
IdiomBody & Senses
English
hale and hearty
Meaning: Healthy and strong, especially in old age.
Example: “At ninety, my grandmother is still hale and hearty.”
Origin: "Hale" is an old northern English word for whole or healthy, related to "whole" and "health." The alliterative pair is found from the 18th century.
Equivalents in other languages
French: Avoir bon pied bon œil Literally: To have a good foot and a good eye
More English idioms
- find one's sea legs To get used to a boat's movement; to grow comfortable in a new situation.
- hey presto Said when something happens suddenly, as if by magic.
- search me I don't know.
- set the cat among the pigeons To say or do something that causes trouble or uproar.
- storm clouds are gathering Trouble is coming.
- be rolling in it To be very rich.
Explore another collection: Tongue Twisters
Tricky phrases to practice out loud, from languages around the world.
- The sixth sick sheikh's sixth sheep's sick. Believed by Guinness to be among the hardest in English — 'six/sick/sheikh/sheep' blur in…
- Betty Botter bought some butter, but she said the butter's bitter. A 'b / t / tt' plosive drill that bounces between Betty, butter, and bitter.
- She sells seashells by the seashore. The definitive 's' versus 'sh' alternation — the tongue has to switch place of articulati…
Keep exploring