wait on someone hand and foot
Meaning: To do everything for someone, attending to their every need.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “When I broke my leg, my roommate waited on me hand and foot.”
Category: Body & Senses
Origin: Very old: a manuscript from around 1330 already says a woman "servede hem hande and fete." Hand and foot stand for the whole body — the person served never has to lift either.
Equivalents in other languages
- French: être aux petits soins — literally: to be at small cares
More idioms — Body & Senses
- have a sharp tongue — To speak in a harsh, cutting way.
- cut one's teeth — To gain one's first experience of something.
- be scared stiff — To be so frightened that one cannot move.
- with one hand tied behind one's back — Very easily; or, when forced on someone, at a great disadvantage.
- have a heart of gold — To be very kind and generous.
- get back on one's feet — To recover after an illness or a setback.
More English idioms
- bare one's teeth — To show hostility and a readiness to fight.
- one's eyes are bigger than one's stomach — To take more food than one can eat; more broadly, to want more than one can handle.
- have a memory like an elephant — To remember things, especially slights, for a very long time.
- be in the thick of it — To be in the busiest or most intense part of an activity.
- have stars in one's eyes — To be dazzled or dreamily idealistic, especially about love or fame.
- hit a snag — To run into an unexpected problem.
From our false friends
- Oldtimer — Actually means 'vintage car' or 'classic aircraft'. A veteran person is ein Veteran.
- Camera — Actually means 'room'. A camera (device) is una macchina fotografica.
- Pretendere — Actually means 'to demand' or 'to expect'. Pretende troppo = He demands too much.