Keep your nose clean, Mary

A story about friendship, kindness and self-development.

Once upon a time in a little town, there was a girl named Mary, known for always having her nose in the air. She had a superior air about her, looking down on everyone else.

One day, a mischievous boy named Jake moved to town. Unlike Mary, he knew the importance of keeping his nose clean. He avoided trouble and focused on his studies. Mary took notice of him, intrigued by his mysterious nature.

One sunny afternoon, a local fair was on the nose. Jake began to assist the fair organizers. Mary, curious to know Jake better, decided to stick her nose into the fair’s preparations.

As the fair commenced, Jake discovered that his prized pocket watch had disappeared. Panicked, he searched high and low, until he found it right under his nose in Mary’s possession. Surprised by her audacity, Jake confronted her, demanding an explanation. 

To Mary’s surprise, Jake didn’t scold her, but instead calmly asked why she had taken his watch. Mary confessed to hiding it out of a desire to gain his attention. Jake accepted her apology, teaching her a valuable lesson.

From that day forward, Mary learned that having her nose in the air brought her no joy or true friendships. Instead, she humbled herself, starting to appreciate others and keeping her nose clean. The townspeople noticed her transformation, and over time, Mary earned their respect and friendship.

As time passed, Mary realized that keeping her nose clean and treating others kindly made her happier. She realized it was no skin off her nose to be humble and considerate, and in doing so, she became a beloved member of the community, living a fulfilling life.

Exercise 1. Match the definitions to the idioms

1.have your nose in the air

2.keep your nose clean

3.right under (one’s nose)

4.It’s no skin off my (your) nose

5.stick your nose into something

a)Avoid trouble or situations that compromise one’s honesty

b)Have a snobbish or disdainful attitude

c)In an obvious location, yet overlooked

d)Intrude into something that is not your affair

e)The outcome will not affect me personally

Exercise 2. Fill in the gaps to stick nose into/under nose/keep nose clean/no skin off nose/nose in the air

1.She known for always having her ____.
2. He knew the importance of ___ his ____.
3. Emily decided ___ her ___ the fair’s preparations.
4. He found it right _____.
5. She realized it was ____ her __ to be humble and considerate.

Exercise 3. Choose the correct answer

1. Please ………… and stay far away from the troublemakers.
a)right under nose
b)on the nose
c)keep your nose clean

2. I don’t think much of Kim because she is very conceited and …………
a)stick her nose into
b)has her nose in the air
c)keeps her nose clean

3. We agreed to meet outside the cinema at six and I arrived ………..
a)on the nose
b)right under my nose
c)no skin off my nose

4. My phone was stolen right …………
a)under my nose
b)on the nose
c)stick your nose into it

5. I warn you and my advice to you is not to ………..
a)have my nose in the air
b)keep my nose clean
c)stick my nose into that

6. Hey, ……….. if you want to get a tattoo. I’m just saying that it’s something you may regret someday.
a)keep your nose clean
b)it’s no skin off my nose
c)stick your nose into it

Exercise 4. Correct the mistakes 

1) If you keep your nose pure, you behave well and avoid trouble.

2) Mary always seems to have her nose on the air.

3) Her predictions about the company’s collapse were right on nose.

4) I’ve been looking all over for that invitation, and it was right my nose the whole time!

5) I wish our neighbors would quit sticking their noses in and just leave us alone.

6)It’s not skin off my nose if she doesn’t want to come. Maria might be disappointed but I don’t care.

Answer key

Exercise 1.

1. b; 2. a; 3. c; 4. e; 5. d

Exercise 2.

1.She known for always having her nose in the air.
2. He knew the importance of keeping his nose clean.
3. Emily decided to stick her nose into the fair’s preparations.
4. He found it right under his nose.
5. She realized it was no skin off her nose to be humble and considerate.

Exercise 3.

1. c; 2. b; 3. a; 4. a; 5. c; 6. b

Exercise 4.

1) If you keep your nose clean, you behave well and avoid trouble.

2) Mary always seems to have her nose in the air.

3) Her predictions about the company’s collapse were right on the nose.

4) I’ve been looking all over for that invitation, and it was right under my nose the whole time!

5) I wish our neighbors would quit sticking their noses in and just leave us alone.

6)It’s no skin off my nose if she doesn’t want to come. Maria might be disappointed but I don’t care.