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nightclub audiences./ * /At the party, Charlie took off the principal
and some of the teachers./ 4. To take (time) to be absent from work. *
/When his wife was sick he took off from work./ * /Bill was tired out
so he took the day off./
[take off one's hat to] {v. phr.} To give honor, praise, and
respect to. * /He is my enemy, but I take off my hat to him for his
courage./ Compare: HAND IT TO.
[take offense at] {v. phr.} To become indignant; become angry. *
/Why do you always take offense at everything I say?/
[take off one's hands] {v. phr.} 1. To abdicate one's
responsibility of a person or matter. * /"I am herewith taking my hand
off your affairs," Lou's father said. "See how you succeed on your
own."/ 2. To buy; relieve someone of something. * /He offered to take
my old car off my hands for $350./
[take off the edge] See: TAKE THE EDGE OFF.
[take on] {v.} 1. To receive for carrying; be loaded with. * /A big
ship was at the dock taking on automobiles in crates to carry overseas
for sale./ * /The bus driver stopped at the curb to take the woman
on./ 2. To begin to have (the look of); take (the appearance of). *
/Others joined the fistfight until it took on the look of a riot./ *
/After the students put up Christmas decorations, the classroom took
on a holiday appearance./ 3a. To give a job to; hire; employ. * /The
factory has opened and is beginning to take on new workers./ Contrast:
LET GO(4), LET OFF, LET OUT(6). 3b. To accept in business or a
contest. * /The big man took on two opponents at once./ * /After his
father died, Bill took on the management of the factory./ * /We knew
their football team was bigger and stronger, but we took them on
anyway and beat them./ 4. {informal} To show great excitement, grief,
or anger. * /At the news of her husband's death she took on like a
madwoman./ Compare: CARRY-ON.
[take one at one's word] {v. phr.} To naively lend credence to what
one tells one. * /It's a bad idea to take street vendors at their word
in large, crowded cities./
[take one's breath away] {v. phr.} To surprise greatly; impress
very much; leave speechless with surprise or wonder or delight;
astonish. * /The sunset is so beautiful it takes our breath away./ *
/His refusal was so unexpected it took my breath away./ Compare: CATCH
ONE'S BREATH(1).
[take one's death of] See: CATCH ONE'S DEATH OF.
[take one's leave] or [take leave of] {v. phr.}, {formal} To say
good-bye and leave. * /He stayed on after most of the guests had taken
their leave./ * /The messenger bowed and took leave of the queen./ -
[leave-taking] {n.} The end of school in June is a time of
leave-taking.
[take one's life in one's hands] {v. phr.} To face great danger or
take great risk. * /Driving that car with those worn tires would be
taking your life in your hands./ * /He took his life in his hands when
he tried to capture the wild horse./
[take one's measure] or [take the measure of] {v. phr.} To judge
the character, quality, or nature of; try to guess about something -
how hard or easy, dangerous or safe, good or bad, etc. * /The boxers
sparred for a while taking each other's measure./ * /John took the
measure of the cliff before he climbed it./ Compare: SIZE UP.
[take one's medicine] {v. phr.} To accept punishment without
complaining. * /The boy said he was sorry he broke the window and was
ready to take his medicine./ Compare: FACE THE MUSIC(2).
[take one's name in vain] {v. phr.} 1. To call upon (God) as a
witness to your truth or honesty when you are lying; swear by (God)
untruthfully. * /You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in
vain./ 2. {informal} To talk about a person or mention his name. *
/"Did I hear someone taking my name in vain?" asked Bill as he joined
his friends./
[take one's time] {v. phr.} To avoid haste; act in an unhurried
way. * /He liked to take his time over breakfast./ * /It is better to
take your time at this job than to hurry and make mistakes./
[take one's word] {v. phr.} To believe one's promise. * /Herb took
Eric's word when he promised to pay up his debt./
[take on faith] {v. phr.} To lend credence to something due to
one's confidence in the source, rather than based on evidence. * /One
should never take on faith what one hears about Washington politics./
[take on oneself] or [take upon oneself] {v. phr.} 1. To accept as
a duty or responsibility. * /He took it on himself to see that the
packages were delivered./ 2. To assume wrongfully or without
permission as a right or privilege. * /You should not have taken it
upon yourself to accept the invitation for the whole family./
[take one wrong] See: GET ONE WRONG.
[take on the chin] {v. phr.} To gracefully accept criticism. *
/It's good to be able to tell people what they do wrong, but it is
equally important to be able to take it on the chin when they tell you
what you have done wrong./
[take out] {v. phr.} 1. To ask for and fill in. * /Mary and John
took out a marriage license./ 2. To begin to run. * /When the window
broke, the boys took out in all directions./ * /When the wind blew the
man's hat off, Charlie took out after it./ See: TAKE IT OUT ON.
[take out after] {v. phr.} To start pursuing one. * /The watchdog
took out after the burglars./
[take out on] {v. phr.} To vent one's sadness, frustration, or
anger on someone who is usually innocent of the problem at hand. *
/"Why are you always taking out your frustrations on me?" Jane asked
Tom, when he slammed the door./
[take-out order] {n. phr.} An order in a restaurant that one does
not eat on the premises, but takes home. * /The new Chinese restaurant
on the corner sells nice take-out orders./
[take over] {v.} 1a. To take control or possession of. * /He
expects to take over the business when his father retires./ 1b. To
take charge or responsibility. * /The airplane pilot fainted and his
co-pilot had to take over./ 2. To borrow, imitate, or adopt. * /The
Japanese have taken over many European ways of life./
[take pains] {v. phr.} To do something very carefully and
thoroughly. * /She had taken pains to see that her guests had
everything that they could possibly want./ * /She always takes pains
with her appearance./
[take part] {v. phr.} To have a part or share; join. * /Jim saw the
new boy watching the game and asked him to take part./ * /The Swiss
did not take part in the two World Wars./
[take pity on] also [take pity upon] {v. phr.} To feel sympathy or
pity and do something for. * /Mary took pity on the orphan kittens./ *
/The farmer took pity upon the campers, and let them stay in his barn
during the rain./
[take place] {v. phr.} To happen; occur. * /The accident took place
only a block from his home./ * /The action of the play takes place in
ancient Rome./ * /The dance will take place after the graduation
exercises./ Compare: GO ON(3).
[take potluck] {v. phr.} To share as a guest an everyday meal
without special preparation. * /You are welcome to stay for dinner if
you will take potluck./ * /They were about to have lunch when he
phoned and they asked him to take potluck with them./
[take root] {v. phr.} 1. To form roots so as to be able to live and
grow. * /We hope the transplanted apple trees will take root./ 2. To
be accepted; to be adopted; to live and succeed in a new place. *
/Many European customs failed to take root in the New World./ * /The
immigrants to our country took root and began to think of themselves
as Native Americans./
[take shape] {v. phr.} To grow or develop into a certain fixed
form. * /Plans for our vacation are beginning to take shape./ * /Their
new home took shape as the weeks went by./ Compare: SHAPE UP.
[take sick] See: TAKE ILL.
[take sides] {v. phr.} To join one group against another in a
debate or quarrel. * /Switzerland refused to take sides in the two
World Wars./ * /Tom wanted to go fishing. Dick wanted to take a hike.
Bob took sides with Tom so they all went fishing./ Compare: LINE
UP(4b). Contrast: ON THE FENCE.
[take someone for a ride] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To cheat or
swindle someone. * /Poor Joe Catwallender was taken for a ride./ 2. To
kill someone after kidnapping. * /The criminals took the man for a
ride./
[take steps] {v. phr.} To begin to make plans or arrangements; make
preparations; give orders. - Usually used with "to" and an infinitive.
* /The city is taking steps to replace its streetcars with busses./
[take stock] {v. phr.} 1. To count exactly the items of merchandise
or supplies in stock; take inventory. * /The grocery store took stock
every week on Monday mornings./ 2. To study carefully a situation, or
a number of possibilities or opportunities. * /During the battle the
commander paused to take stock of the situation./ Compare: SIZE UP.
[take stock in] {v. phr.}, {informal} To have faith in; trust;
believe. - Usually used in the negative. * /He took no stock in the
idea that women were better cooks than men./ * /They took little or no
stock in the boy's story that he had lost the money./ * /Do you take
any stock in the gossip about Joan?/
[take the bit in one's mouth] also [take the bit in one's teeth]
{adv. phr.} To have your own way; take charge of things; take control
of something. * /When Mary wanted something, she was likely to take
the bit in her teeth and her parents could do nothing with her./
Compare: TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS, TAKE THE LAW INTO ONE'S OWN
HANDS.
[take the bread out of one's mouth] {v. phr.} To take away or not
give your rightful support, especially through selfish pleasure. *
/She accused her husband of drinking and gambling - taking bread out
of his children's mouths./
[take the bull by the horns] {v. phr.}, {informal} To take definite
action and not care about risks; act bravely in a difficulty. * /He
decided to take the bull by the horns and demand a raise in salary
even though it might cost him his job./ Compare: TAKE THE BIT IN ONE'S
MOUTH, TAKE THE LAW INTO ONE'S OWN HANDS.
[take the cake] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To take the first prize; be
the best; rank first. * /Mr. Jones takes the cake as a storyteller./
2. To be the limit; to be the worst; have a lot of nerve; be a very
rude, bold, or surprising action. * /I let Jack borrow my baseball and
he never gave it back. Doesn't that take the cake?/ * /For being
absent-minded, Mr. Smith takes the cake./ Compare: BEAT ALL.
[take the day off] See: DAY OFF.
[take the defensive] Contrast: TAKE THE OFFENSIVE.
[take the edge off] also [take off the edge] {v. phr.} To lessen,
weaken, soften or make dull. * /Eating a candy bar before dinner has
taken the edge off Becky's appetite./ * /Bob was sorry for hurting Tom
and that took the edge off Tom's anger./ * /A headache took the edge
off Dick's pleasure in the movie./
[take the fifth] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. Taking refuge behind the
Fifth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States which
guarantees any witness the right not to incriminate himself while
testifying at a trial. * /Alger Hiss took the Fifth when asked whether
he was a member of the Communist Party./ 2. Not to answer any question
in an informal setting. * /Have you been married before? - I take the
Fifth./
[take the floor] {v. phr.} To get up and make a speech in a
meeting. * /The audience became very attentive the moment the
president took the floor./
[take the law into one's own hands] {v. phr.} To protect one's
supposed rights or punish a suspected wrongdoer without reference to a
court. - An overused expression. * /When the men of the settlement
caught the suspected murderer, they took the law into their own hands
and hanged him to a tree./ * /His farm was going to be sold for taxes,
but he took the law into his own hands and drove the sheriff away with
a shotgun./ Compare: LAW UNTO ONESELF, TAKE THE BIT IN ONE'S MOUTH.
[take the lid off] {v. phr.} 1. To let out in the open; divulge. *
/It's about time to take the lid off the question of how many
prisoners of war are still in enemy hands./ 2. To start to face an
issue. * /"The best way to deal with your divorce," the doctor said to
Fran, "is to take the lid off of it."/ Compare: BLOW THE LID OFF, LET
THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG.
[take the measure of] See: TAKE ONE'S MEASURE.
[take the offensive] {v. phr.} To make oneself the attacking party.
* /After many months of preparation, the freedom fighters were ready
to take the offensive./ Contrast TAKE THE DEFENSIVE.
[take the pledge] {v. phr.} To swear to give up drinking, smoking,
or using drugs. * /Gary finally took the pledge and he has kept it
thus far./
[take the plunge] {v. phr.} To take a fatal or decisive step;
venture. * /When I asked Don when he and Melissa were going to get
married, he answered that they'll take the plunge in September./
[take the rap] {v. phr.}, {slang} To receive punishment; to be
accused and punished. * /All of the boys took apples, but only John
took the rap./ * /Joe took the burglary rap for his brother and went
to prison for two years./
[take the stand] {v. phr.} To assume one's position in the witness
box during a trial. * /The judge asked the defendant to take the
stand./
[take the starch out of] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To make (someone)
feel weak or tired. * /The hot weather took the starch out of Mrs.
Jones, and she didn't feel like doing a thing./ * /The cross-country
run took all the starch out of the boys./ 2. See: TAKE THE WIND OUT OF
ONE'S SAILS.
[take the stump] or [take to the stump] {v. phr.} To travel around
to different places making political speeches. * /The men running for
president took to the stump to attract votes./
[take the trouble] See: GO TO THE TROUBLE.
[take the wind out of one's sails] {v. phr.} To surprise someone by
doing better or by catching him in an error. * /John came home
boasting about the fish he had caught; it took the wind out of his
sails when he found his little sister had caught a bigger one./ *
/Dick took the wind out of Bob's sails by showing him where he was
wrong./ Compare: TAKE THE STARCH OUT OF(2).
[take the words out of one's mouth] {v. phr.} To say what another
is just going to say; to put another's thought into words. * /"Let's
go to the beach tomorrow." "You took the words right out of my mouth;
I was thinking of that."/ * /I was going to suggest a movie, but she
took the words out of my mouth and said she would like to see one./
[take things easy] See: TAKE IT EASY(2).
[take time off] See: TIME OFF; Compare: DAY OFF.
[take time out] See: TIME OUT.
[take to] {v.} 1. To go to or into; get yourself quickly to. -
Often used in the imperative. * /Take to the hills! The bandits are
coming!/ * /We took to the woods during the day so no one would see
us./ * /Take to the boats! The ship is sinking./ * /We stopped at a
hotel for the night but took to the road again the next morning./ 2.
To begin the work or job of; make a habit of. * /He took to repairing
watches in his spare time./ * /She took to knitting when she got
older./ * /Grandfather took to smoking cigars when he was young and he
still smokes them./ * /Uncle Willie took to drink while he was a
sailor./ * /The cat took to jumping on the table at mealtime./ 3. To
learn easily; do well at. * /Father tried to teach John to swim, but
John didn't take to it./ * /Mary takes to mathematics like a duck
takes to water./ 4. To like at first meeting; be pleased by or
attracted to; accept quickly. * /Our dog always takes to children
quickly./ * /Mary didn't take kindly to the new rule that her mother
made of being home at 6 o'clock./
[take to heart] also [lay to heart] {v. phr.} To be seriously
affected by; to feel deeply. * /He took his brother's death very much
to heart./ * /He took his friend's advice to heart./
[take to one's heels] also [show a clean pair of heels] {v. phr.}
To begin to run or run away. * /When he heard the police coming, the
thief took to his heels./
[take to task] {v. phr.} To reprove or scold for a fault or error.
* /He took his wife to task for her foolish wastefulness./ * /The
principal took Bill to task for breaking the window./
[take to the cleaners] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To win all the money
another person has (as in poker). * /Watch out if you play poker with
Joe; he'll take you to the cleaners./ 2. To cheat a person out of his
money and possessions by means of a crooked business transaction or
other means of dishonest conduct. * /I'll never forgive myself for
becoming associated with Joe; he took me to the cleaners./
[take to the woods] {v. phr.}, {informal} To run away and hide. *
/When John saw the girls coming, he took to the woods./ * /Bob took to
the woods so he would not have to mow the grass./ Compare: HEAD FOR
THE HILLS.
[take turns] {v. phr.} To do something one after another instead of
doing it all at the same time. * /In class we should not talk all at
the same time; we should take turns./ * /Jean and Beth took turns on
the swing./ * /The two boys took turns at digging the hole./ * /The
three men took turns driving so one would not be too tired./
[take under one's wing] See: UNDER ONE'S WING.
[take up] {v.} 1. To remove by taking in. * /Use a blotter to take
up the spilled ink./ * /When the vacuum cleaner bag is full, it will
not take up dirt from the rug./ 2. To fill or to occupy. * /All his
evenings were taken up with study./ * /The oceans take up the greater
part of the earth's surface./ * /The mayor has taken up residence on
State Street./ 3. To gather together; collect. * /We are taking up a
collection to buy flowers for John because he is in the hospital./ 4.
To take away. * /John had his driver's license taken up for speeding./
5a. To begin; start. * /The teacher took up the lesson where she left
off yesterday./ 5b. To begin to do or learn; go into as a job or
hobby. * /He recently took up gardening./ * /He took up the
carpenter's trade as a boy./ Compare: GO INTO(3), GO IN FOR, TAKE TO.
6. To pull and make tight or shorter; shorten. * /The tailor took up
the legs of the trousers./ * /Take up the slack on the rope!/ Compare:
TAKE IN(3). 7. To take or accept something that is offered. * /The
boss offered me a $5 raise and I took him up./ * /I took John up on
his bet./ Compare: JUMP AT.
[take up arms] {v. phr.}, {literary}. To get ready to fight; fight
or make war. * /The people were quick to take up arms to defend their
freedom./ * /The President called on people to take up arms against
poverty./ Contrast: LAY DOWN ONE'S ARMS.
[take upon oneself] See: TAKE ON ONESELF.
[take up the cudgels for] {v. phr.}, {literary} To come to the
defense of; to support or fight for. * /He was the first to take up
the cudgels for his friend./ Compare: STAND UP FOR.
[take up with] {v.} To begin to go around with (someone); see a lot
of. * /Frank has taken up with Lucy lately./
[take with a grain of salt] also [take with a pinch of salt] {v.
phr.} To accept or believe only in part; not accept too much. * /A man
who says he is not a candidate for President should usually have his
statement taken with a grain of salt./ * /We took Uncle George's
stories of the war with a pinch of salt./
[taking pictures] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon}
To use a radar-operated speed indicator in order to enforce the 55 MPH
speed limit. * /The Smokeys are taking pictures!/
[tale] See: TELL TALES OUT OF SCHOOL.
[talent scout] {n. phr.} A person employed by a large organization
to seek out promising and gifted individuals. * /Gordon has been
working as a talent scout for a television program./ Compare: HEAD
HUNTING(2).
[talent show] {n.} An entertainment in which new entertainers try
to win a prize. * /Mary won the talent show by her dancing./ * /The
people liked Bill's singing in the talent show./
[talk] See: DOUBLE-TALK, PEP TALK, SALES TALK, SWEET TALK.
[talk a blue streak] {v. phr.}, {informal} To talk on and on,
usually very fast. * /Sue is a nice girl but after one drink she talks
a blue streak and won't stop./
[talk back] also [answer back] {v.} {informal} To answer rudely;
reply in a disrespectful way; be fresh. * /When the teacher told the
boy to sit down, he talked back to her and said she couldn't make
him./ * /Mary talked back when her mother told her to stop watching
television; she said, "I don't have to if I don't want to."/ *
/Russell was going somewhere with some bad boys, when his father told
him it was wrong, Russell answered him back, "Mind your own
business."/
[talk big] {v.}, {informal} To talk boastfully; brag. * /He talks
big about his pitching, but he hasn't won a game./
[talk down] {v.} 1. To make (someone) silent by talking louder or
longer. * /Sue tried to give her ideas, but the other girls talked her
down./ Compare: SHOUT DOWN(2). To use words or ideas that are too
easy. * /The speaker talked down to the students, and they were
bored./
[talking book] {n.} A book recorded by voice on phonograph records
for blind people. * /Billy, who was blind, learned history from a
talking book./
[talking point] {n.} Something good about a person or thing that
can be talked about in selling it. * /The streamlined shape of the car
was one of its talking points./ * /John tried to get Mary to date
Bill. One of his talking points was that Bill was captain of the
football team./
[talk in circles] {v. phr.} To waste time by saying words that
don't mean very much. * /After three hours at the negotiating table,
the parties decided to call it quits because they realized that they
had been talking in circles./
[talk into] {v.} 1. To get (someone) to agree to; make (someone)
decide on (doing something) by talking; persuade to. - Used with a
verbal noun. * /Bob talked us into walking home with him./ Compare:
TALK OVER(2). Contrast TALK OUT OF. 2. To cause to be in or to get
into by talking. * /You talked us into this mess. Now get us out!/ *
/Mr. Jones lost the customer in his store by arguing with him./ *
/"You'll talk us into the poor house yet!" said Mrs. Jones./ Contrast:
TALK OUT OF.
[talk of the town] {n. phr.} Something that has become so popular
or prominent that everyone is discussing it. * /Even after three
decades, Picasso's famous metal statue is still the talk of the town
in Chicago./
[talk out] {v.} To talk all about and leave nothing out; discuss
until everything is agreed on; settle. * /After their quarrel, Jill
and John talked things out and reached full agreement./
[talk out of] {v.} 1. To persuade not to; make agree or decide not
to. - Used with a verbal noun. * /Mary's mother talked her out of
quitting school./ Contrast: TALK INTO. 2. To allow to go or get out by
talking; let escape by talking. * /Johnny is good at talking his way
out of trouble./ Contrast: TALK INTO.
[talk out of turn] See: SPEAK OUT OF TURN.
[talk over] {v.} 1. To talk together about; try to agree about or
decide by talking; discuss. * /Tom talked his plan over with his
father before he bought the car./ * /The boys settled their argument
by talking it over./ 2. To persuade; make agree or willing; talk and
change the mind of. * /Fred is trying to talk Bill over to our side./
Compare: TALK INTO.
[talk rot] {v. phr.} To say silly things; talk nonsense. * /He's
talking rot when he says that our company is almost bankrupt./
[talk shop] {v. phr.}, {informal} To talk about things in your work
or trade. * /Two chemists were talking shop, and I hardly understood a
word they said./
[talk through one's hat] {v. phr.}, {informal} To say something
without knowing or understanding the facts; talk foolishly or
ignorantly. * /John said that the earth is nearer the sun in summer,
but the teacher said he was talking through his hat./
[talk turkey] {v. phr.}, {informal} To talk about something in a
really businesslike way; talk with the aim of getting things done. *
/Charles said, "Now, let's talk turkey about the bus trip. The fact
is, it will cost each student $1.50."/ * /The father always spoke
gently to his son, but when the son broke the windshield of the car,
the father talked turkey to him./
[talk up] {v.} 1. To speak in favor or support of. * /Let's talk up
the game and get a big crowd./ 2. To speak plainly or clearly. * /The
teacher asked the student to talk up./ Syn.: SPEAK UP. 3. {informal}
To say what you want or think; say what someone may not like. * /Talk
up if you want more pie./ * /George isn't afraid to talk up when he
disagrees with the teacher./ Syn.: SPEAK UP. Compare: SPEAK OUT.
[tall order] See: LARGE ORDER.
[tall story] or [tale] {n. phr.} See: FISH STORY.
[tamper with] {v.} 1. To meddle with (something); handle ignorantly
or foolishly. * /He tampered with the insides of his watch and ruined
it./ 2. To secretly get someone to do or say wrong things, especially
by giving him money, or by threatening to hurt him. * /A friend of the
man being tried in court tampered with a witness./
[tank] See: THINK TANK.
[tan one's hide] {v. phr.}, {informal} To give a beating to; spank
hard. * /Bob's father tanned his hide for staying out too late./
[tape] See: FRICTION TAPE, MASKING TAPE.
[taper down] {adj. phr.} To decrease; reduce. * /He has tapered
down his drinking from three martinis to one beer a day./
[taper off] {v.} 1. To come to an end little by little; become
smaller toward the end. * /The river tapers off here and becomes a
brook./ 2. To stop a habit gradually; do something less and less
often. * /Robert gave up smoking all at once instead of tapering off./
Contrast: COLD TURKEY.
[tar] See: BEAT THE --- OUT OF.
[tar and feather] {v.} To pour heated tar on and cover with
feathers as a punishment. * /In the Old West bad men were sometimes
tarred and feathered and driven out of town./
[task] See: TAKE TO TASK.
[taste] See: LEAVE A BAD TASTE IN ONE'S MOUTH.
[tat] See: TIT FOR TAT.
[tax trap] {n.}, {informal} Predicament in which taxpayers in
middle-income brackets are required to pay steeply progressive rates
of taxation as their earnings rise with inflation but their personal
exemptions remain fixed, resulting in a loss of real disposable
income. * /Everybody in my neighborhood has been caught in a tax
trap./
[T-bone steak] {n.} A steak with a bone in it which looks like a
"T". * /On Jim's birthday we had T-bone steak for supper./
[tea] See: CUP OF TEA also DISH OF TEA.
[teach a lesson] {v. phr.} To show that bad behavior can be
harmful. * /When Johnny pulled Mary's hair, she taught him a lesson by
breaking his toy boat./ * /The burns Tommy got from playing with
matches taught him a lesson./
[teach the ropes] See: THE ROPES.
[team up with] {v. phr.} To join with; enter into companionship
with. * /My brother prefers to do business by himself rather than to
team up with anybody else./
[teapot] See: TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT.
[tear around] {v. phr.} To be constantly on the go; dash around. *
/No one can understand how she manages to tear around from one social
event to another and yet be a good mother to her children./
[tear down] {v.} 1. To take all down in pieces; destroy. * /The
workmen tore down the old house and built a new house in its place./
2. To take to pieces or parts. * /The mechanics had to tear down the
engine, and fix it, and put it together again./ 3. To say bad things
about; criticize. * /"Why do you always tear people down? Why don't
you try to say nice things about them?"/ * /Dorothy doesn't like
Sandra, and at the class meeting she tore down every idea Sandra
suggested./
[tear into] {v. phr.} To attack vigorously, physically or verbally.
* /The anxious buyers tore into the wedding gowns on sale at the
famous department store./ See: RIP INTO.
[tearjerker] {n.} A sentimental novel or movie that makes one cry.
* /Love Story, both in its novel form and as a movie, was a famous
tearjerker./
[tear oneself away] {v. phr.} To force oneself to leave; leave
reluctantly. * /The beaches in Hawaii are so lovely that I had to tear
myself away from them in order to get back to my job in Chicago./
[tear one's hair] {v. phr.} To show sorrow, anger, or defeat. *
/Ben tore his hair when he saw the wrecked car./ * /The teacher tore
his hair at the boy's stupid answer./ * /It was time to go to class,
but Mary had not finished the report she had to give, and she began
tearing her hair./
[tears] See: BORE TO TEARS, CROCODILE TEARS.
[tear up] {v.} 1. To dig a hole in; remove the surface of; remove
from the surface. * /The city tore up the street to lay a new water
pipe./ * /Mother tore up the carpeting in the living room and had a
new rug put in./ 2. To tear into pieces. * /Mary tore up the old
sheets and made costumes for the play out of the pieces./ * /John tore
up his test paper so that his mother wouldn't see his low grade./
[tee off] {v.} 1. To hit the golf ball from a small wooden peg or
tee to begin play for each hole. * /We got to the golf course just in
time to see the champion tee off./ 2. {slang} To hit a ball,
especially a baseball very hard or far. * /He teed off on the first
pitch./ 3. {slang} To attack vigorously. * /The governor teed off on
his opponent's speech./ 4. {slang} To make (someone) angry or
disgusted. * /It teed me off when Billy stole my candy./ * /Joe was
teed off because he had to wait so long./
[teeth] See: TOOTH.
[tee up] {v.} To set the golf ball on the tee in preparation for
hitting it toward the green. * /Arnold Palmer teed the ball up for the
final hole./
[telepathy] See: MENTAL TELEPATHY.
[tell] See: DO TELL, I'LL SAY or I TELL YOU, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT,
I'M TELLING YOU, YOU'RE TELLING ME, YOU TELL 'EM.
[tell apart] {v. phr.} To see the difference between; know each of.
* /The teacher could not tell the twins apart./
[tell a thing or two] {v. phr.}, {informal} To tell in plain or
angry words; scold. * /When John complained about the hard work, his
father told him a thing or two./ * /If Bert thinks he would like to
join the army, I'll tell him a thing or two that will make him change
his mind./ Compare: BAWL OUT, GIVE A PIECE OF ONE'S MIND, TELL OFF,
THING OR TWO.
[tell it like it is] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To be honest,
sincere; to tell the truth. * /Joe is the leader of our commune; he
tells it like it is./
[tell it to the marines] or [tell it to
Sweeney] {slang} I don't
believe you; Stop trying to fool me. * /John said, "My father knows
the President of the United States." Dick answered, "Tell it to the
marines."/
[tell off] {v.} 1. To name or count one by one and give some
special duty to; give a share to. * /Five boy scouts were told off to
clean the camp./ 2. {informal} To speak to angrily or sharply; attack
with words; scold. * /Mr. Black got angry and told off the boss./ *
/Bobby kept pulling Sally's hair; finally she got angry and told him
where to get off./ Syn.: TELL ONE WHERE TO GET OFF. Compare: GIVE A
PIECE OF ONE'S MIND, LAY DOWN THE LAW, TELL A THING OR TWO.
[tell on] {v.} 1. To tire; wear out; make weak. * /The ten-mile
hike told on Bill./ 2. {informal} To tell someone about another's
wrong or naughty acts. - Used mainly by children. * /Andy hit a little
girl and John told the teacher on Andy./ * /If you hit me, I'll tell
Mother on you./
[tell tales out of school] {v. phr.} To tell something that is
secret; tell others something that is not meant to be known. * /Don't
tell Jane anything. She is always telling tales out of school./
Compare: LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG, SPILL THE BEANS.
[tell one where to get off] or [tell one where to head in] {v.
phr.}, {informal} To talk angrily to; speak to or answer with rough
language; scold. * /Bob told Ted to get out of his way. Ted told Bob
where to get off./ * /Mary laughed at Barbara's hairdo. Barbara told
Mary where to head in./ Compare: TELL A THING OR TWO, TELL OFF.
[tell time] {v. phr.} To read a clock or watch. * /Although Johnny
is only three years old, he is already able to tell time./
[tell you what] See: I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.
[temper] See: GOD TEMPERS THE WIND TO THE SHORN LAMB, HOLD ONE'S
TEMPER or KEEP ONE'S TEMPER, LOSE ONE'S TEMPER.
[temperature] See: RUN A TEMPERATURE.
[tempest in a teapot] {n. phr.} Great excitement about something
not important. * /Bess tore her skirt a little and made a tempest in a
teapot./
[tempt fate] or [tempt the fates] {v. phr.} To take a chance; run a
risk; gamble. * /You're tempting fate every time you drive that old
wreck of a car./
[ten] See: DIME STORE or FIVE-AND-TEN, COUNT TO TEN.
[ten-four?] {v. phr.}, {interrog.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio
jargon} Do you understand? * /Is that a ten-four?/
[ten gallon hat] {n.}, {informal} A tall felt hat with a wide,
rolled brim worn by men in the western part of the U.S. * /Men from
the southwest usually wear ten gallon hats./
[ten roger] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon} I
acknowledge. * /That's a ten roger./
[ten to one] or [two to one] {adv.} or {adj. phr.}, {informal}
Almost certainly, nearly sure to be true; very likely to happen. *
/Ten to one it will rain tomorrow./ * /It is ten; to one that Bill
will be late./
[term] See: BRING TO TERMS, COME TO TERMS, IN SO MANY WORDS(2) or
IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS, IN TERMS OF.
[terror] See: HOLY TERROR.
[test] See: ROAD TEST, SCREEN TEST.
[tether] See: END OF ONE'S ROPE or END OF ONE'S TETHER.
[than] See: LESS THAN, LESS THAN NO TIME, MORE THAN.
[thank one's lucky stars] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be thankful for
good luck; think oneself lucky. * /You can thank your lucky stars you
didn't fall in the hole./
[thanks to] {prep.} 1. With the help of. * /Thanks to a good
teacher, John passed the examination./ * /I finally finished washing
the dishes, no thanks to you./ 2. Owing to; because of. * /Thanks to a
sudden rain, the children came home with wet clothes./
[that is] or [that is to say] I mean; that means; in other words. *
/John is a New Yorker; that is, he lives in New York./ * /Susan is a
good student; that is to say, she gets good grades in school./
[that is that] or [that's that] {informal} The matter is decided;
there is nothing more to be said; it is done. * /Jim, you will go to
school this morning, and that is that./
[that'll be the day] {informal} That will never happen. * /Joe
wanted me to lend him money to take my girl to the movies. That'll be
the day!/ * /"Wouldn't it be nice if we had to go to school only one
day a week?" "That'll be the day!"/
[That makes two of us!] Informal way to say, "I am in agreement
with what you arc saying or doing." * /So you voted for Senator
Aldridge? So did I - that makes two of us./
[That takes care of that!] Informal way to say, "That concludes our
business." * /I paid my ex-wife the last alimony check and that takes
care of that!/
[That will do!] Informal expression of impatience meaning "stop,"
"no more." * /"That will do, Tommy," his mother cried. "I've had just
about enough of your drumming on the table."/
[that's --- for you] That's the way (someone or something) is;
(someone or something) is like that. * /John tried hard, but he lost
the game. That's life for you./ * /Mary changed her mind about going.
That's a girl for you./
[That's about the size of it!] Informal way to say, "What you said
is true; the rumor or the news is true." * /"I am told you're leaving
our firm for Japan," Fred said to Tom. "That's about the size of it,"
Tom replied with a grin./
[That's the story of my life...] Usually spoken when something goes
wrong. * /I spent seven years writing a novel, but no publisher wants
to accept it. That's the story of my life./
[That's the ticket!] Informal way to say, "excellent; correct." *
/"First we'll go up the Sears Tower, and then we'll take a night
sightseeing tour on the lake," Fran said. "That's the ticket!" Stan,
an old inhabitant of Chicago, replied./
[That's the way the ball bounces] or [the cookie crumbles!] Nothing
unusual about that. - Said of unpleasant things. * /"Susan left me for
a heavyweight boxer, and then I got drunk and wrecked my car," Bob
bitterly complained. "Well, that's the way the cookie crumbles," Pam
answered philosophically./
[theater] See: LITTLE THEATER.
[the business] {n.}, {slang} - Usually used with "give" or "get".
1. All that you are able to do; greatest effort. * /Johnny gave the
tryouts the business but he failed to make the team./ 2. The most harm
possible; the greatest damage or hurt. * /Fred got the business when
Tom caught him with his bicycle./ 3. A harsh scolding. * /The teacher
gave Walter the business when he came to school late again./ * /Mike
thought he was the star of the team until he got the business from the
coach./ Compare: THE WORKS.
[The cat did it!] A humorous and convenient way to pass the blame.
* /"My vase is broken!" Mother shrieked in horror. "Well," Dad smirked
cynically, "I guess the cat did it!"/
[the creeps] {n.}, {informal} 1. An uncomfortable tightening of the
skin caused by fear or shock. * /Reading the story of a ghost gave Joe
the creeps./ * /The queer noises in the old house gave Mary the
creeps./ 2. A strong feeling of fear or disgust. * /The cold, damp,
lonely swamp gave John the creeps./ * /The dog was so ugly it gave
Mary the creeps./
[the devil to pay] {n. phr.} A severe penalty. * /If we don't
finish the work by next Monday, there will be the devil to pay./
[the edge] {n.}, {informal} The advantage. - Usually used in the
phrases "get the edge on", "have the edge on". * /In the last quarter
of the game, our team got the edge on the other team and kept it./ *
/Mary has the edge on Jane in the beauty contest./
[the fickle finger of fate] See: ACT OF GOD.
[the idea] or [the very idea] {n. phr.} - Used in exclamations to
show that you do not like something. * /The idea! Thinking Mother was
my sister!/ * /The very idea of Tom bringing that dirty dog into my
clean house!/
[the lid] {n.}, {slang} Something that holds back or holds out of
sight. * /The police blew the lid off the gambling operations./ *
/John kept the lid on his plans until he was ready to run for class
president./ * /The chief of police placed the lid on gambling in the
town./
[the likes of] {informal} Something like or similar to; something
of the same kind as. * /I have never seen the likes of John./ * /It
was a chocolate sundae the likes of which Mary would never see again./
[the long and the short] or [the long and short] {n. phr.} All that
needs to be said; the basic fact; point. * /The long and the short of
the matter is that the man is no actor./ * /The money isn't there, and
that's the long and short of it./
[the matter] {adj.} Not as it should be; wrong. - Used in questions
or with negatives or "if". * /Why don't you answer me? What's the
matter?/ * /John may be slow in arithmetic, but nothing's the matter
with his pitching arm./ * /If anything is the matter, please tell me./
[the more --- the more ---] or [the ---er the ---er] - Used in two
halves of a sentence to show that when there is more of the first,
there is more of the second too. * /The more you eat. the fatter you
will get./ * /Get your report in when you can; the sooner, the
better./ * /The bigger they are, the harder they fall./ * /The more
Bill worked on the arithmetic problem, the more confused he became./
[then] See: AND THEN SOME, EVERY NOW AND THEN, NOW AND THEN.
[then again] {adv.} As an opposite possibility; another thing. *
/He may be here tomorrow. Then again, he may not come until next
week./ * /I thought you told me about the fire, but then again it
could have been Bill./
[then and there] {adv. phr.} At that very time and place in the
past; right then. * /He said he wanted his dime back then and there,
so I had to give it to him./ Compare: IN ONE'S TRACKS, ON THE SPOT,
HERE AND NOW.
[the other day] {adv. phr.} In the recent past. * /I saw an
incredible parade of elephants along Michigan Avenue the other day on
my way to work./
[the other way around] {adv. phr.} See: JUST THE OTHER WAY.
[the picture] {n.} The way things are or were; the facts about
something; the situation; what happened or happens. * /Where does
Susan come into the picture./ * /When you are looking for a job your
education enters into the picture./ * /Old Mr. Brown is out of the
picture now and his son runs the store./ * /After the fight on the
playground, the principal talked to the boys who were watching, until
he got the whole picture./ Compare: GET THE MESSAGE.
[the pits] {n.}, {slang} 1. A low class, blighted and
ill-maintained place, motel room or apartment. * /Max, this motel is
the pits, I will not sleep here!/ 2. The end of the road, the point of
no return, the point of total ruin of one's health (from the drug
anticulture referring to the arm-pits as the only place that had veins
for injections). * /John flunked high school this year for the third
time; he will never get to college; it's the pits for him./ 3. A very
depressed state of mind. * /Poor Marcy is down in the pits over her
recent divorce./
[the powers that be] {n. phr.} Constituted authority; those in
power. * /I have done all I can; the rest is up to the powers that
be./
[there] See: ALL THERE, HERE AND THERE, NEITHER HERE NOR THERE,
THEN AND THERE.
[There] or [here you are!] 1. Informal way to say, "Here is what
you wanted." * /The doorman politely opened the door of the taxi and
said, "There you are, sir!"/ * /The clerk wrapped up the package and
handed it to the customer saying, "Here you are, ma'am!"/ 2. You have
found the correct answer; you are correct. * /"The reason for the
violent crime rate is the all too easy availability of handguns," he
said. "Yeah, there you are!" Officer Maloney replied./
[there is more than one way to get a pig to market] or [flay a fox]
or [skin a cat] There are always new and different ways to accomplish
a difficult task. - A proverb. * /"'How did you get Tommy to study so
hard?" Eleanor asked. "I simply disconnected the television set,"
Tommy's mother answered. "There's more than one way to get a pig to
market."/
[there is nothing to it] Informal way to say, "It is easy." *
/Cooking stir-fried Chinese food is really not difficult at all; in
fact, there's nothing to it./
[There you go!] 1. Informal way to say, "You are doing it already
and you are doing it well." * /"Is roller skating hard?" Freddie
asked. "No," Beth replied, "let me show you how to do it. There you
go!"/ 2. See: THERE or HERE YOU ARE(2).
[the ropes] {n. plural}, {informal} Thorough or special knowledge
of a job; how to do something; the ways of people or the world. * /On
a newspaper a cub reporter learns his job from an older reporter who
knows the ropes./ * /When you go to a new school it takes a while to
learn the ropes./ * /Betty showed Jane the ropes when she was learning
to make a dress./ * /Mr. Jones was an orphan and he had to learn the
ropes when he was young to make his way in the world./ Compare: BE
AROUND, INS AND OUTS, TRICK OF THE TRADE.
[the score] {n.}, {slang} The truth; the real story or information;
what is really happening; the way people and the world really are. *
/Very few people know the score in politics./ * /You are too young to
know the score yet./ * /What's the score anyhow? When will the program
begin?/ Compare: KNOW ONE'S STUFF, KNOW ONE'S WAY AROUND, THE ROPES.
[these] See: ONE OF THESE DAYS or SOME OF THESE DAYS.
[the three R's] {n. phr.} (W)riting, reading, and (a)rithmetic, the
three basic skills of an elementary education. * /Barry has completed
the three R's, but otherwise he has had little formal education./
[the ticket] {n.} Exactly what is needed. - Often used with "just".
* /This airtight locker is just the ticket for storing your winter
clothes./
[the tracks] {n.} The line between the rich or fashionable part of
town and the poor or unfashionable part of town. * /The poor children
knew they would not be welcome on the other side of the tracks./ *
/Mary's mother did not want her to date Jack, because he came from
across the tracks./ - Often used in the expression "the wrong side of
the tracks". * /The mayor was born on the wrong side of the tracks,
but he worked hard and became successful./
[the whole way] See: ALL THE WAY.
and some of the teachers./ 4. To take (time) to be absent from work. *
/When his wife was sick he took off from work./ * /Bill was tired out
so he took the day off./
[take off one's hat to] {v. phr.} To give honor, praise, and
respect to. * /He is my enemy, but I take off my hat to him for his
courage./ Compare: HAND IT TO.
[take offense at] {v. phr.} To become indignant; become angry. *
/Why do you always take offense at everything I say?/
[take off one's hands] {v. phr.} 1. To abdicate one's
responsibility of a person or matter. * /"I am herewith taking my hand
off your affairs," Lou's father said. "See how you succeed on your
own."/ 2. To buy; relieve someone of something. * /He offered to take
my old car off my hands for $350./
[take off the edge] See: TAKE THE EDGE OFF.
[take on] {v.} 1. To receive for carrying; be loaded with. * /A big
ship was at the dock taking on automobiles in crates to carry overseas
for sale./ * /The bus driver stopped at the curb to take the woman
on./ 2. To begin to have (the look of); take (the appearance of). *
/Others joined the fistfight until it took on the look of a riot./ *
/After the students put up Christmas decorations, the classroom took
on a holiday appearance./ 3a. To give a job to; hire; employ. * /The
factory has opened and is beginning to take on new workers./ Contrast:
LET GO(4), LET OFF, LET OUT(6). 3b. To accept in business or a
contest. * /The big man took on two opponents at once./ * /After his
father died, Bill took on the management of the factory./ * /We knew
their football team was bigger and stronger, but we took them on
anyway and beat them./ 4. {informal} To show great excitement, grief,
or anger. * /At the news of her husband's death she took on like a
madwoman./ Compare: CARRY-ON.
[take one at one's word] {v. phr.} To naively lend credence to what
one tells one. * /It's a bad idea to take street vendors at their word
in large, crowded cities./
[take one's breath away] {v. phr.} To surprise greatly; impress
very much; leave speechless with surprise or wonder or delight;
astonish. * /The sunset is so beautiful it takes our breath away./ *
/His refusal was so unexpected it took my breath away./ Compare: CATCH
ONE'S BREATH(1).
[take one's death of] See: CATCH ONE'S DEATH OF.
[take one's leave] or [take leave of] {v. phr.}, {formal} To say
good-bye and leave. * /He stayed on after most of the guests had taken
their leave./ * /The messenger bowed and took leave of the queen./ -
[leave-taking] {n.} The end of school in June is a time of
leave-taking.
[take one's life in one's hands] {v. phr.} To face great danger or
take great risk. * /Driving that car with those worn tires would be
taking your life in your hands./ * /He took his life in his hands when
he tried to capture the wild horse./
[take one's measure] or [take the measure of] {v. phr.} To judge
the character, quality, or nature of; try to guess about something -
how hard or easy, dangerous or safe, good or bad, etc. * /The boxers
sparred for a while taking each other's measure./ * /John took the
measure of the cliff before he climbed it./ Compare: SIZE UP.
[take one's medicine] {v. phr.} To accept punishment without
complaining. * /The boy said he was sorry he broke the window and was
ready to take his medicine./ Compare: FACE THE MUSIC(2).
[take one's name in vain] {v. phr.} 1. To call upon (God) as a
witness to your truth or honesty when you are lying; swear by (God)
untruthfully. * /You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in
vain./ 2. {informal} To talk about a person or mention his name. *
/"Did I hear someone taking my name in vain?" asked Bill as he joined
his friends./
[take one's time] {v. phr.} To avoid haste; act in an unhurried
way. * /He liked to take his time over breakfast./ * /It is better to
take your time at this job than to hurry and make mistakes./
[take one's word] {v. phr.} To believe one's promise. * /Herb took
Eric's word when he promised to pay up his debt./
[take on faith] {v. phr.} To lend credence to something due to
one's confidence in the source, rather than based on evidence. * /One
should never take on faith what one hears about Washington politics./
[take on oneself] or [take upon oneself] {v. phr.} 1. To accept as
a duty or responsibility. * /He took it on himself to see that the
packages were delivered./ 2. To assume wrongfully or without
permission as a right or privilege. * /You should not have taken it
upon yourself to accept the invitation for the whole family./
[take one wrong] See: GET ONE WRONG.
[take on the chin] {v. phr.} To gracefully accept criticism. *
/It's good to be able to tell people what they do wrong, but it is
equally important to be able to take it on the chin when they tell you
what you have done wrong./
[take out] {v. phr.} 1. To ask for and fill in. * /Mary and John
took out a marriage license./ 2. To begin to run. * /When the window
broke, the boys took out in all directions./ * /When the wind blew the
man's hat off, Charlie took out after it./ See: TAKE IT OUT ON.
[take out after] {v. phr.} To start pursuing one. * /The watchdog
took out after the burglars./
[take out on] {v. phr.} To vent one's sadness, frustration, or
anger on someone who is usually innocent of the problem at hand. *
/"Why are you always taking out your frustrations on me?" Jane asked
Tom, when he slammed the door./
[take-out order] {n. phr.} An order in a restaurant that one does
not eat on the premises, but takes home. * /The new Chinese restaurant
on the corner sells nice take-out orders./
[take over] {v.} 1a. To take control or possession of. * /He
expects to take over the business when his father retires./ 1b. To
take charge or responsibility. * /The airplane pilot fainted and his
co-pilot had to take over./ 2. To borrow, imitate, or adopt. * /The
Japanese have taken over many European ways of life./
[take pains] {v. phr.} To do something very carefully and
thoroughly. * /She had taken pains to see that her guests had
everything that they could possibly want./ * /She always takes pains
with her appearance./
[take part] {v. phr.} To have a part or share; join. * /Jim saw the
new boy watching the game and asked him to take part./ * /The Swiss
did not take part in the two World Wars./
[take pity on] also [take pity upon] {v. phr.} To feel sympathy or
pity and do something for. * /Mary took pity on the orphan kittens./ *
/The farmer took pity upon the campers, and let them stay in his barn
during the rain./
[take place] {v. phr.} To happen; occur. * /The accident took place
only a block from his home./ * /The action of the play takes place in
ancient Rome./ * /The dance will take place after the graduation
exercises./ Compare: GO ON(3).
[take potluck] {v. phr.} To share as a guest an everyday meal
without special preparation. * /You are welcome to stay for dinner if
you will take potluck./ * /They were about to have lunch when he
phoned and they asked him to take potluck with them./
[take root] {v. phr.} 1. To form roots so as to be able to live and
grow. * /We hope the transplanted apple trees will take root./ 2. To
be accepted; to be adopted; to live and succeed in a new place. *
/Many European customs failed to take root in the New World./ * /The
immigrants to our country took root and began to think of themselves
as Native Americans./
[take shape] {v. phr.} To grow or develop into a certain fixed
form. * /Plans for our vacation are beginning to take shape./ * /Their
new home took shape as the weeks went by./ Compare: SHAPE UP.
[take sick] See: TAKE ILL.
[take sides] {v. phr.} To join one group against another in a
debate or quarrel. * /Switzerland refused to take sides in the two
World Wars./ * /Tom wanted to go fishing. Dick wanted to take a hike.
Bob took sides with Tom so they all went fishing./ Compare: LINE
UP(4b). Contrast: ON THE FENCE.
[take someone for a ride] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To cheat or
swindle someone. * /Poor Joe Catwallender was taken for a ride./ 2. To
kill someone after kidnapping. * /The criminals took the man for a
ride./
[take steps] {v. phr.} To begin to make plans or arrangements; make
preparations; give orders. - Usually used with "to" and an infinitive.
* /The city is taking steps to replace its streetcars with busses./
[take stock] {v. phr.} 1. To count exactly the items of merchandise
or supplies in stock; take inventory. * /The grocery store took stock
every week on Monday mornings./ 2. To study carefully a situation, or
a number of possibilities or opportunities. * /During the battle the
commander paused to take stock of the situation./ Compare: SIZE UP.
[take stock in] {v. phr.}, {informal} To have faith in; trust;
believe. - Usually used in the negative. * /He took no stock in the
idea that women were better cooks than men./ * /They took little or no
stock in the boy's story that he had lost the money./ * /Do you take
any stock in the gossip about Joan?/
[take the bit in one's mouth] also [take the bit in one's teeth]
{adv. phr.} To have your own way; take charge of things; take control
of something. * /When Mary wanted something, she was likely to take
the bit in her teeth and her parents could do nothing with her./
Compare: TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS, TAKE THE LAW INTO ONE'S OWN
HANDS.
[take the bread out of one's mouth] {v. phr.} To take away or not
give your rightful support, especially through selfish pleasure. *
/She accused her husband of drinking and gambling - taking bread out
of his children's mouths./
[take the bull by the horns] {v. phr.}, {informal} To take definite
action and not care about risks; act bravely in a difficulty. * /He
decided to take the bull by the horns and demand a raise in salary
even though it might cost him his job./ Compare: TAKE THE BIT IN ONE'S
MOUTH, TAKE THE LAW INTO ONE'S OWN HANDS.
[take the cake] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To take the first prize; be
the best; rank first. * /Mr. Jones takes the cake as a storyteller./
2. To be the limit; to be the worst; have a lot of nerve; be a very
rude, bold, or surprising action. * /I let Jack borrow my baseball and
he never gave it back. Doesn't that take the cake?/ * /For being
absent-minded, Mr. Smith takes the cake./ Compare: BEAT ALL.
[take the day off] See: DAY OFF.
[take the defensive] Contrast: TAKE THE OFFENSIVE.
[take the edge off] also [take off the edge] {v. phr.} To lessen,
weaken, soften or make dull. * /Eating a candy bar before dinner has
taken the edge off Becky's appetite./ * /Bob was sorry for hurting Tom
and that took the edge off Tom's anger./ * /A headache took the edge
off Dick's pleasure in the movie./
[take the fifth] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. Taking refuge behind the
Fifth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States which
guarantees any witness the right not to incriminate himself while
testifying at a trial. * /Alger Hiss took the Fifth when asked whether
he was a member of the Communist Party./ 2. Not to answer any question
in an informal setting. * /Have you been married before? - I take the
Fifth./
[take the floor] {v. phr.} To get up and make a speech in a
meeting. * /The audience became very attentive the moment the
president took the floor./
[take the law into one's own hands] {v. phr.} To protect one's
supposed rights or punish a suspected wrongdoer without reference to a
court. - An overused expression. * /When the men of the settlement
caught the suspected murderer, they took the law into their own hands
and hanged him to a tree./ * /His farm was going to be sold for taxes,
but he took the law into his own hands and drove the sheriff away with
a shotgun./ Compare: LAW UNTO ONESELF, TAKE THE BIT IN ONE'S MOUTH.
[take the lid off] {v. phr.} 1. To let out in the open; divulge. *
/It's about time to take the lid off the question of how many
prisoners of war are still in enemy hands./ 2. To start to face an
issue. * /"The best way to deal with your divorce," the doctor said to
Fran, "is to take the lid off of it."/ Compare: BLOW THE LID OFF, LET
THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG.
[take the measure of] See: TAKE ONE'S MEASURE.
[take the offensive] {v. phr.} To make oneself the attacking party.
* /After many months of preparation, the freedom fighters were ready
to take the offensive./ Contrast TAKE THE DEFENSIVE.
[take the pledge] {v. phr.} To swear to give up drinking, smoking,
or using drugs. * /Gary finally took the pledge and he has kept it
thus far./
[take the plunge] {v. phr.} To take a fatal or decisive step;
venture. * /When I asked Don when he and Melissa were going to get
married, he answered that they'll take the plunge in September./
[take the rap] {v. phr.}, {slang} To receive punishment; to be
accused and punished. * /All of the boys took apples, but only John
took the rap./ * /Joe took the burglary rap for his brother and went
to prison for two years./
[take the stand] {v. phr.} To assume one's position in the witness
box during a trial. * /The judge asked the defendant to take the
stand./
[take the starch out of] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To make (someone)
feel weak or tired. * /The hot weather took the starch out of Mrs.
Jones, and she didn't feel like doing a thing./ * /The cross-country
run took all the starch out of the boys./ 2. See: TAKE THE WIND OUT OF
ONE'S SAILS.
[take the stump] or [take to the stump] {v. phr.} To travel around
to different places making political speeches. * /The men running for
president took to the stump to attract votes./
[take the trouble] See: GO TO THE TROUBLE.
[take the wind out of one's sails] {v. phr.} To surprise someone by
doing better or by catching him in an error. * /John came home
boasting about the fish he had caught; it took the wind out of his
sails when he found his little sister had caught a bigger one./ *
/Dick took the wind out of Bob's sails by showing him where he was
wrong./ Compare: TAKE THE STARCH OUT OF(2).
[take the words out of one's mouth] {v. phr.} To say what another
is just going to say; to put another's thought into words. * /"Let's
go to the beach tomorrow." "You took the words right out of my mouth;
I was thinking of that."/ * /I was going to suggest a movie, but she
took the words out of my mouth and said she would like to see one./
[take things easy] See: TAKE IT EASY(2).
[take time off] See: TIME OFF; Compare: DAY OFF.
[take time out] See: TIME OUT.
[take to] {v.} 1. To go to or into; get yourself quickly to. -
Often used in the imperative. * /Take to the hills! The bandits are
coming!/ * /We took to the woods during the day so no one would see
us./ * /Take to the boats! The ship is sinking./ * /We stopped at a
hotel for the night but took to the road again the next morning./ 2.
To begin the work or job of; make a habit of. * /He took to repairing
watches in his spare time./ * /She took to knitting when she got
older./ * /Grandfather took to smoking cigars when he was young and he
still smokes them./ * /Uncle Willie took to drink while he was a
sailor./ * /The cat took to jumping on the table at mealtime./ 3. To
learn easily; do well at. * /Father tried to teach John to swim, but
John didn't take to it./ * /Mary takes to mathematics like a duck
takes to water./ 4. To like at first meeting; be pleased by or
attracted to; accept quickly. * /Our dog always takes to children
quickly./ * /Mary didn't take kindly to the new rule that her mother
made of being home at 6 o'clock./
[take to heart] also [lay to heart] {v. phr.} To be seriously
affected by; to feel deeply. * /He took his brother's death very much
to heart./ * /He took his friend's advice to heart./
[take to one's heels] also [show a clean pair of heels] {v. phr.}
To begin to run or run away. * /When he heard the police coming, the
thief took to his heels./
[take to task] {v. phr.} To reprove or scold for a fault or error.
* /He took his wife to task for her foolish wastefulness./ * /The
principal took Bill to task for breaking the window./
[take to the cleaners] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To win all the money
another person has (as in poker). * /Watch out if you play poker with
Joe; he'll take you to the cleaners./ 2. To cheat a person out of his
money and possessions by means of a crooked business transaction or
other means of dishonest conduct. * /I'll never forgive myself for
becoming associated with Joe; he took me to the cleaners./
[take to the woods] {v. phr.}, {informal} To run away and hide. *
/When John saw the girls coming, he took to the woods./ * /Bob took to
the woods so he would not have to mow the grass./ Compare: HEAD FOR
THE HILLS.
[take turns] {v. phr.} To do something one after another instead of
doing it all at the same time. * /In class we should not talk all at
the same time; we should take turns./ * /Jean and Beth took turns on
the swing./ * /The two boys took turns at digging the hole./ * /The
three men took turns driving so one would not be too tired./
[take under one's wing] See: UNDER ONE'S WING.
[take up] {v.} 1. To remove by taking in. * /Use a blotter to take
up the spilled ink./ * /When the vacuum cleaner bag is full, it will
not take up dirt from the rug./ 2. To fill or to occupy. * /All his
evenings were taken up with study./ * /The oceans take up the greater
part of the earth's surface./ * /The mayor has taken up residence on
State Street./ 3. To gather together; collect. * /We are taking up a
collection to buy flowers for John because he is in the hospital./ 4.
To take away. * /John had his driver's license taken up for speeding./
5a. To begin; start. * /The teacher took up the lesson where she left
off yesterday./ 5b. To begin to do or learn; go into as a job or
hobby. * /He recently took up gardening./ * /He took up the
carpenter's trade as a boy./ Compare: GO INTO(3), GO IN FOR, TAKE TO.
6. To pull and make tight or shorter; shorten. * /The tailor took up
the legs of the trousers./ * /Take up the slack on the rope!/ Compare:
TAKE IN(3). 7. To take or accept something that is offered. * /The
boss offered me a $5 raise and I took him up./ * /I took John up on
his bet./ Compare: JUMP AT.
[take up arms] {v. phr.}, {literary}. To get ready to fight; fight
or make war. * /The people were quick to take up arms to defend their
freedom./ * /The President called on people to take up arms against
poverty./ Contrast: LAY DOWN ONE'S ARMS.
[take upon oneself] See: TAKE ON ONESELF.
[take up the cudgels for] {v. phr.}, {literary} To come to the
defense of; to support or fight for. * /He was the first to take up
the cudgels for his friend./ Compare: STAND UP FOR.
[take up with] {v.} To begin to go around with (someone); see a lot
of. * /Frank has taken up with Lucy lately./
[take with a grain of salt] also [take with a pinch of salt] {v.
phr.} To accept or believe only in part; not accept too much. * /A man
who says he is not a candidate for President should usually have his
statement taken with a grain of salt./ * /We took Uncle George's
stories of the war with a pinch of salt./
[taking pictures] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon}
To use a radar-operated speed indicator in order to enforce the 55 MPH
speed limit. * /The Smokeys are taking pictures!/
[tale] See: TELL TALES OUT OF SCHOOL.
[talent scout] {n. phr.} A person employed by a large organization
to seek out promising and gifted individuals. * /Gordon has been
working as a talent scout for a television program./ Compare: HEAD
HUNTING(2).
[talent show] {n.} An entertainment in which new entertainers try
to win a prize. * /Mary won the talent show by her dancing./ * /The
people liked Bill's singing in the talent show./
[talk] See: DOUBLE-TALK, PEP TALK, SALES TALK, SWEET TALK.
[talk a blue streak] {v. phr.}, {informal} To talk on and on,
usually very fast. * /Sue is a nice girl but after one drink she talks
a blue streak and won't stop./
[talk back] also [answer back] {v.} {informal} To answer rudely;
reply in a disrespectful way; be fresh. * /When the teacher told the
boy to sit down, he talked back to her and said she couldn't make
him./ * /Mary talked back when her mother told her to stop watching
television; she said, "I don't have to if I don't want to."/ *
/Russell was going somewhere with some bad boys, when his father told
him it was wrong, Russell answered him back, "Mind your own
business."/
[talk big] {v.}, {informal} To talk boastfully; brag. * /He talks
big about his pitching, but he hasn't won a game./
[talk down] {v.} 1. To make (someone) silent by talking louder or
longer. * /Sue tried to give her ideas, but the other girls talked her
down./ Compare: SHOUT DOWN(2). To use words or ideas that are too
easy. * /The speaker talked down to the students, and they were
bored./
[talking book] {n.} A book recorded by voice on phonograph records
for blind people. * /Billy, who was blind, learned history from a
talking book./
[talking point] {n.} Something good about a person or thing that
can be talked about in selling it. * /The streamlined shape of the car
was one of its talking points./ * /John tried to get Mary to date
Bill. One of his talking points was that Bill was captain of the
football team./
[talk in circles] {v. phr.} To waste time by saying words that
don't mean very much. * /After three hours at the negotiating table,
the parties decided to call it quits because they realized that they
had been talking in circles./
[talk into] {v.} 1. To get (someone) to agree to; make (someone)
decide on (doing something) by talking; persuade to. - Used with a
verbal noun. * /Bob talked us into walking home with him./ Compare:
TALK OVER(2). Contrast TALK OUT OF. 2. To cause to be in or to get
into by talking. * /You talked us into this mess. Now get us out!/ *
/Mr. Jones lost the customer in his store by arguing with him./ *
/"You'll talk us into the poor house yet!" said Mrs. Jones./ Contrast:
TALK OUT OF.
[talk of the town] {n. phr.} Something that has become so popular
or prominent that everyone is discussing it. * /Even after three
decades, Picasso's famous metal statue is still the talk of the town
in Chicago./
[talk out] {v.} To talk all about and leave nothing out; discuss
until everything is agreed on; settle. * /After their quarrel, Jill
and John talked things out and reached full agreement./
[talk out of] {v.} 1. To persuade not to; make agree or decide not
to. - Used with a verbal noun. * /Mary's mother talked her out of
quitting school./ Contrast: TALK INTO. 2. To allow to go or get out by
talking; let escape by talking. * /Johnny is good at talking his way
out of trouble./ Contrast: TALK INTO.
[talk out of turn] See: SPEAK OUT OF TURN.
[talk over] {v.} 1. To talk together about; try to agree about or
decide by talking; discuss. * /Tom talked his plan over with his
father before he bought the car./ * /The boys settled their argument
by talking it over./ 2. To persuade; make agree or willing; talk and
change the mind of. * /Fred is trying to talk Bill over to our side./
Compare: TALK INTO.
[talk rot] {v. phr.} To say silly things; talk nonsense. * /He's
talking rot when he says that our company is almost bankrupt./
[talk shop] {v. phr.}, {informal} To talk about things in your work
or trade. * /Two chemists were talking shop, and I hardly understood a
word they said./
[talk through one's hat] {v. phr.}, {informal} To say something
without knowing or understanding the facts; talk foolishly or
ignorantly. * /John said that the earth is nearer the sun in summer,
but the teacher said he was talking through his hat./
[talk turkey] {v. phr.}, {informal} To talk about something in a
really businesslike way; talk with the aim of getting things done. *
/Charles said, "Now, let's talk turkey about the bus trip. The fact
is, it will cost each student $1.50."/ * /The father always spoke
gently to his son, but when the son broke the windshield of the car,
the father talked turkey to him./
[talk up] {v.} 1. To speak in favor or support of. * /Let's talk up
the game and get a big crowd./ 2. To speak plainly or clearly. * /The
teacher asked the student to talk up./ Syn.: SPEAK UP. 3. {informal}
To say what you want or think; say what someone may not like. * /Talk
up if you want more pie./ * /George isn't afraid to talk up when he
disagrees with the teacher./ Syn.: SPEAK UP. Compare: SPEAK OUT.
[tall order] See: LARGE ORDER.
[tall story] or [tale] {n. phr.} See: FISH STORY.
[tamper with] {v.} 1. To meddle with (something); handle ignorantly
or foolishly. * /He tampered with the insides of his watch and ruined
it./ 2. To secretly get someone to do or say wrong things, especially
by giving him money, or by threatening to hurt him. * /A friend of the
man being tried in court tampered with a witness./
[tank] See: THINK TANK.
[tan one's hide] {v. phr.}, {informal} To give a beating to; spank
hard. * /Bob's father tanned his hide for staying out too late./
[tape] See: FRICTION TAPE, MASKING TAPE.
[taper down] {adj. phr.} To decrease; reduce. * /He has tapered
down his drinking from three martinis to one beer a day./
[taper off] {v.} 1. To come to an end little by little; become
smaller toward the end. * /The river tapers off here and becomes a
brook./ 2. To stop a habit gradually; do something less and less
often. * /Robert gave up smoking all at once instead of tapering off./
Contrast: COLD TURKEY.
[tar] See: BEAT THE --- OUT OF.
[tar and feather] {v.} To pour heated tar on and cover with
feathers as a punishment. * /In the Old West bad men were sometimes
tarred and feathered and driven out of town./
[task] See: TAKE TO TASK.
[taste] See: LEAVE A BAD TASTE IN ONE'S MOUTH.
[tat] See: TIT FOR TAT.
[tax trap] {n.}, {informal} Predicament in which taxpayers in
middle-income brackets are required to pay steeply progressive rates
of taxation as their earnings rise with inflation but their personal
exemptions remain fixed, resulting in a loss of real disposable
income. * /Everybody in my neighborhood has been caught in a tax
trap./
[T-bone steak] {n.} A steak with a bone in it which looks like a
"T". * /On Jim's birthday we had T-bone steak for supper./
[tea] See: CUP OF TEA also DISH OF TEA.
[teach a lesson] {v. phr.} To show that bad behavior can be
harmful. * /When Johnny pulled Mary's hair, she taught him a lesson by
breaking his toy boat./ * /The burns Tommy got from playing with
matches taught him a lesson./
[teach the ropes] See: THE ROPES.
[team up with] {v. phr.} To join with; enter into companionship
with. * /My brother prefers to do business by himself rather than to
team up with anybody else./
[teapot] See: TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT.
[tear around] {v. phr.} To be constantly on the go; dash around. *
/No one can understand how she manages to tear around from one social
event to another and yet be a good mother to her children./
[tear down] {v.} 1. To take all down in pieces; destroy. * /The
workmen tore down the old house and built a new house in its place./
2. To take to pieces or parts. * /The mechanics had to tear down the
engine, and fix it, and put it together again./ 3. To say bad things
about; criticize. * /"Why do you always tear people down? Why don't
you try to say nice things about them?"/ * /Dorothy doesn't like
Sandra, and at the class meeting she tore down every idea Sandra
suggested./
[tear into] {v. phr.} To attack vigorously, physically or verbally.
* /The anxious buyers tore into the wedding gowns on sale at the
famous department store./ See: RIP INTO.
[tearjerker] {n.} A sentimental novel or movie that makes one cry.
* /Love Story, both in its novel form and as a movie, was a famous
tearjerker./
[tear oneself away] {v. phr.} To force oneself to leave; leave
reluctantly. * /The beaches in Hawaii are so lovely that I had to tear
myself away from them in order to get back to my job in Chicago./
[tear one's hair] {v. phr.} To show sorrow, anger, or defeat. *
/Ben tore his hair when he saw the wrecked car./ * /The teacher tore
his hair at the boy's stupid answer./ * /It was time to go to class,
but Mary had not finished the report she had to give, and she began
tearing her hair./
[tears] See: BORE TO TEARS, CROCODILE TEARS.
[tear up] {v.} 1. To dig a hole in; remove the surface of; remove
from the surface. * /The city tore up the street to lay a new water
pipe./ * /Mother tore up the carpeting in the living room and had a
new rug put in./ 2. To tear into pieces. * /Mary tore up the old
sheets and made costumes for the play out of the pieces./ * /John tore
up his test paper so that his mother wouldn't see his low grade./
[tee off] {v.} 1. To hit the golf ball from a small wooden peg or
tee to begin play for each hole. * /We got to the golf course just in
time to see the champion tee off./ 2. {slang} To hit a ball,
especially a baseball very hard or far. * /He teed off on the first
pitch./ 3. {slang} To attack vigorously. * /The governor teed off on
his opponent's speech./ 4. {slang} To make (someone) angry or
disgusted. * /It teed me off when Billy stole my candy./ * /Joe was
teed off because he had to wait so long./
[teeth] See: TOOTH.
[tee up] {v.} To set the golf ball on the tee in preparation for
hitting it toward the green. * /Arnold Palmer teed the ball up for the
final hole./
[telepathy] See: MENTAL TELEPATHY.
[tell] See: DO TELL, I'LL SAY or I TELL YOU, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT,
I'M TELLING YOU, YOU'RE TELLING ME, YOU TELL 'EM.
[tell apart] {v. phr.} To see the difference between; know each of.
* /The teacher could not tell the twins apart./
[tell a thing or two] {v. phr.}, {informal} To tell in plain or
angry words; scold. * /When John complained about the hard work, his
father told him a thing or two./ * /If Bert thinks he would like to
join the army, I'll tell him a thing or two that will make him change
his mind./ Compare: BAWL OUT, GIVE A PIECE OF ONE'S MIND, TELL OFF,
THING OR TWO.
[tell it like it is] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To be honest,
sincere; to tell the truth. * /Joe is the leader of our commune; he
tells it like it is./
[tell it to the marines] or [tell it to
Sweeney] {slang} I don't
believe you; Stop trying to fool me. * /John said, "My father knows
the President of the United States." Dick answered, "Tell it to the
marines."/
[tell off] {v.} 1. To name or count one by one and give some
special duty to; give a share to. * /Five boy scouts were told off to
clean the camp./ 2. {informal} To speak to angrily or sharply; attack
with words; scold. * /Mr. Black got angry and told off the boss./ *
/Bobby kept pulling Sally's hair; finally she got angry and told him
where to get off./ Syn.: TELL ONE WHERE TO GET OFF. Compare: GIVE A
PIECE OF ONE'S MIND, LAY DOWN THE LAW, TELL A THING OR TWO.
[tell on] {v.} 1. To tire; wear out; make weak. * /The ten-mile
hike told on Bill./ 2. {informal} To tell someone about another's
wrong or naughty acts. - Used mainly by children. * /Andy hit a little
girl and John told the teacher on Andy./ * /If you hit me, I'll tell
Mother on you./
[tell tales out of school] {v. phr.} To tell something that is
secret; tell others something that is not meant to be known. * /Don't
tell Jane anything. She is always telling tales out of school./
Compare: LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG, SPILL THE BEANS.
[tell one where to get off] or [tell one where to head in] {v.
phr.}, {informal} To talk angrily to; speak to or answer with rough
language; scold. * /Bob told Ted to get out of his way. Ted told Bob
where to get off./ * /Mary laughed at Barbara's hairdo. Barbara told
Mary where to head in./ Compare: TELL A THING OR TWO, TELL OFF.
[tell time] {v. phr.} To read a clock or watch. * /Although Johnny
is only three years old, he is already able to tell time./
[tell you what] See: I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.
[temper] See: GOD TEMPERS THE WIND TO THE SHORN LAMB, HOLD ONE'S
TEMPER or KEEP ONE'S TEMPER, LOSE ONE'S TEMPER.
[temperature] See: RUN A TEMPERATURE.
[tempest in a teapot] {n. phr.} Great excitement about something
not important. * /Bess tore her skirt a little and made a tempest in a
teapot./
[tempt fate] or [tempt the fates] {v. phr.} To take a chance; run a
risk; gamble. * /You're tempting fate every time you drive that old
wreck of a car./
[ten] See: DIME STORE or FIVE-AND-TEN, COUNT TO TEN.
[ten-four?] {v. phr.}, {interrog.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio
jargon} Do you understand? * /Is that a ten-four?/
[ten gallon hat] {n.}, {informal} A tall felt hat with a wide,
rolled brim worn by men in the western part of the U.S. * /Men from
the southwest usually wear ten gallon hats./
[ten roger] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon} I
acknowledge. * /That's a ten roger./
[ten to one] or [two to one] {adv.} or {adj. phr.}, {informal}
Almost certainly, nearly sure to be true; very likely to happen. *
/Ten to one it will rain tomorrow./ * /It is ten; to one that Bill
will be late./
[term] See: BRING TO TERMS, COME TO TERMS, IN SO MANY WORDS(2) or
IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS, IN TERMS OF.
[terror] See: HOLY TERROR.
[test] See: ROAD TEST, SCREEN TEST.
[tether] See: END OF ONE'S ROPE or END OF ONE'S TETHER.
[than] See: LESS THAN, LESS THAN NO TIME, MORE THAN.
[thank one's lucky stars] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be thankful for
good luck; think oneself lucky. * /You can thank your lucky stars you
didn't fall in the hole./
[thanks to] {prep.} 1. With the help of. * /Thanks to a good
teacher, John passed the examination./ * /I finally finished washing
the dishes, no thanks to you./ 2. Owing to; because of. * /Thanks to a
sudden rain, the children came home with wet clothes./
[that is] or [that is to say] I mean; that means; in other words. *
/John is a New Yorker; that is, he lives in New York./ * /Susan is a
good student; that is to say, she gets good grades in school./
[that is that] or [that's that] {informal} The matter is decided;
there is nothing more to be said; it is done. * /Jim, you will go to
school this morning, and that is that./
[that'll be the day] {informal} That will never happen. * /Joe
wanted me to lend him money to take my girl to the movies. That'll be
the day!/ * /"Wouldn't it be nice if we had to go to school only one
day a week?" "That'll be the day!"/
[That makes two of us!] Informal way to say, "I am in agreement
with what you arc saying or doing." * /So you voted for Senator
Aldridge? So did I - that makes two of us./
[That takes care of that!] Informal way to say, "That concludes our
business." * /I paid my ex-wife the last alimony check and that takes
care of that!/
[That will do!] Informal expression of impatience meaning "stop,"
"no more." * /"That will do, Tommy," his mother cried. "I've had just
about enough of your drumming on the table."/
[that's --- for you] That's the way (someone or something) is;
(someone or something) is like that. * /John tried hard, but he lost
the game. That's life for you./ * /Mary changed her mind about going.
That's a girl for you./
[That's about the size of it!] Informal way to say, "What you said
is true; the rumor or the news is true." * /"I am told you're leaving
our firm for Japan," Fred said to Tom. "That's about the size of it,"
Tom replied with a grin./
[That's the story of my life...] Usually spoken when something goes
wrong. * /I spent seven years writing a novel, but no publisher wants
to accept it. That's the story of my life./
[That's the ticket!] Informal way to say, "excellent; correct." *
/"First we'll go up the Sears Tower, and then we'll take a night
sightseeing tour on the lake," Fran said. "That's the ticket!" Stan,
an old inhabitant of Chicago, replied./
[That's the way the ball bounces] or [the cookie crumbles!] Nothing
unusual about that. - Said of unpleasant things. * /"Susan left me for
a heavyweight boxer, and then I got drunk and wrecked my car," Bob
bitterly complained. "Well, that's the way the cookie crumbles," Pam
answered philosophically./
[theater] See: LITTLE THEATER.
[the business] {n.}, {slang} - Usually used with "give" or "get".
1. All that you are able to do; greatest effort. * /Johnny gave the
tryouts the business but he failed to make the team./ 2. The most harm
possible; the greatest damage or hurt. * /Fred got the business when
Tom caught him with his bicycle./ 3. A harsh scolding. * /The teacher
gave Walter the business when he came to school late again./ * /Mike
thought he was the star of the team until he got the business from the
coach./ Compare: THE WORKS.
[The cat did it!] A humorous and convenient way to pass the blame.
* /"My vase is broken!" Mother shrieked in horror. "Well," Dad smirked
cynically, "I guess the cat did it!"/
[the creeps] {n.}, {informal} 1. An uncomfortable tightening of the
skin caused by fear or shock. * /Reading the story of a ghost gave Joe
the creeps./ * /The queer noises in the old house gave Mary the
creeps./ 2. A strong feeling of fear or disgust. * /The cold, damp,
lonely swamp gave John the creeps./ * /The dog was so ugly it gave
Mary the creeps./
[the devil to pay] {n. phr.} A severe penalty. * /If we don't
finish the work by next Monday, there will be the devil to pay./
[the edge] {n.}, {informal} The advantage. - Usually used in the
phrases "get the edge on", "have the edge on". * /In the last quarter
of the game, our team got the edge on the other team and kept it./ *
/Mary has the edge on Jane in the beauty contest./
[the fickle finger of fate] See: ACT OF GOD.
[the idea] or [the very idea] {n. phr.} - Used in exclamations to
show that you do not like something. * /The idea! Thinking Mother was
my sister!/ * /The very idea of Tom bringing that dirty dog into my
clean house!/
[the lid] {n.}, {slang} Something that holds back or holds out of
sight. * /The police blew the lid off the gambling operations./ *
/John kept the lid on his plans until he was ready to run for class
president./ * /The chief of police placed the lid on gambling in the
town./
[the likes of] {informal} Something like or similar to; something
of the same kind as. * /I have never seen the likes of John./ * /It
was a chocolate sundae the likes of which Mary would never see again./
[the long and the short] or [the long and short] {n. phr.} All that
needs to be said; the basic fact; point. * /The long and the short of
the matter is that the man is no actor./ * /The money isn't there, and
that's the long and short of it./
[the matter] {adj.} Not as it should be; wrong. - Used in questions
or with negatives or "if". * /Why don't you answer me? What's the
matter?/ * /John may be slow in arithmetic, but nothing's the matter
with his pitching arm./ * /If anything is the matter, please tell me./
[the more --- the more ---] or [the ---er the ---er] - Used in two
halves of a sentence to show that when there is more of the first,
there is more of the second too. * /The more you eat. the fatter you
will get./ * /Get your report in when you can; the sooner, the
better./ * /The bigger they are, the harder they fall./ * /The more
Bill worked on the arithmetic problem, the more confused he became./
[then] See: AND THEN SOME, EVERY NOW AND THEN, NOW AND THEN.
[then again] {adv.} As an opposite possibility; another thing. *
/He may be here tomorrow. Then again, he may not come until next
week./ * /I thought you told me about the fire, but then again it
could have been Bill./
[then and there] {adv. phr.} At that very time and place in the
past; right then. * /He said he wanted his dime back then and there,
so I had to give it to him./ Compare: IN ONE'S TRACKS, ON THE SPOT,
HERE AND NOW.
[the other day] {adv. phr.} In the recent past. * /I saw an
incredible parade of elephants along Michigan Avenue the other day on
my way to work./
[the other way around] {adv. phr.} See: JUST THE OTHER WAY.
[the picture] {n.} The way things are or were; the facts about
something; the situation; what happened or happens. * /Where does
Susan come into the picture./ * /When you are looking for a job your
education enters into the picture./ * /Old Mr. Brown is out of the
picture now and his son runs the store./ * /After the fight on the
playground, the principal talked to the boys who were watching, until
he got the whole picture./ Compare: GET THE MESSAGE.
[the pits] {n.}, {slang} 1. A low class, blighted and
ill-maintained place, motel room or apartment. * /Max, this motel is
the pits, I will not sleep here!/ 2. The end of the road, the point of
no return, the point of total ruin of one's health (from the drug
anticulture referring to the arm-pits as the only place that had veins
for injections). * /John flunked high school this year for the third
time; he will never get to college; it's the pits for him./ 3. A very
depressed state of mind. * /Poor Marcy is down in the pits over her
recent divorce./
[the powers that be] {n. phr.} Constituted authority; those in
power. * /I have done all I can; the rest is up to the powers that
be./
[there] See: ALL THERE, HERE AND THERE, NEITHER HERE NOR THERE,
THEN AND THERE.
[There] or [here you are!] 1. Informal way to say, "Here is what
you wanted." * /The doorman politely opened the door of the taxi and
said, "There you are, sir!"/ * /The clerk wrapped up the package and
handed it to the customer saying, "Here you are, ma'am!"/ 2. You have
found the correct answer; you are correct. * /"The reason for the
violent crime rate is the all too easy availability of handguns," he
said. "Yeah, there you are!" Officer Maloney replied./
[there is more than one way to get a pig to market] or [flay a fox]
or [skin a cat] There are always new and different ways to accomplish
a difficult task. - A proverb. * /"'How did you get Tommy to study so
hard?" Eleanor asked. "I simply disconnected the television set,"
Tommy's mother answered. "There's more than one way to get a pig to
market."/
[there is nothing to it] Informal way to say, "It is easy." *
/Cooking stir-fried Chinese food is really not difficult at all; in
fact, there's nothing to it./
[There you go!] 1. Informal way to say, "You are doing it already
and you are doing it well." * /"Is roller skating hard?" Freddie
asked. "No," Beth replied, "let me show you how to do it. There you
go!"/ 2. See: THERE or HERE YOU ARE(2).
[the ropes] {n. plural}, {informal} Thorough or special knowledge
of a job; how to do something; the ways of people or the world. * /On
a newspaper a cub reporter learns his job from an older reporter who
knows the ropes./ * /When you go to a new school it takes a while to
learn the ropes./ * /Betty showed Jane the ropes when she was learning
to make a dress./ * /Mr. Jones was an orphan and he had to learn the
ropes when he was young to make his way in the world./ Compare: BE
AROUND, INS AND OUTS, TRICK OF THE TRADE.
[the score] {n.}, {slang} The truth; the real story or information;
what is really happening; the way people and the world really are. *
/Very few people know the score in politics./ * /You are too young to
know the score yet./ * /What's the score anyhow? When will the program
begin?/ Compare: KNOW ONE'S STUFF, KNOW ONE'S WAY AROUND, THE ROPES.
[these] See: ONE OF THESE DAYS or SOME OF THESE DAYS.
[the three R's] {n. phr.} (W)riting, reading, and (a)rithmetic, the
three basic skills of an elementary education. * /Barry has completed
the three R's, but otherwise he has had little formal education./
[the ticket] {n.} Exactly what is needed. - Often used with "just".
* /This airtight locker is just the ticket for storing your winter
clothes./
[the tracks] {n.} The line between the rich or fashionable part of
town and the poor or unfashionable part of town. * /The poor children
knew they would not be welcome on the other side of the tracks./ *
/Mary's mother did not want her to date Jack, because he came from
across the tracks./ - Often used in the expression "the wrong side of
the tracks". * /The mayor was born on the wrong side of the tracks,
but he worked hard and became successful./
[the whole way] See: ALL THE WAY.