickly.
• hand to mouth — To live in poor conditions from day to day; to be impoverished.
• head and shoulders above — At a much higher level.

More English idioms

• have one's head in the clouds — To be impractical or absent-minded; to be unaware of what is going on around one.
• head over heels in love — Very much in love; uncontrollably in love.
• heart to heart — Serious and intimate.
• hit the nail on the head — To come to the right conclusion.
• not hold one's breath — To not wait for something to happen because it probably won't happen soon, if at all.
• hold one's tongue — To refrain from speaking.

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