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[the wiser] {adj.} Knowing about something which might be
embarrassing of knowing. - Usually used with "nobody" or "no one". *
/Mary took the teacher's book home by mistake, but early the next
morning she returned it with nobody the wiser./
[the works] {n. plural}, {slang} 1. Everything that can be had or
that you have; everything of this kind, all that goes with it. * /When
the tramp found $100, he went into a fine restaurant and ordered the
works with a steak dinner./ 1b. See: SHOOT THE WORKS. 2. Rough
handling or treatment; a bad beating or scolding; killing; murder. -
Usually used with "get" or "give". * /The boy said that Joe was going
to get the works if he ever came back to that neighborhood again./ *
/The newspaper gave the police department the works when they let the
burglars get away./ * /The gangster told his friend he would give him
the works if he double-crossed him./ Compare: THE BUSINESS.
[they] See: LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY.
[thick] See: BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER, LAY IT ON or LAY IT ON
THICK, THROUGH THICK AND THIN.
[thicker] See: BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER.
[thin] See: INTO THIN AIR, OUT OF THIN AIR, SIT ON THIN ICE, SPREAD
ONESELF TOO THIN, THROUGH THICK AND THIN, WEAR THIN.
[thing] See: A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS A DANGEROUS THING, DO ONE'S
THING or DO ONE'S OWN THING, FIRST THINGS COME FIRST, FOR ONE THING,
SEE THINGS, SURE THING, TAKE IT EASY or TAKE THINGS EASY, TELL A THING
OR TWO.
[thing or two] {n. phr.}, {informal} 1. Facts not generally known,
or not known to the hearer or reader; unusual or important
information. * /Mary told Joan a thing or two about Betty's real
feelings./ 2. A lot; much. * /Bob knows a thing or two about sailing./
Compare: TELL A THING OR TWO.
[Things are looking up!] Informal way to say that conditions are
improving. * /Things are looking up at our university as the governor
promised a 5% salary raise./
[think] See: COME TO THINK OF IT.
[think a great deal of] or [think a lot of] also [think much of]
{v. phr.} To consider to be very worthy, valuable, or important; to
esteem highly. * /Mary thinks a great deal of Tim./ * /The teacher
thought a lot of Joe's project./ - The phrase "think much of" is
usually used in negative sentences. * /Father didn't think much of
Paul's idea of buying a goat to save lawn mowing./ Contrast: THINK
LITTLE OF.
[think a lot of] See: THINK A GREAT DEAL OF.
[think aloud] or [think out loud] {v.} To say what you are
thinking. * /"I wish I had more money for Christmas presents," Father
thought aloud. "What did you say?" said Mother. Father answered, "I'm
sorry. I wasn't talking to you. I was thinking out loud."/
[think better of] {v.} To change your mind about; to consider again
and make a better decision about. * /John told his mother he wanted to
leave school, but later he thought better of it./ Compare: SECOND
THOUGHT, THINK TWICE.
[Think big!] {v. phr.}, {informal} To believe in one's ability,
purpose, or power to perform or succeed. * /Be confident; be positive;
tell yourself you are the greatest; above all, think big!/
[think fit] See: FIT.
[thinking cap] See: PUT ON ONE'S THINKING CAP.
[think little of] {v. phr.} Think that (something or someone) is
not important or valuable. * /John thought little of Ted's plan for
the party./ * /Joan thought little of walking two miles to school./
Contrast: THINK A GREAT DEAL OF.
[think much of] See: THINK A GREAT DEAL OF.
[think nothing of] {v. phr.} To think or consider easy, simple, or
usual. * /Jim thinks nothing of hiking ten miles in one day./
[think nothing of it] {v. phr.}, {informal} Used as a courteous
phrase in replying to thanks. /"Thank you very much for your help."
"Think nothing of it."/ Compare: YOU'RE WELCOME.
[think on one's feet] {v. phr.} To think quickly; answer or act
without waiting; know what to do or say right away. * /A good
basketball player can think on his feet./ * /Our teacher can think on
his feet; he always has an answer ready when we ask him questions./
[think out] {v.} 1. To find out or discover by thinking; study and
understand. * /Andy thought out a way of climbing to the top of the
pole./ Compare FIGURE OUT, WORK OUT. 2. To think through to the end;
to understand what would come at last. * /Bill wanted to quit school,
but he thought out the matter and decided not to./
[think out loud] See: THINK ALOUD.
[think over] {v.} To think carefully about; consider; study. *
/When Charles asked Betty to marry him, she asked him for time to
think it over./ * /Think over what we studied in history this year and
write a lesson on the thing that interested you most./ Compare: MAKE
UP ONE'S MIND, SEE ABOUT.
[think piece] {n.}, {slang} 1. The human brain. * /Lou's got one
powerful think piece, man./ 2. Any provocative essay or article that,
by stating a strong opinion, arouses the reader to think about it and
react to it by agreeing or disagreeing. * /That article by Charles
Fenyvesi on Vietnamese refugees in the Washington Post sure was a
think piece!/
[think tank] {n.} A company of researchers who spend their time
developing ideas and concepts. * /The government hired a think tank to
study the country's need for coins, and was advised to stop making
pennies./
[think twice] {v.} To think again carefully; reconsider; hesitate.
* /The teacher advised Lou to think twice before deciding to quit
school./ Compare: THINK BETTER OF.
[think up] {v.} To invent or discover by thinking; have a new idea
of. * /Mary thought up a funny game for the children to play./
[third base] {n.} The base to be touched third in baseball. * /He
reached third base standing up on a long triple./
[third class] {n.} 1. The third best or highest group; the class
next after the second class. * /Mary won the pie-making contest in the
third class, for the youngest girls./ 2. Mail that is printed, other
than magazines and newspapers that are published regularly, and
packages that are not sealed and weigh less than a pound. * /The
company uses third class to mail free samples of soap./ 3. The least
expensive class of travel. * /I couldn't afford anything better than
the third class on the ship coming home from France./ Compare: FIRST
CLASS, SECOND CLASS.
[third-class(1)] {adj.} Belonging to the third class; of the third
highest or best class. * /Much advertising is sent by third-class
mall./ * /I bought a third-class airline ticket to Hawaii./
[third-class(2)] {adv.} By third class. * /How did you send the
package? Third class./ * /We traveled third-class on the train./
[third degree] {n. phr.} A method of severe grilling used to
extract information from an arrested suspect. * /"Why give me the
third degree?" he asked indignantly. "All I did was come home late
because I had a drink with my friends."/
[third sex] {n.}, {euphemism}, {slang}, {informal} Homosexual
individuals who are either men or women. * /Billy is rumored to belong
to the third sex./
[third world] {n.} 1. The countries not aligned with either the
former U.S.S.R.-dominated Communist bloc or the U.S.A.-dominated
capitalist countries. * /New Zealand made a move toward third country
status when it disallowed American nuclear submarines in its harbors./
2. The developing nations of the world where the industrial revolution
has not yet been completed. * /Africa and the rest of the third world
must be freed from starvation and illiteracy./
[this] See: OUT OF THIS WORLD.
[this and that] also [this, that, and the other] {n. phr.} Various
things; different things; miscellaneous things. * /When the old
friends met they would talk about this and that./ * /The quilt was
made of this, that, and the other./
[this, that, and the other] See: THIS AND THAT.
[this is how the cookie crumbles] or [that's how the cookie
crumbles] {v. phr.}, {informal} That's how things are; that's life. *
/It's too bad about John and Mary getting divorced, but then that's
how the cookie crumbles./
[thither] See: HITHER AND THITHER.
[thorn in the flesh] or [thorn in one's side] {n. phr.} Something
that causes stubborn trouble; a constant bother; a vexation. * /The
new voter organization soon became the biggest thorn in the senator's
side./ * /The guerrilla band was a thorn in the flesh of the
invaders./
[though] See: AS IF or AS THOUGH.
[thought] See: FOOD FOR THOUGHT, PENNY FOR ONE'S THOUGHTS, PERISH
THE THOUGHT, SECOND THOUGHT.
[thousand] See: BY THE DOZEN or BY THE THOUSAND.
[thrash out] {v. phr.} To discuss fully; confer about something
until a decision is reached. * /They met to thrash out their
differences concerning how to run the office./
[thread] See: HANG BY A THREAD.
[threat] See: TRIPLE THREAT.
[three-ring circus] {n.} A scene of much confusion or activity. *
/The street was a three-ring circus of cars, people, noise, and
lights./ * /It is a three-ring circus to watch that silly dog play./
[three sheets in the wind] or [three sheets to the wind] {adj.
phr.}, {informal} Unsteady from too much liquor; drunk. * /The sailor
came down the street, three sheets in the wind./
[thrill one to death] or [pieces] See: TICKLE PINK.
[throat] See: CUT ONE'S THROAT, FLY AT ONE'S THROAT, JUMP DOWN
ONE'S THROAT, LUMP IN ONE'S THROAT, RAM DOWN ONE'S THROAT and SHOVE
DOWN ONE'S THROAT.
[through a hoop] See: JUMP THROUGH A HOOP.
[through and through] {adv.} Completely; entirely; whole-heartedly.
* /Bob was a ball player through and through./ * /Mary was hurt
through and through by Betty's remarks./ Compare: OUT-AND-OUT.
[through hell and high water] See: HELL AND HIGH WATER.
[through one's hat] See: TALK THROUGH ONE'S HAT.
[through one's head] See: GET THROUGH ONE'S HEAD.
[through one's mind] See: CROSS ONE'S MIND or PASS THROUGH ONE'S
MIND.
[through one's paces] See: PUT THROUGH ONE'S PACES.
[through street] {n.} 1. A street on which cars can move without
stopping at intersections, but cars on streets crossing it have to
stop at the intersection. * /You have to be especially careful
crossing a through street./ * /Mr. Jones stopped his car when he came
to the through street. He waited until there were no cars on it, and
drove across it./ Contrast: STOP STREET. 2. A street that is open to
other streets at both ends; a street that has a passage through it, so
that it is not necessary to come back to get out of it. * /We thought
we could get through to Main St. by going up a side street but there
was a sign that said "Not a through street."/
[through the mill] {adv. phr.} 1. Experienced. * /You could tell
immediately that the new employee had been through the mill./ 2.
Through real experience of the difficulties of a certain way of life.
* /Poor Jerry has had three operations in one year, and now he's back
in the hospital. He's realty gone through the mill./ Compare: GO
THROUGH HELL AND HIGH WATER, COME HELL OR HIGH WATER.
[through the motions] See: GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS.
[through the nose] See: PAY THROUGH THE NOSE.
[through thick and thin] {adv. phr.} Through all difficulties and
troubles; through good times and bad times. * /The friends were
faithful through thick and thin./ * /George stayed in college through
thick and thin, because he wanted an education./
[through train] {n. phr.} A direct train that doesn't necessitate
any changes. * /We'll take the through train from Chicago to New York
because it's the most convenient./
[throw] See: FREE THROW, PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT
THROW STONES.
[throw a curve] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. To mislead or
deceive someone; to lie. * /John threw me a curve about the hiring./
2. To take someone by surprise in an unpleasant way. * /Mr. Weiner's
announcement threw the whole company a curve./
[throw a fit] See: HAVE A FIT.
[throw a monkey wrench] or [throw a wrench] {v. phr.}, {informal}
To cause something that is going smoothly to stop. * /The game was
going smoothly until you threw a monkey wrench into the works by
fussing about the rules./ * /The Michigan tacklers threw a wrench into
the Wisconsin team's offense./ * /He hoped to see the class plan fail
and looked for a chance to throw a wrench in the machinery./
[throw a party] {v. phr.}, {informal} To hold a party; have a
party. * /The club is throwing a party in the high school gym Saturday
night./ * /The Seniors threw a masquerade party on Halloween./
[throw a punch] {v. phr.} To strike at someone with your fist; hit;
punch. * /Bob became so mad at Fred that he threw a punch at him./ *
/The bell rang and the boxers started throwing punches./ Compare: TAKE
A PUNCH AT.
[throw away] {v.} 1. To get rid of as unwanted or not needed; junk.
* /Before they moved they threw away everything they didn't want to
take with them./ * /I never save those coupons; I just throw them
away./ Syn.: THROW OUT. 2. To waste. * /The senator criticized the
government for throwing away billions on the space program./ 3. To
fail to make use of. * /She threw away a good chance for a better
job./
[throw a wet blanket] See: WET BLANKET.
[throw caution to the winds] also [throw discretion to the winds]
{v. phr.} To be daring; make a bold or risky move. * /Hearing that
Apaches were planning to start a war, the whites decided to throw
caution to the winds and attack the Apaches first./
[throw cold water on] also [dash cold water on] or [pour cold water
on] {v. phr.} To discourage; say or do something to discourage. * /We
had high hopes of victory but our opponents soon threw cold water on
them./ * /Henry's father threw cold water on his plans to go to
college by saying he could not afford it./
[throw a loop] See: KNOCK FOR A LOOP.
[throw down the gauntlet] {v. phr.} To challenge, especially to a
fight. * /Another candidate for the presidency has thrown down the
gauntlet./
[throw for a loss] {v. phr.} 1. To tackle a member of the opposing
football team behind the place where his team had the ball at the
beginning of the play; push the other team back so that they lose
yardage in football. * /The Blues' quarterback ran back and tried to
pass, but before he could, the Reds' end threw him for a loss./
Compare: LOSE GROUND. 2. {informal} To surprise or shock (someone);
upset; make worry greatly; cause trouble. * /It threw Jim for a loss
when he failed the test./ * /Mr. Simpson was thrown for a loss when he
lost his job./ Compare: KNOCK FOR A LOOP, SET BACK ON ONE'S HEELS.
[throw in] {v.} 1. To give or put in as an addition; to give to or
with something else. * /John threw in a couple of tires when he sold
Bill his bicycle./ * /Mary and Tess were talking about the prom, and
Joan threw in that she was going with Fred./ Compare: FOR GOOD
MEASURE. 2. To push into operating position. * /Mr. Jones threw in the
clutch and shifted the gears./
[throw light on] See: CAST LIGHT ON, SHED LIGHT ON.
[throw something in one's face] or [throw something in one's teeth]
{v. phr.} To blame a person for (something wrong); not allow someone
to forget (a mistake or failure). - Often used with "back". * /Bob
came home late for dinner last week, and his mother keeps throwing it
back in his face./ * /I made a mistake in the ball game and the boys
keep throwing it back in my teeth./ Compare: IN ONE'S FACE.
[throw in one's lot with] or {literary} [cast in one's lot with]
{v. phr.} To decide to share or take part in anything that happens to;
join. * /The thief decided to throw in his lot with the gang when he
heard their plans./ * /Washington was rich, but he decided to cast in
his lot with the colonies against Britain./ * /When Carl was old
enough to vote, he threw in his lot with the Democrats./ Syn.: JOIN
FORCES.
[throw in the sponge] or [throw up the sponge] or [throw in the
towel] {v. phr.}, {informal} To admit defeat; accept loss. * /After
taking a beating for five rounds, the fighter's seconds threw in the
sponge./ * /When Harold saw his arguments were not being accepted, he
threw in the towel and left./ Syn.: GIVE UP.
[throw off] {v.} 1. To get free from. * /He was healthy enough to
throw off his cold easily./ Compare: RID OF. 2. To mislead; confuse;
fool. * /They went by a different route to throw the hostile bandits
off their track./ 3. To produce easily or as if without effort. * /She
could throw off a dozen poems in a night./
[throw off the scent] {v. phr.} To mislead; confuse. * /The robbers
went different ways hoping to throw the sheriff's men off the scent./
Syn.: THROW OFF(2).
[throw off the track] {v. phr.} To divert; mislead; confuse. * /The
clever criminals threw the detective off the track by changing their
names and faces./ Contrast: OFF THE BEATEN TRACK.
[throw oneself at someone's feet] {v. phr.} To make a public
display of serving, loving, or worshipping someone. * /When Arthur
became king, almost all of the nobles threw themselves at his feet and
promised to obey and serve him./ * /When the new girl entered school,
several boys threw themselves at her feet./
[throw oneself at someone's head] or [fling oneself at someone's
head] {v. phr.}, {informal} To try hard and openly to make a person
love you. * /She threw herself at his head, but he was interested in
another girl./ Compare: AT ONE'S FEET.
[throw one's hat in the ring] or [toss one's hat in the ring] {v.
phr.}, {informal} To announce that you are going to try to be elected
to an official position; become a candidate for office. * /Bill tossed
his hat in the ring for class president./ * /The senator threw his hat
in the ring for re-election./
[throw one's weight around] {v. phr.}, {informal} To use one's
influence or position in a showy or noisy manner. * /John was the star
of the class play, and he was throwing his weight around telling the
director how the scene should be played./ * /Bob was stronger than the
other boys, and he threw his weight around./ Compare: PULL RANK.
[throw open] 1. To open wide with a sudden or strong movement. *
/He dashed in and threw open the windows./ 2. To remove limits from. *
/The Homestead Act threw open the West./ * /When a hurricane and flood
left many people homeless, public buildings were thrown open to
shelter them./
[throw] or [feed one to the wolves] {v. phr.} 1. To turn someone
into a scapegoat. * /In order to explain the situation to the media,
the governor blamed the mayor and threw him to the wolves./ 2. To send
into danger without protection. * /Mary was very shy. Her friends did
not come to speak before the club in her place. They threw her to the
wolves./ * /The boys on the football team were so small that when they
played a good team they were thrown to the wolves./
[throw out] or [toss out] {v.} 1. To put somewhere to be destroyed
because not wanted. * /He didn't need the brush anymore so he threw it
out./ Syn.: THROW AWAY(1). 2. To refuse to accept. * /The inspector
tossed out all the parts that didn't work./ 3. To force to leave;
dismiss. * /When the employees complained too loudly, the owner threw
them out./ Syn.: KICK OUT, TURN OUT(1). 4. To cause to be out in
baseball by throwing the ball. * /The shortstop tossed the runner
out./
[throw out of gear] {v. phr.} 1. To separate the gears of (a car or
some other machine) when you want to stop it. * /When John wanted to
stop, he threw the car out of gear and braked sharply./ 2. To stop or
bother (what someone is doing or planning); confuse; upset. * /The
whole country was thrown out of gear by the assassination of the
President./ * /My mother's illness threw my plans for the summer out
of gear./
[throw over] {v.} To give up for another; break your loyalty or
attachment to. * /Bob threw Mary over for a new girlfriend./ * /Tom
threw over those who helped him run for class president after he was
elected./
[throw the baby out with the bath (bathwater)] {v. phr.} To reject
all of something because part is faulty. * /God knows that there are
weaknesses in the program, but if they act too hastily they may cause
the baby to be thrown out with the bathwater./
[throw the book at] {v. phr.}, {informal} To give the most severe
penalty to (someone) for breaking the law or rules. * /Because it was
the third time he had been caught speeding that month, the judge threw
the book at him./
[throw together] {v.} 1. also [slap together] To make in a hurry
and without care. * /Bill and Bob threw together a cabin out of old
lumber./ * /The party was planned suddenly, and Mary threw together a
meal out of leftovers./ 2. To put in with other people by chance. *
/The group of strangers was thrown together when the storm trapped
them on the highway./ * /Bill and Tom became friends when they were
thrown together in the same cabin at camp./
[throw up] {v.} 1. {informal} or {slang} [heave up]. To vomit. *
/The heat made him feel sick and he thought he would throw up./ * /He
took the medicine but threw it up a minute later./ 2. {informal} To
quit; leave; let go; give up. * /When she broke their engagement he
threw up his job and left town./ 3. To build in a hurry. * /The
contractor threw up some temporary sheds to hold the new equipment./
4. To mention often as an insult. * /His father threw up John's
wastefulness to him./
[throw up one's hands] {v. phr.} To give up trying; admit that you
cannot succeed. * /Mrs. Jones threw up her hands when the children
messed up the living room for the third time./ * /When Mary saw the
number of dishes to be washed, she threw up her hands in dismay./
[throw up one's hands in horror] {v. phr.} To be horrified; feel
alarmed; give up hope of straightening things out; be shocked by
something terrible. * /When Mrs. Brown saw the mess the children were
making in her living room, she threw up her hands in horror./ *
/Everybody threw up their hands in horror at the destruction caused by
the hurricane./
[throw up the sponge] See: THROW IN THE SPONGE.
[thumb] See: ALL THUMBS, GREEN THUMB, TURN THUMBS DOWN, TWIDDLE
ONE'S THUMBS, UNDER ONE'S THUMB or UNDER THE THUMB OF.
[thumb a ride] {v. phr.}, {informal} To get a ride by hitchhiking;
hitchhike. * /Not having much money, Carl decided to thumb a ride to
New York./
[thumb one's nose] {v. phr.} 1. To hold one's open hand in front of
one's face with one's thumb pointed at one's nose as a sign of scorn
or dislike. * /After Bob ran into the house he thumbed his nose at Tom
through the window./ 2. {informal} To look with disfavor or dislike;
regard with scorn; refuse to obey. - Used with "at". * /Betty thumbed
her nose at her mother's command to stay home./ * /Mary thumbed her
nose at convention by wearing odd clothes./ Compare: LOOK DOWN ON.
[thumb through] {v. phr.} To examine superficially; read cursorily.
* /I have read "War and Peace" but Fran has only thumbed through it./
[thunder] See: BLOOD AND THUNDER, STEAL ONE'S THUNDER.
[thus and so] also [thus and thus] {adv. phr.} In a particular way;
according to directions that have been given. * /The teacher is very
fussy about the way you write your report. If you don't do it thus and
so, she gives you a lower mark./
[thus far] See: SO FAR.
[ticket] See: SPLIT TICKET, STRAIGHT TICKET, THE TICKET, WALKING
PAPERS also WALKING TICKET.
[tickle pink] {v. phr.}, {informal} To please very much; thrill;
delight. Usually used in the passive participle. * /Nancy was tickled
pink with her new dress./
[tickle to death] See: TO DEATH.
[tick off] {v.} 1. To mention one after the other; list. * /The
teacher ticked off the assignments that Jane had to do./ 2. To scold;
rebuke. * /The boss ticked off the waitress for dropping her tray./ 3.
To anger or upset. - Usually used as ticked off. * /She was ticked off
at him for breaking their dinner date again./
[tide] See: TURN THE TIDE.
[tide over] {v.} To carry past a difficulty or danger; help in bad
times or in trouble. * /He was out of work last winter but he had
saved enough money to tide him over until spring./ * /An ice cream
cone in the afternoon tided her over until supper./ Compare: SEE
THROUGH.
[tide turn] See: TURN THE TIDE.
[tidy sum] {n. phr.} A large amount of money. * /The Smith's big
new home cost them a tidy sum./ Compare: PRETTY PENNY.
[tie] See: FIT TO BE TIED.
[tie down] {v.} To keep (someone) from going somewhere or doing
something; prevent from leaving; keep in. * /Mrs. Brown can't come to
the party. She's tied down at home with the children sick./ * /The
navy tied the enemy down with big gunfire while the marines landed on
the beach./ * /I can't help you with history now! I'm tied down with
these algebra problems./
[tied to one's mother's apron strings] Not independent of your
mother; not able to do anything without asking your mother. * /Even
after he grew up he was still tied to his mother's apron strings./
[tie in] {v.} To connect with something else; make a connection
for. - Often used with "with". * /The teacher tied in what she said
with last week's lesson./ * /The English teacher sometimes gives
compositions that tie in with things we are studying in other
classes./ * /The detectives tied in the fingerprints on the man's gun
with those found on the safe, so they knew that he was the thief./
[tie-in] {n.} A connection; a point of meeting. * /John's essay on
World War II provides a perfect tie-in with his earlier work on World
War I./
[tie in knots] {v. phr.} To make (someone) very nervous or worried.
* /The thought of having her tooth pulled tied Joan in knots./ * /The
little boy's experience with the kidnapper tied him in knots and it
was hard for him to sleep well for a long time./
[tie into] See: LACE INTO.
[tie one's hands] {v. phr.} To make (a person) unable to do
anything. - Usually used in the passive. * /Since Mary would not tell
her mother what was bothering her, her mother's hands were tied./ *
/Charles wanted to help John get elected president of the class, but
his promise to another boy tied his hands./ * /Father hoped Jim would
not quit school, but his hands were tied; Jim was old enough to quit
if he wanted to./
[tie the knot] {v. phr.}, {informal} To get married; also to
perform a wedding ceremony. * /Diane and Bill tied the knot
yesterday./ * /The minister tied the knot for Diane and Bill
yesterday./
[tie up] {v. phr.} 1. To show or stop the movement or action of;
hinder; tangle. * /The crash of the two trucks tied up all traffic in
the center of town./ * /The strike tied up the factory./ 2. To take
all the time of. * /The meeting will tie the President up until noon./
* /The Senate didn't vote because a debate on a small point kept it
tied up all week./ * /He can't see you now. He's tied up on the
telephone./ 3. To limit or prevent the use of. * /His money is tied up
in a trust fund and he can't take it out./ * /Susan tied up the
bathroom for an hour./ 4. To enter into an association or partnership;
join. * /Our company has tied up with another firm to support the
show./ 5. To dock. * /The ships tied up at New York./ 6. {slang} To
finish; complete. * /We've talked long enough; let's tie up these
plans and start doing things./
[tie-up] {n.} A congestion; a stoppage of the normal flow of
traffic, business or correspondence. * /There was a two-hour traffic
tie-up on the highway./ * /No pay checks were delivered because of the
mail service tie-up./
[tight] See: SIT TIGHT.
[tight end] {n.} An end in football who plays close to the tackle
in the line. * /The tight end is used to catch passes but most often
to block./ Contrast: SPLIT END.
[tighten one's belt] {v. phr.} To live on less money than usual;
use less food and other things. * /When father lost his job we had to
tighten our belts./ Often used in the expression "tighten one's belt
another notch". * /When the husband lost his job, the Smiths had to do
without many things, but when their savings were all spent, they had
to tighten their belts another notch./
[tighten the screws] {v. phr.} To try to make someone do something
by making it more and more difficult not to do it; apply pressure. *
/When many students still missed class after he began giving daily
quizzes, the teacher tightened the screws by failing anyone absent
four times./
[tight-lipped] {adj.} A taciturn person; one who doesn't say much.
* /The witness was tight-lipped about what she saw for fear of
physical retaliation by the mob./
[tight money] {n. phr.} The opposite of inflation, when money is
hard to borrow from the banks. * /The government decided that tight
money is the way to bring down inflation./
[tight squeeze] {n. phr.} A difficult situation; financial
troubles. * /The Browns aren't going out to dinner these days; they
are in a tight squeeze./
[tightwad] {n. phr.} A stingy person. * /My father is such a
tightwad that he won't give me an allowance./
[Tijuana taxi] {., {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon} A police
car. * /I've got a Tijuana taxi in sight./
[till] See: ROB THE TILL or HAVE ONE'S HAND IN THE TILL.
[till the cows come home] {adv. phr.} Until sunset; until the last.
* /The women in the country used to sit in the spinning room making
yarn out of skeins of wool, usually till the cows came home./
[till the last gun is fired] or [until the last gun is fired] {adv.
phr.} Until the end; until everything is finished or decided. * /Fred
always liked to stay at parties until the last gun was fired./ * /The
candidate didn't give up hope of being elected until the last gun was
fired./
[tilt] See: FULL TILT.
[tilt at windmills] {v. phr.}, {literary} To do battle with an
imaginary foe (after Cervantes' Don Quixote). * /John is a nice guy
but when it comes to departmental meetings he wastes everybody's time
by constantly tilting at windmills./
[time] See: ABOUT TIME, AGAINST TIME, AT A TIME, AT ONE TIME, AT
THE SAME TIME, AT TIMES, BEHIND THE TIMES, BEHIND TIME, BIDE ONE'S
TIME, BIG TIME, EVERY TIME ONE TURNS AROUND, FOR THE TIME BEING, FROM
TIME TO TIME, GIVE A HARD TIME, HAVE A TIME, HIGH TIME, IN GOOD TIME,
IN NO TIME, IN THE NICK OF TIME, IN TIME, KEEP TIME, LESS THAN NO
TIME, LIVE ON BORROWED TIME, MAKE TIME, MARK TIME, ONCE UPON A TIME,
ON ONE'S OWN TIME, ON TIME, PASS THE TIME OF DAY, SMALL-TIME, TAKE
ONE'S TIME, TWO-TIME.
[time and again] or [time and time again] {adv.} Many times;
repeatedly; very often, * /I've told you time and again not to touch
the vase!/ * /Children are forgetful and must be told time and time
again how to behave./
[time and a half] {n. phr.} Pay given to a worker at a rate half
again as much as he usually gets. * /John got time and a half when he
worked beyond his usual quitting time./ * /Tom gets one dollar for
regular pay and a dollar and a half for time and a half./
[time is ripe] The best time has come for doing something. * /The
Prime Minister will hold elections when the time is ripe./ * /Lee saw
his mother was upset, so he decided the time was not ripe to tell her
about the broken window./
[time of day] See: NOT TO GIVE ONE THE TIME OF DAY.
[time off] {n. phr.} A period of release from work. * /If I had
some time off this afternoon, I would finish writing the letters I
promised to my family./
[time of one's life] {n. phr.} A very happy or wonderful time. *
/John had the time of his life at the party./ * /I could see that she
was having the time of her life./
[time out] {n. phr.} Time during which a game, a lecture, a
discussion or other activity is stopped for a while for some extra
questions or informal discussion, or some other reason. * /He took a
time out from studying to go to a movie./ * /The player called time
out so he could tie his shoe./ * /"Time out!" - The students said,
"Could you explain that again?"/
[tin ear] {n. phr.} 1. A lack of sensitivity to noise. * /The
construction noise doesn't bother Fred; he's got a tin ear./ 2. A lack
of musical ability; state of being tone deaf. * /People with a tin ear
make poor choir members./
[tingle] See: SPINE-TINGLING.
[tinker's damn] See: NOT WORTH A TINKER'S DAMN.
[Tin Pan Alley] {n. phr.} The pop music industry. * /What kind of
music will Tin Pan Alley come up with this year?/
[tip] See: AT THE TIP OF ONE'S TONGUE, FROM TIP TO TIP.
[tip off] {v.}, {informal} To tell something not generally known;
tell secret facts to; warn. * /The class president tipped off the
class that it was the superintendent's birthday./ * /The thieves did
not rob the bank as planned because someone tipped them off that it
was being watched by the police./ Compare: PUT WISE.
[tip the balance] See: TIP THE SCALES(2).
[tip the scales] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To weigh. * /Martin tips
the scales at 180 pounds./ 2. or [tip the balance] To have important
or decisive influence; make a decision go for or against you; decide.
* /John's vote tipped the scales in our favor, and we won the
election./ Compare: TURN THE TIDE.
[tired] See: DEAD TIRED, SICK AND TIRED.
[tire out] See: WEAR OUT(2).
[tit for tat] {n. phr.} Equal treatment in return; a fair exchange.
* /Billy hit me, so I gave him tit for tat./ * /I told him if he did
me any harm I would return tit for tat./ * /They had a warm debate and
the two boys gave each other tit for tat./ Compare: GET BACK AT, EYE
FOR AN EYE AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.
[to a conclusion] See: JUMP TO A CONCLUSION.
[to a crisp] See: BURN TO A CRISP.
[to a degree] {adv. phr.} 1. {Chiefly British} Very; to a large
extent. * /In some things I am ignorant to a degree./ 2. Somewhat;
slightly; in a small way; rather. * /His anger was, to a degree, a
confession of defeat./ * /To a degree, Mary was to blame for Bob's
failing mathematics, because he spent much time with her when he
should have been studying./
[to advantage] {adv. phr.} So as to bring out the good qualities
of; favorably; in a flattering way. * /The jeweler's window showed the
diamonds to advantage./ * /The green dress showed up to advantage with
her red hair./
[to a fault] {adv. phr.} So very well that it is in a way bad; to
the point of being rather foolish; too well; too much. * /Aunt May
wants everything in her house to be exactly right; she is neat to a
fault./ * /Mary acts her part to a fault./ * /John carries
thoroughness to a fault; he spends many hours writing his reports./
[to a halt] See: GRIND TO A HALT.
[to a large extent] See: IN GREAT MEASURE.
[to all intents and purposes] {adv. phr.} In most ways; in fact. *
/The president is called the head of state, but the prime minister, to
all intents and purposes, is the chief executive./
[to a man] {adv. phr.} Without exception; with all agreeing. * /The
workers voted to a man to go on strike./ * /To a man John's friends
stood by him in his trouble./ Compare: EVERY LAST MAN.
[to and fro] {adv. phr.} Forward and back again and again. *
/Father pushed Judy in the swing, and she went to and fro./ * /Busses
go to and fro between the center of the city and the city limits/ *
/The man walked to and fro while he waited for his phone call./
Compare: BACK AND FORTH.
[to another tune] See: DANCE TO ANOTHER TUNE.
[to a T] or [to a turn] {adv. phr.} Just right; to perfection;
exactly. * /The roast was done to a turn./ * /His nickname, Tiny,
suited him to a T./ Compare: TO THE LETTER.
[to bat] See: GO TO BAT FOR.
[to bay] See: BRING TO BAY.
[to-be] {adj.} That is going to be; about to become. - Used after
the noun it modifies. * /Bob kissed his bride-to-be./ * /The principal
of the high school greeted the high school students-to-be on their
last day in junior high./
[to bed] See: PUT TO BED, PUT TO BED WITH A SHOVEL.
[to be on the safe side] {adv. phr.} To take extra precautions;
reduce or eliminate the possibility of a mistake, an error, or even
danger. * /Dad always keeps his valuables in a bank's safe deposit
box, just to be on the safe side./ Compare: JUST IN CASE.
[to be sure] {adv. phr.} Without a doubt; certainly; surely. *
/"Didn't you say Mr. Smith would take us home?" "Oh, yes. To be sure,
I did."/ - Often used before a clause beginning with "but". * /He
works slowly, to be sure, but he does a good job./ * /To be sure, Jim
is a fast skater, but he is not good at doing figures./ Syn.: OF
COURSE.
[to blame] {adj. phr.} Having done something wrong; to be blamed;
responsible. * /John was to blame for the broken window./ * /The
teacher tried to find out who was to blame in the fight./
[to boot] {adv. phr.} In addition; besides; as something extra. *
/He not only got fifty dollars, but they bought him dinner to boot./
Compare: FOR GOOD MEASURE, IN THE BARGAIN, THROW IN.
[to date] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} Up to the present time; until now.
* /To date twenty students have been accepted into the school./ * /The
police have not found the runaway to date./ * /Jim is shoveling snow
to earn money, but his earnings to date are small./ Syn.: SO FAR.
[to death] {adv. phr.}, {informal} To the limit; to the greatest
degree possible. - Used for emphasis with verbs such as "scare",
"frighten", "bore". * /Cowboy stories bore me to death, but I like
mysteries./ * /Sara is scared to death of snakes./ * /John is tickled
to death with his new bike./
[to do] See: HAVE TO DO WITH.
[toe] See: CURL ONE'S HAIR or CURL ONE'S TOES, ON ONE'S TOES, STEP
ON THE TOES OF.
[toe the line] or [toe the mark] {v. phr.} To be very careful to do
just what you are supposed to do; obey the rules and do your duties. *
/The new teacher will make Joe toe the line./ * /Bill's father is
strict with him and he has to toe the mark./ Compare: WALK THE CHALK.
[to first base] See: GET TO FIRST BASE.
[together] See: GET IT ALL TOGETHER.
[together with] {prep.} In addition to; in the company of; along
with. * /John, together with his brother, has gone to the party./ *
/The police found a knife, together with the stolen money, hidden in a
hollow tree./
[to grips] See: COME TO GRIPS WITH.
[to heart] See: TAKE TO HEART also LAY TO HEART.
[to heel] {adj. phr.} 1. Close behind. * /The dog ran after a
rabbit, but Jack brought him to heel./ 2. Under control; to obedience.
* /When Peter was sixteen, he thought he could do as he pleased, but
his father cut off his allowance, and Peter soon came to heel./
[to hell with] or [the hell with] {prep. phr.}, {informal} Used to
express disgusted rejection of something. * /It's slop; the hell with
what the cook calls it./ Compare: FED UP, GIVE A HANG.
[to it] See: PUT ONE'S BACK TO IT.
[to light] See: BRING TO LIGHT, COME TO LIGHT.
[toll] See: TAKE ITS TOLL.
[toll call] {n. phr.} A long distance telephone call for which one
has to pay. * /We had several toll calls on last month's telephone
bill./
[toll free] {adv. phr.} Calling an (800) telephone number with the
call paid by the business whose number one has dialed. * /You can call
us day and night, seven days a week, toll free./
[Tom] See: PEEPING TOM.
[Tom, Dick, and Harry] {n. phr.} People in general; anyone;
everyone. - Usually preceded by "every" and used to show scorn or
disrespect. * /The drunk told his troubles to every Tom, Dick and
Harry who passed by./
[tone down] {v.} To make softer or quieter; make less harsh or
strong; moderate. * /He toned down the sound of the TV./ * /She wanted
the bright colors in her house toned down./ * /When the ladies
arrived, he toned down his language./ * /The strikers were asked to
tone down their demands for higher pay so that there might be a
quicker agreement and an end to the strike./
[tong] See: GO AT IT HAMMER AND TONGS.
[tongue] See: AT THE TIP OF ONE'S TONGUE, CAT GET ONE'S TONGUE,
HOLD ONE'S TONGUE, KEEP A CIVIL TONGUE IN ONE'S HEAD, SLIP OF THE
TONGUE.
[tongue-in-cheek] {adj. phr.} In an ironic or insincere manner. *
/When the faculty complained about the poor salary increments, the
university's president said that he was not a psychiatrist, thus
making an inappropriate tongue-in-cheek remark./
[tongue-lashing] {n.} A sharp scolding or criticism. * /Jim's
mother gave him a tongue-lashing for telling family secrets./ Syn.:
PIECE OF ONE'S MIND.
[tongues wag] {informal} People speak in an excited or gossipy
manner; people spread rumors. * /If married women go out with other
men, tongues will wag./ * /When the bank clerk showed up in an
expensive new car, tongues wagged./
[tongue-tied] See: TIGHT-LIPPED.
[tongue twister] {n.} A word or group of words difficult to
pronounce whose meaning is irrelevant compared to the difficulty of
enunciation. * /"She sells sea shells by the seashore" is a popular
American tongue twister./
[to no avail] or [of no avail(1)] {adj. phr.}, {formal} Having no
effect; useless, unsuccessful. * /Tom's practicing was of no avail. He
was sick on the day of the game./ * /Mary's attempts to learn
embroidering were to no avail./
[to no avail(2)] {adv. phr.}, {formal} Without result;
unsuccessfully. * /John tried to pull the heavy cart, but to no
avail./ * /Mary studied hard for the test but to no avail./ Compare:
IN VAIN.
[too] See: EAT ONE'S CAKE AND HAVE IT TOO.
[too bad] {adj.} To be regretted; worthy of sorrow or regret;
regrettable. - Used as a predicate. * /It is too bad that we are so
often lazy./ * /It was too bad Bill had measles when the circus came
to town./
[too big for one's breeches] or [too big for one's boots] {adj.
phr.} Too sure of your own importance; feeling more important than you
really are. * /That boy had grown too big for his breeches. I'll have
to put him back in his place./ * /When the teacher made Bob a monitor,
he got too big for his boots and she had to warn him./
[too ---- by half] {adj.} ({princ. British}) Much too; excessively.
* /The heroine of the story is too nice by half; she is not
believable./
[too close for comfort] {adj. phr.} Perilously near (said of bad
things). * /When the sniper's bullet hit the road the journalist
exclaimed, "Gosh, that was too close for comfort!"/ Compare: CLOSE
CALL, CLOSE SHAVE.
[too many cooks spoil the broth] or [stew] A project is likely to
go bad if managed by a multiplicity of primary movers. - A proverb. *
/When several people acted all at once in trying to reshape the
company's investment policy, Tom spoke up and said, "Let me do this by
myself! Don't you know that too many cooks spoil the broth?"/
[too many irons in the fire] See: IRONS IN THE FIRE.
[to one] See: TEN TO ONE, TWO TO ONE.
[to oneself(1)] {adv. phr.} 1. Silently; in the thoughts; without
making a sign that others can see; secretly. * /Tom thought to himself
that he could win./ * /Mary said to herself that Joan was prettier
than Ann./ * /Bill laughed to himself when John fell down./ 2. Without
telling others; in private; as a secret. - Used after "keep". * /Mary
keeps her affairs to herself./ * /John knew the answer to the problem,
but he kept it to himself./
[to oneself(2)] {adj. phr.} 1. Without company; away from others;
alone; deserted. * /The boys went home and John was left to himself./
* /When Mary first moved to her new neighborhood she was very shy and
kept to herself./ 2. Following one's own beliefs or wishes; not
stopped by others. * /When John insisted on going, Fred left him to
himself./ * /The teacher left Mary to herself to solve the problem./
[to one's face] {adv. phr.} Directly to you; in your presence. * /I
told him to his face that I didn't like the idea./ * /I called him a
coward to his face./ Compare: IN ONE'S FACE. Contrast: BEHIND ONE'S
BACK.
[to one's feet] {adv. phr.} To a standing position; up. * /After
Henry had been tackled hard by four big players, he got to his feet
slowly and painfully./ * /When Sally saw the bus coming, she jumped to
her feet and ran out./ Compare: ON ONE'S FEET.
[to one's guns] See: STICK TO ONE'S GUNS.
[to one's heart's content] {adv. phr.} To the extent of one's
wishes; one's complete satisfaction. * /There is a wonderful small
restaurant nearby where you can eat to your heart's content./
[to one's heels] See: TAKE TO ONE'S HEELS.
[to one's name] {adv. phr.} In your ownership; of your own; as part
of your belongings. * /David did not have a book to his name./ * /Ed
had only one suit to his name./
[to one's ribs] See: STICK TO ONE'S RIBS.
[to one's senses] See: COME TO ONE'S SENSES.
[to order] {adv. phr.} According to directions given in an order in
embarrassing of knowing. - Usually used with "nobody" or "no one". *
/Mary took the teacher's book home by mistake, but early the next
morning she returned it with nobody the wiser./
[the works] {n. plural}, {slang} 1. Everything that can be had or
that you have; everything of this kind, all that goes with it. * /When
the tramp found $100, he went into a fine restaurant and ordered the
works with a steak dinner./ 1b. See: SHOOT THE WORKS. 2. Rough
handling or treatment; a bad beating or scolding; killing; murder. -
Usually used with "get" or "give". * /The boy said that Joe was going
to get the works if he ever came back to that neighborhood again./ *
/The newspaper gave the police department the works when they let the
burglars get away./ * /The gangster told his friend he would give him
the works if he double-crossed him./ Compare: THE BUSINESS.
[they] See: LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY.
[thick] See: BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER, LAY IT ON or LAY IT ON
THICK, THROUGH THICK AND THIN.
[thicker] See: BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER.
[thin] See: INTO THIN AIR, OUT OF THIN AIR, SIT ON THIN ICE, SPREAD
ONESELF TOO THIN, THROUGH THICK AND THIN, WEAR THIN.
[thing] See: A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS A DANGEROUS THING, DO ONE'S
THING or DO ONE'S OWN THING, FIRST THINGS COME FIRST, FOR ONE THING,
SEE THINGS, SURE THING, TAKE IT EASY or TAKE THINGS EASY, TELL A THING
OR TWO.
[thing or two] {n. phr.}, {informal} 1. Facts not generally known,
or not known to the hearer or reader; unusual or important
information. * /Mary told Joan a thing or two about Betty's real
feelings./ 2. A lot; much. * /Bob knows a thing or two about sailing./
Compare: TELL A THING OR TWO.
[Things are looking up!] Informal way to say that conditions are
improving. * /Things are looking up at our university as the governor
promised a 5% salary raise./
[think] See: COME TO THINK OF IT.
[think a great deal of] or [think a lot of] also [think much of]
{v. phr.} To consider to be very worthy, valuable, or important; to
esteem highly. * /Mary thinks a great deal of Tim./ * /The teacher
thought a lot of Joe's project./ - The phrase "think much of" is
usually used in negative sentences. * /Father didn't think much of
Paul's idea of buying a goat to save lawn mowing./ Contrast: THINK
LITTLE OF.
[think a lot of] See: THINK A GREAT DEAL OF.
[think aloud] or [think out loud] {v.} To say what you are
thinking. * /"I wish I had more money for Christmas presents," Father
thought aloud. "What did you say?" said Mother. Father answered, "I'm
sorry. I wasn't talking to you. I was thinking out loud."/
[think better of] {v.} To change your mind about; to consider again
and make a better decision about. * /John told his mother he wanted to
leave school, but later he thought better of it./ Compare: SECOND
THOUGHT, THINK TWICE.
[Think big!] {v. phr.}, {informal} To believe in one's ability,
purpose, or power to perform or succeed. * /Be confident; be positive;
tell yourself you are the greatest; above all, think big!/
[think fit] See: FIT.
[thinking cap] See: PUT ON ONE'S THINKING CAP.
[think little of] {v. phr.} Think that (something or someone) is
not important or valuable. * /John thought little of Ted's plan for
the party./ * /Joan thought little of walking two miles to school./
Contrast: THINK A GREAT DEAL OF.
[think much of] See: THINK A GREAT DEAL OF.
[think nothing of] {v. phr.} To think or consider easy, simple, or
usual. * /Jim thinks nothing of hiking ten miles in one day./
[think nothing of it] {v. phr.}, {informal} Used as a courteous
phrase in replying to thanks. /"Thank you very much for your help."
"Think nothing of it."/ Compare: YOU'RE WELCOME.
[think on one's feet] {v. phr.} To think quickly; answer or act
without waiting; know what to do or say right away. * /A good
basketball player can think on his feet./ * /Our teacher can think on
his feet; he always has an answer ready when we ask him questions./
[think out] {v.} 1. To find out or discover by thinking; study and
understand. * /Andy thought out a way of climbing to the top of the
pole./ Compare FIGURE OUT, WORK OUT. 2. To think through to the end;
to understand what would come at last. * /Bill wanted to quit school,
but he thought out the matter and decided not to./
[think out loud] See: THINK ALOUD.
[think over] {v.} To think carefully about; consider; study. *
/When Charles asked Betty to marry him, she asked him for time to
think it over./ * /Think over what we studied in history this year and
write a lesson on the thing that interested you most./ Compare: MAKE
UP ONE'S MIND, SEE ABOUT.
[think piece] {n.}, {slang} 1. The human brain. * /Lou's got one
powerful think piece, man./ 2. Any provocative essay or article that,
by stating a strong opinion, arouses the reader to think about it and
react to it by agreeing or disagreeing. * /That article by Charles
Fenyvesi on Vietnamese refugees in the Washington Post sure was a
think piece!/
[think tank] {n.} A company of researchers who spend their time
developing ideas and concepts. * /The government hired a think tank to
study the country's need for coins, and was advised to stop making
pennies./
[think twice] {v.} To think again carefully; reconsider; hesitate.
* /The teacher advised Lou to think twice before deciding to quit
school./ Compare: THINK BETTER OF.
[think up] {v.} To invent or discover by thinking; have a new idea
of. * /Mary thought up a funny game for the children to play./
[third base] {n.} The base to be touched third in baseball. * /He
reached third base standing up on a long triple./
[third class] {n.} 1. The third best or highest group; the class
next after the second class. * /Mary won the pie-making contest in the
third class, for the youngest girls./ 2. Mail that is printed, other
than magazines and newspapers that are published regularly, and
packages that are not sealed and weigh less than a pound. * /The
company uses third class to mail free samples of soap./ 3. The least
expensive class of travel. * /I couldn't afford anything better than
the third class on the ship coming home from France./ Compare: FIRST
CLASS, SECOND CLASS.
[third-class(1)] {adj.} Belonging to the third class; of the third
highest or best class. * /Much advertising is sent by third-class
mall./ * /I bought a third-class airline ticket to Hawaii./
[third-class(2)] {adv.} By third class. * /How did you send the
package? Third class./ * /We traveled third-class on the train./
[third degree] {n. phr.} A method of severe grilling used to
extract information from an arrested suspect. * /"Why give me the
third degree?" he asked indignantly. "All I did was come home late
because I had a drink with my friends."/
[third sex] {n.}, {euphemism}, {slang}, {informal} Homosexual
individuals who are either men or women. * /Billy is rumored to belong
to the third sex./
[third world] {n.} 1. The countries not aligned with either the
former U.S.S.R.-dominated Communist bloc or the U.S.A.-dominated
capitalist countries. * /New Zealand made a move toward third country
status when it disallowed American nuclear submarines in its harbors./
2. The developing nations of the world where the industrial revolution
has not yet been completed. * /Africa and the rest of the third world
must be freed from starvation and illiteracy./
[this] See: OUT OF THIS WORLD.
[this and that] also [this, that, and the other] {n. phr.} Various
things; different things; miscellaneous things. * /When the old
friends met they would talk about this and that./ * /The quilt was
made of this, that, and the other./
[this, that, and the other] See: THIS AND THAT.
[this is how the cookie crumbles] or [that's how the cookie
crumbles] {v. phr.}, {informal} That's how things are; that's life. *
/It's too bad about John and Mary getting divorced, but then that's
how the cookie crumbles./
[thither] See: HITHER AND THITHER.
[thorn in the flesh] or [thorn in one's side] {n. phr.} Something
that causes stubborn trouble; a constant bother; a vexation. * /The
new voter organization soon became the biggest thorn in the senator's
side./ * /The guerrilla band was a thorn in the flesh of the
invaders./
[though] See: AS IF or AS THOUGH.
[thought] See: FOOD FOR THOUGHT, PENNY FOR ONE'S THOUGHTS, PERISH
THE THOUGHT, SECOND THOUGHT.
[thousand] See: BY THE DOZEN or BY THE THOUSAND.
[thrash out] {v. phr.} To discuss fully; confer about something
until a decision is reached. * /They met to thrash out their
differences concerning how to run the office./
[thread] See: HANG BY A THREAD.
[threat] See: TRIPLE THREAT.
[three-ring circus] {n.} A scene of much confusion or activity. *
/The street was a three-ring circus of cars, people, noise, and
lights./ * /It is a three-ring circus to watch that silly dog play./
[three sheets in the wind] or [three sheets to the wind] {adj.
phr.}, {informal} Unsteady from too much liquor; drunk. * /The sailor
came down the street, three sheets in the wind./
[thrill one to death] or [pieces] See: TICKLE PINK.
[throat] See: CUT ONE'S THROAT, FLY AT ONE'S THROAT, JUMP DOWN
ONE'S THROAT, LUMP IN ONE'S THROAT, RAM DOWN ONE'S THROAT and SHOVE
DOWN ONE'S THROAT.
[through a hoop] See: JUMP THROUGH A HOOP.
[through and through] {adv.} Completely; entirely; whole-heartedly.
* /Bob was a ball player through and through./ * /Mary was hurt
through and through by Betty's remarks./ Compare: OUT-AND-OUT.
[through hell and high water] See: HELL AND HIGH WATER.
[through one's hat] See: TALK THROUGH ONE'S HAT.
[through one's head] See: GET THROUGH ONE'S HEAD.
[through one's mind] See: CROSS ONE'S MIND or PASS THROUGH ONE'S
MIND.
[through one's paces] See: PUT THROUGH ONE'S PACES.
[through street] {n.} 1. A street on which cars can move without
stopping at intersections, but cars on streets crossing it have to
stop at the intersection. * /You have to be especially careful
crossing a through street./ * /Mr. Jones stopped his car when he came
to the through street. He waited until there were no cars on it, and
drove across it./ Contrast: STOP STREET. 2. A street that is open to
other streets at both ends; a street that has a passage through it, so
that it is not necessary to come back to get out of it. * /We thought
we could get through to Main St. by going up a side street but there
was a sign that said "Not a through street."/
[through the mill] {adv. phr.} 1. Experienced. * /You could tell
immediately that the new employee had been through the mill./ 2.
Through real experience of the difficulties of a certain way of life.
* /Poor Jerry has had three operations in one year, and now he's back
in the hospital. He's realty gone through the mill./ Compare: GO
THROUGH HELL AND HIGH WATER, COME HELL OR HIGH WATER.
[through the motions] See: GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS.
[through the nose] See: PAY THROUGH THE NOSE.
[through thick and thin] {adv. phr.} Through all difficulties and
troubles; through good times and bad times. * /The friends were
faithful through thick and thin./ * /George stayed in college through
thick and thin, because he wanted an education./
[through train] {n. phr.} A direct train that doesn't necessitate
any changes. * /We'll take the through train from Chicago to New York
because it's the most convenient./
[throw] See: FREE THROW, PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT
THROW STONES.
[throw a curve] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. To mislead or
deceive someone; to lie. * /John threw me a curve about the hiring./
2. To take someone by surprise in an unpleasant way. * /Mr. Weiner's
announcement threw the whole company a curve./
[throw a fit] See: HAVE A FIT.
[throw a monkey wrench] or [throw a wrench] {v. phr.}, {informal}
To cause something that is going smoothly to stop. * /The game was
going smoothly until you threw a monkey wrench into the works by
fussing about the rules./ * /The Michigan tacklers threw a wrench into
the Wisconsin team's offense./ * /He hoped to see the class plan fail
and looked for a chance to throw a wrench in the machinery./
[throw a party] {v. phr.}, {informal} To hold a party; have a
party. * /The club is throwing a party in the high school gym Saturday
night./ * /The Seniors threw a masquerade party on Halloween./
[throw a punch] {v. phr.} To strike at someone with your fist; hit;
punch. * /Bob became so mad at Fred that he threw a punch at him./ *
/The bell rang and the boxers started throwing punches./ Compare: TAKE
A PUNCH AT.
[throw away] {v.} 1. To get rid of as unwanted or not needed; junk.
* /Before they moved they threw away everything they didn't want to
take with them./ * /I never save those coupons; I just throw them
away./ Syn.: THROW OUT. 2. To waste. * /The senator criticized the
government for throwing away billions on the space program./ 3. To
fail to make use of. * /She threw away a good chance for a better
job./
[throw a wet blanket] See: WET BLANKET.
[throw caution to the winds] also [throw discretion to the winds]
{v. phr.} To be daring; make a bold or risky move. * /Hearing that
Apaches were planning to start a war, the whites decided to throw
caution to the winds and attack the Apaches first./
[throw cold water on] also [dash cold water on] or [pour cold water
on] {v. phr.} To discourage; say or do something to discourage. * /We
had high hopes of victory but our opponents soon threw cold water on
them./ * /Henry's father threw cold water on his plans to go to
college by saying he could not afford it./
[throw a loop] See: KNOCK FOR A LOOP.
[throw down the gauntlet] {v. phr.} To challenge, especially to a
fight. * /Another candidate for the presidency has thrown down the
gauntlet./
[throw for a loss] {v. phr.} 1. To tackle a member of the opposing
football team behind the place where his team had the ball at the
beginning of the play; push the other team back so that they lose
yardage in football. * /The Blues' quarterback ran back and tried to
pass, but before he could, the Reds' end threw him for a loss./
Compare: LOSE GROUND. 2. {informal} To surprise or shock (someone);
upset; make worry greatly; cause trouble. * /It threw Jim for a loss
when he failed the test./ * /Mr. Simpson was thrown for a loss when he
lost his job./ Compare: KNOCK FOR A LOOP, SET BACK ON ONE'S HEELS.
[throw in] {v.} 1. To give or put in as an addition; to give to or
with something else. * /John threw in a couple of tires when he sold
Bill his bicycle./ * /Mary and Tess were talking about the prom, and
Joan threw in that she was going with Fred./ Compare: FOR GOOD
MEASURE. 2. To push into operating position. * /Mr. Jones threw in the
clutch and shifted the gears./
[throw light on] See: CAST LIGHT ON, SHED LIGHT ON.
[throw something in one's face] or [throw something in one's teeth]
{v. phr.} To blame a person for (something wrong); not allow someone
to forget (a mistake or failure). - Often used with "back". * /Bob
came home late for dinner last week, and his mother keeps throwing it
back in his face./ * /I made a mistake in the ball game and the boys
keep throwing it back in my teeth./ Compare: IN ONE'S FACE.
[throw in one's lot with] or {literary} [cast in one's lot with]
{v. phr.} To decide to share or take part in anything that happens to;
join. * /The thief decided to throw in his lot with the gang when he
heard their plans./ * /Washington was rich, but he decided to cast in
his lot with the colonies against Britain./ * /When Carl was old
enough to vote, he threw in his lot with the Democrats./ Syn.: JOIN
FORCES.
[throw in the sponge] or [throw up the sponge] or [throw in the
towel] {v. phr.}, {informal} To admit defeat; accept loss. * /After
taking a beating for five rounds, the fighter's seconds threw in the
sponge./ * /When Harold saw his arguments were not being accepted, he
threw in the towel and left./ Syn.: GIVE UP.
[throw off] {v.} 1. To get free from. * /He was healthy enough to
throw off his cold easily./ Compare: RID OF. 2. To mislead; confuse;
fool. * /They went by a different route to throw the hostile bandits
off their track./ 3. To produce easily or as if without effort. * /She
could throw off a dozen poems in a night./
[throw off the scent] {v. phr.} To mislead; confuse. * /The robbers
went different ways hoping to throw the sheriff's men off the scent./
Syn.: THROW OFF(2).
[throw off the track] {v. phr.} To divert; mislead; confuse. * /The
clever criminals threw the detective off the track by changing their
names and faces./ Contrast: OFF THE BEATEN TRACK.
[throw oneself at someone's feet] {v. phr.} To make a public
display of serving, loving, or worshipping someone. * /When Arthur
became king, almost all of the nobles threw themselves at his feet and
promised to obey and serve him./ * /When the new girl entered school,
several boys threw themselves at her feet./
[throw oneself at someone's head] or [fling oneself at someone's
head] {v. phr.}, {informal} To try hard and openly to make a person
love you. * /She threw herself at his head, but he was interested in
another girl./ Compare: AT ONE'S FEET.
[throw one's hat in the ring] or [toss one's hat in the ring] {v.
phr.}, {informal} To announce that you are going to try to be elected
to an official position; become a candidate for office. * /Bill tossed
his hat in the ring for class president./ * /The senator threw his hat
in the ring for re-election./
[throw one's weight around] {v. phr.}, {informal} To use one's
influence or position in a showy or noisy manner. * /John was the star
of the class play, and he was throwing his weight around telling the
director how the scene should be played./ * /Bob was stronger than the
other boys, and he threw his weight around./ Compare: PULL RANK.
[throw open] 1. To open wide with a sudden or strong movement. *
/He dashed in and threw open the windows./ 2. To remove limits from. *
/The Homestead Act threw open the West./ * /When a hurricane and flood
left many people homeless, public buildings were thrown open to
shelter them./
[throw] or [feed one to the wolves] {v. phr.} 1. To turn someone
into a scapegoat. * /In order to explain the situation to the media,
the governor blamed the mayor and threw him to the wolves./ 2. To send
into danger without protection. * /Mary was very shy. Her friends did
not come to speak before the club in her place. They threw her to the
wolves./ * /The boys on the football team were so small that when they
played a good team they were thrown to the wolves./
[throw out] or [toss out] {v.} 1. To put somewhere to be destroyed
because not wanted. * /He didn't need the brush anymore so he threw it
out./ Syn.: THROW AWAY(1). 2. To refuse to accept. * /The inspector
tossed out all the parts that didn't work./ 3. To force to leave;
dismiss. * /When the employees complained too loudly, the owner threw
them out./ Syn.: KICK OUT, TURN OUT(1). 4. To cause to be out in
baseball by throwing the ball. * /The shortstop tossed the runner
out./
[throw out of gear] {v. phr.} 1. To separate the gears of (a car or
some other machine) when you want to stop it. * /When John wanted to
stop, he threw the car out of gear and braked sharply./ 2. To stop or
bother (what someone is doing or planning); confuse; upset. * /The
whole country was thrown out of gear by the assassination of the
President./ * /My mother's illness threw my plans for the summer out
of gear./
[throw over] {v.} To give up for another; break your loyalty or
attachment to. * /Bob threw Mary over for a new girlfriend./ * /Tom
threw over those who helped him run for class president after he was
elected./
[throw the baby out with the bath (bathwater)] {v. phr.} To reject
all of something because part is faulty. * /God knows that there are
weaknesses in the program, but if they act too hastily they may cause
the baby to be thrown out with the bathwater./
[throw the book at] {v. phr.}, {informal} To give the most severe
penalty to (someone) for breaking the law or rules. * /Because it was
the third time he had been caught speeding that month, the judge threw
the book at him./
[throw together] {v.} 1. also [slap together] To make in a hurry
and without care. * /Bill and Bob threw together a cabin out of old
lumber./ * /The party was planned suddenly, and Mary threw together a
meal out of leftovers./ 2. To put in with other people by chance. *
/The group of strangers was thrown together when the storm trapped
them on the highway./ * /Bill and Tom became friends when they were
thrown together in the same cabin at camp./
[throw up] {v.} 1. {informal} or {slang} [heave up]. To vomit. *
/The heat made him feel sick and he thought he would throw up./ * /He
took the medicine but threw it up a minute later./ 2. {informal} To
quit; leave; let go; give up. * /When she broke their engagement he
threw up his job and left town./ 3. To build in a hurry. * /The
contractor threw up some temporary sheds to hold the new equipment./
4. To mention often as an insult. * /His father threw up John's
wastefulness to him./
[throw up one's hands] {v. phr.} To give up trying; admit that you
cannot succeed. * /Mrs. Jones threw up her hands when the children
messed up the living room for the third time./ * /When Mary saw the
number of dishes to be washed, she threw up her hands in dismay./
[throw up one's hands in horror] {v. phr.} To be horrified; feel
alarmed; give up hope of straightening things out; be shocked by
something terrible. * /When Mrs. Brown saw the mess the children were
making in her living room, she threw up her hands in horror./ *
/Everybody threw up their hands in horror at the destruction caused by
the hurricane./
[throw up the sponge] See: THROW IN THE SPONGE.
[thumb] See: ALL THUMBS, GREEN THUMB, TURN THUMBS DOWN, TWIDDLE
ONE'S THUMBS, UNDER ONE'S THUMB or UNDER THE THUMB OF.
[thumb a ride] {v. phr.}, {informal} To get a ride by hitchhiking;
hitchhike. * /Not having much money, Carl decided to thumb a ride to
New York./
[thumb one's nose] {v. phr.} 1. To hold one's open hand in front of
one's face with one's thumb pointed at one's nose as a sign of scorn
or dislike. * /After Bob ran into the house he thumbed his nose at Tom
through the window./ 2. {informal} To look with disfavor or dislike;
regard with scorn; refuse to obey. - Used with "at". * /Betty thumbed
her nose at her mother's command to stay home./ * /Mary thumbed her
nose at convention by wearing odd clothes./ Compare: LOOK DOWN ON.
[thumb through] {v. phr.} To examine superficially; read cursorily.
* /I have read "War and Peace" but Fran has only thumbed through it./
[thunder] See: BLOOD AND THUNDER, STEAL ONE'S THUNDER.
[thus and so] also [thus and thus] {adv. phr.} In a particular way;
according to directions that have been given. * /The teacher is very
fussy about the way you write your report. If you don't do it thus and
so, she gives you a lower mark./
[thus far] See: SO FAR.
[ticket] See: SPLIT TICKET, STRAIGHT TICKET, THE TICKET, WALKING
PAPERS also WALKING TICKET.
[tickle pink] {v. phr.}, {informal} To please very much; thrill;
delight. Usually used in the passive participle. * /Nancy was tickled
pink with her new dress./
[tickle to death] See: TO DEATH.
[tick off] {v.} 1. To mention one after the other; list. * /The
teacher ticked off the assignments that Jane had to do./ 2. To scold;
rebuke. * /The boss ticked off the waitress for dropping her tray./ 3.
To anger or upset. - Usually used as ticked off. * /She was ticked off
at him for breaking their dinner date again./
[tide] See: TURN THE TIDE.
[tide over] {v.} To carry past a difficulty or danger; help in bad
times or in trouble. * /He was out of work last winter but he had
saved enough money to tide him over until spring./ * /An ice cream
cone in the afternoon tided her over until supper./ Compare: SEE
THROUGH.
[tide turn] See: TURN THE TIDE.
[tidy sum] {n. phr.} A large amount of money. * /The Smith's big
new home cost them a tidy sum./ Compare: PRETTY PENNY.
[tie] See: FIT TO BE TIED.
[tie down] {v.} To keep (someone) from going somewhere or doing
something; prevent from leaving; keep in. * /Mrs. Brown can't come to
the party. She's tied down at home with the children sick./ * /The
navy tied the enemy down with big gunfire while the marines landed on
the beach./ * /I can't help you with history now! I'm tied down with
these algebra problems./
[tied to one's mother's apron strings] Not independent of your
mother; not able to do anything without asking your mother. * /Even
after he grew up he was still tied to his mother's apron strings./
[tie in] {v.} To connect with something else; make a connection
for. - Often used with "with". * /The teacher tied in what she said
with last week's lesson./ * /The English teacher sometimes gives
compositions that tie in with things we are studying in other
classes./ * /The detectives tied in the fingerprints on the man's gun
with those found on the safe, so they knew that he was the thief./
[tie-in] {n.} A connection; a point of meeting. * /John's essay on
World War II provides a perfect tie-in with his earlier work on World
War I./
[tie in knots] {v. phr.} To make (someone) very nervous or worried.
* /The thought of having her tooth pulled tied Joan in knots./ * /The
little boy's experience with the kidnapper tied him in knots and it
was hard for him to sleep well for a long time./
[tie into] See: LACE INTO.
[tie one's hands] {v. phr.} To make (a person) unable to do
anything. - Usually used in the passive. * /Since Mary would not tell
her mother what was bothering her, her mother's hands were tied./ *
/Charles wanted to help John get elected president of the class, but
his promise to another boy tied his hands./ * /Father hoped Jim would
not quit school, but his hands were tied; Jim was old enough to quit
if he wanted to./
[tie the knot] {v. phr.}, {informal} To get married; also to
perform a wedding ceremony. * /Diane and Bill tied the knot
yesterday./ * /The minister tied the knot for Diane and Bill
yesterday./
[tie up] {v. phr.} 1. To show or stop the movement or action of;
hinder; tangle. * /The crash of the two trucks tied up all traffic in
the center of town./ * /The strike tied up the factory./ 2. To take
all the time of. * /The meeting will tie the President up until noon./
* /The Senate didn't vote because a debate on a small point kept it
tied up all week./ * /He can't see you now. He's tied up on the
telephone./ 3. To limit or prevent the use of. * /His money is tied up
in a trust fund and he can't take it out./ * /Susan tied up the
bathroom for an hour./ 4. To enter into an association or partnership;
join. * /Our company has tied up with another firm to support the
show./ 5. To dock. * /The ships tied up at New York./ 6. {slang} To
finish; complete. * /We've talked long enough; let's tie up these
plans and start doing things./
[tie-up] {n.} A congestion; a stoppage of the normal flow of
traffic, business or correspondence. * /There was a two-hour traffic
tie-up on the highway./ * /No pay checks were delivered because of the
mail service tie-up./
[tight] See: SIT TIGHT.
[tight end] {n.} An end in football who plays close to the tackle
in the line. * /The tight end is used to catch passes but most often
to block./ Contrast: SPLIT END.
[tighten one's belt] {v. phr.} To live on less money than usual;
use less food and other things. * /When father lost his job we had to
tighten our belts./ Often used in the expression "tighten one's belt
another notch". * /When the husband lost his job, the Smiths had to do
without many things, but when their savings were all spent, they had
to tighten their belts another notch./
[tighten the screws] {v. phr.} To try to make someone do something
by making it more and more difficult not to do it; apply pressure. *
/When many students still missed class after he began giving daily
quizzes, the teacher tightened the screws by failing anyone absent
four times./
[tight-lipped] {adj.} A taciturn person; one who doesn't say much.
* /The witness was tight-lipped about what she saw for fear of
physical retaliation by the mob./
[tight money] {n. phr.} The opposite of inflation, when money is
hard to borrow from the banks. * /The government decided that tight
money is the way to bring down inflation./
[tight squeeze] {n. phr.} A difficult situation; financial
troubles. * /The Browns aren't going out to dinner these days; they
are in a tight squeeze./
[tightwad] {n. phr.} A stingy person. * /My father is such a
tightwad that he won't give me an allowance./
[Tijuana taxi] {., {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon} A police
car. * /I've got a Tijuana taxi in sight./
[till] See: ROB THE TILL or HAVE ONE'S HAND IN THE TILL.
[till the cows come home] {adv. phr.} Until sunset; until the last.
* /The women in the country used to sit in the spinning room making
yarn out of skeins of wool, usually till the cows came home./
[till the last gun is fired] or [until the last gun is fired] {adv.
phr.} Until the end; until everything is finished or decided. * /Fred
always liked to stay at parties until the last gun was fired./ * /The
candidate didn't give up hope of being elected until the last gun was
fired./
[tilt] See: FULL TILT.
[tilt at windmills] {v. phr.}, {literary} To do battle with an
imaginary foe (after Cervantes' Don Quixote). * /John is a nice guy
but when it comes to departmental meetings he wastes everybody's time
by constantly tilting at windmills./
[time] See: ABOUT TIME, AGAINST TIME, AT A TIME, AT ONE TIME, AT
THE SAME TIME, AT TIMES, BEHIND THE TIMES, BEHIND TIME, BIDE ONE'S
TIME, BIG TIME, EVERY TIME ONE TURNS AROUND, FOR THE TIME BEING, FROM
TIME TO TIME, GIVE A HARD TIME, HAVE A TIME, HIGH TIME, IN GOOD TIME,
IN NO TIME, IN THE NICK OF TIME, IN TIME, KEEP TIME, LESS THAN NO
TIME, LIVE ON BORROWED TIME, MAKE TIME, MARK TIME, ONCE UPON A TIME,
ON ONE'S OWN TIME, ON TIME, PASS THE TIME OF DAY, SMALL-TIME, TAKE
ONE'S TIME, TWO-TIME.
[time and again] or [time and time again] {adv.} Many times;
repeatedly; very often, * /I've told you time and again not to touch
the vase!/ * /Children are forgetful and must be told time and time
again how to behave./
[time and a half] {n. phr.} Pay given to a worker at a rate half
again as much as he usually gets. * /John got time and a half when he
worked beyond his usual quitting time./ * /Tom gets one dollar for
regular pay and a dollar and a half for time and a half./
[time is ripe] The best time has come for doing something. * /The
Prime Minister will hold elections when the time is ripe./ * /Lee saw
his mother was upset, so he decided the time was not ripe to tell her
about the broken window./
[time of day] See: NOT TO GIVE ONE THE TIME OF DAY.
[time off] {n. phr.} A period of release from work. * /If I had
some time off this afternoon, I would finish writing the letters I
promised to my family./
[time of one's life] {n. phr.} A very happy or wonderful time. *
/John had the time of his life at the party./ * /I could see that she
was having the time of her life./
[time out] {n. phr.} Time during which a game, a lecture, a
discussion or other activity is stopped for a while for some extra
questions or informal discussion, or some other reason. * /He took a
time out from studying to go to a movie./ * /The player called time
out so he could tie his shoe./ * /"Time out!" - The students said,
"Could you explain that again?"/
[tin ear] {n. phr.} 1. A lack of sensitivity to noise. * /The
construction noise doesn't bother Fred; he's got a tin ear./ 2. A lack
of musical ability; state of being tone deaf. * /People with a tin ear
make poor choir members./
[tingle] See: SPINE-TINGLING.
[tinker's damn] See: NOT WORTH A TINKER'S DAMN.
[Tin Pan Alley] {n. phr.} The pop music industry. * /What kind of
music will Tin Pan Alley come up with this year?/
[tip] See: AT THE TIP OF ONE'S TONGUE, FROM TIP TO TIP.
[tip off] {v.}, {informal} To tell something not generally known;
tell secret facts to; warn. * /The class president tipped off the
class that it was the superintendent's birthday./ * /The thieves did
not rob the bank as planned because someone tipped them off that it
was being watched by the police./ Compare: PUT WISE.
[tip the balance] See: TIP THE SCALES(2).
[tip the scales] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To weigh. * /Martin tips
the scales at 180 pounds./ 2. or [tip the balance] To have important
or decisive influence; make a decision go for or against you; decide.
* /John's vote tipped the scales in our favor, and we won the
election./ Compare: TURN THE TIDE.
[tired] See: DEAD TIRED, SICK AND TIRED.
[tire out] See: WEAR OUT(2).
[tit for tat] {n. phr.} Equal treatment in return; a fair exchange.
* /Billy hit me, so I gave him tit for tat./ * /I told him if he did
me any harm I would return tit for tat./ * /They had a warm debate and
the two boys gave each other tit for tat./ Compare: GET BACK AT, EYE
FOR AN EYE AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.
[to a conclusion] See: JUMP TO A CONCLUSION.
[to a crisp] See: BURN TO A CRISP.
[to a degree] {adv. phr.} 1. {Chiefly British} Very; to a large
extent. * /In some things I am ignorant to a degree./ 2. Somewhat;
slightly; in a small way; rather. * /His anger was, to a degree, a
confession of defeat./ * /To a degree, Mary was to blame for Bob's
failing mathematics, because he spent much time with her when he
should have been studying./
[to advantage] {adv. phr.} So as to bring out the good qualities
of; favorably; in a flattering way. * /The jeweler's window showed the
diamonds to advantage./ * /The green dress showed up to advantage with
her red hair./
[to a fault] {adv. phr.} So very well that it is in a way bad; to
the point of being rather foolish; too well; too much. * /Aunt May
wants everything in her house to be exactly right; she is neat to a
fault./ * /Mary acts her part to a fault./ * /John carries
thoroughness to a fault; he spends many hours writing his reports./
[to a halt] See: GRIND TO A HALT.
[to a large extent] See: IN GREAT MEASURE.
[to all intents and purposes] {adv. phr.} In most ways; in fact. *
/The president is called the head of state, but the prime minister, to
all intents and purposes, is the chief executive./
[to a man] {adv. phr.} Without exception; with all agreeing. * /The
workers voted to a man to go on strike./ * /To a man John's friends
stood by him in his trouble./ Compare: EVERY LAST MAN.
[to and fro] {adv. phr.} Forward and back again and again. *
/Father pushed Judy in the swing, and she went to and fro./ * /Busses
go to and fro between the center of the city and the city limits/ *
/The man walked to and fro while he waited for his phone call./
Compare: BACK AND FORTH.
[to another tune] See: DANCE TO ANOTHER TUNE.
[to a T] or [to a turn] {adv. phr.} Just right; to perfection;
exactly. * /The roast was done to a turn./ * /His nickname, Tiny,
suited him to a T./ Compare: TO THE LETTER.
[to bat] See: GO TO BAT FOR.
[to bay] See: BRING TO BAY.
[to-be] {adj.} That is going to be; about to become. - Used after
the noun it modifies. * /Bob kissed his bride-to-be./ * /The principal
of the high school greeted the high school students-to-be on their
last day in junior high./
[to bed] See: PUT TO BED, PUT TO BED WITH A SHOVEL.
[to be on the safe side] {adv. phr.} To take extra precautions;
reduce or eliminate the possibility of a mistake, an error, or even
danger. * /Dad always keeps his valuables in a bank's safe deposit
box, just to be on the safe side./ Compare: JUST IN CASE.
[to be sure] {adv. phr.} Without a doubt; certainly; surely. *
/"Didn't you say Mr. Smith would take us home?" "Oh, yes. To be sure,
I did."/ - Often used before a clause beginning with "but". * /He
works slowly, to be sure, but he does a good job./ * /To be sure, Jim
is a fast skater, but he is not good at doing figures./ Syn.: OF
COURSE.
[to blame] {adj. phr.} Having done something wrong; to be blamed;
responsible. * /John was to blame for the broken window./ * /The
teacher tried to find out who was to blame in the fight./
[to boot] {adv. phr.} In addition; besides; as something extra. *
/He not only got fifty dollars, but they bought him dinner to boot./
Compare: FOR GOOD MEASURE, IN THE BARGAIN, THROW IN.
[to date] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} Up to the present time; until now.
* /To date twenty students have been accepted into the school./ * /The
police have not found the runaway to date./ * /Jim is shoveling snow
to earn money, but his earnings to date are small./ Syn.: SO FAR.
[to death] {adv. phr.}, {informal} To the limit; to the greatest
degree possible. - Used for emphasis with verbs such as "scare",
"frighten", "bore". * /Cowboy stories bore me to death, but I like
mysteries./ * /Sara is scared to death of snakes./ * /John is tickled
to death with his new bike./
[to do] See: HAVE TO DO WITH.
[toe] See: CURL ONE'S HAIR or CURL ONE'S TOES, ON ONE'S TOES, STEP
ON THE TOES OF.
[toe the line] or [toe the mark] {v. phr.} To be very careful to do
just what you are supposed to do; obey the rules and do your duties. *
/The new teacher will make Joe toe the line./ * /Bill's father is
strict with him and he has to toe the mark./ Compare: WALK THE CHALK.
[to first base] See: GET TO FIRST BASE.
[together] See: GET IT ALL TOGETHER.
[together with] {prep.} In addition to; in the company of; along
with. * /John, together with his brother, has gone to the party./ *
/The police found a knife, together with the stolen money, hidden in a
hollow tree./
[to grips] See: COME TO GRIPS WITH.
[to heart] See: TAKE TO HEART also LAY TO HEART.
[to heel] {adj. phr.} 1. Close behind. * /The dog ran after a
rabbit, but Jack brought him to heel./ 2. Under control; to obedience.
* /When Peter was sixteen, he thought he could do as he pleased, but
his father cut off his allowance, and Peter soon came to heel./
[to hell with] or [the hell with] {prep. phr.}, {informal} Used to
express disgusted rejection of something. * /It's slop; the hell with
what the cook calls it./ Compare: FED UP, GIVE A HANG.
[to it] See: PUT ONE'S BACK TO IT.
[to light] See: BRING TO LIGHT, COME TO LIGHT.
[toll] See: TAKE ITS TOLL.
[toll call] {n. phr.} A long distance telephone call for which one
has to pay. * /We had several toll calls on last month's telephone
bill./
[toll free] {adv. phr.} Calling an (800) telephone number with the
call paid by the business whose number one has dialed. * /You can call
us day and night, seven days a week, toll free./
[Tom] See: PEEPING TOM.
[Tom, Dick, and Harry] {n. phr.} People in general; anyone;
everyone. - Usually preceded by "every" and used to show scorn or
disrespect. * /The drunk told his troubles to every Tom, Dick and
Harry who passed by./
[tone down] {v.} To make softer or quieter; make less harsh or
strong; moderate. * /He toned down the sound of the TV./ * /She wanted
the bright colors in her house toned down./ * /When the ladies
arrived, he toned down his language./ * /The strikers were asked to
tone down their demands for higher pay so that there might be a
quicker agreement and an end to the strike./
[tong] See: GO AT IT HAMMER AND TONGS.
[tongue] See: AT THE TIP OF ONE'S TONGUE, CAT GET ONE'S TONGUE,
HOLD ONE'S TONGUE, KEEP A CIVIL TONGUE IN ONE'S HEAD, SLIP OF THE
TONGUE.
[tongue-in-cheek] {adj. phr.} In an ironic or insincere manner. *
/When the faculty complained about the poor salary increments, the
university's president said that he was not a psychiatrist, thus
making an inappropriate tongue-in-cheek remark./
[tongue-lashing] {n.} A sharp scolding or criticism. * /Jim's
mother gave him a tongue-lashing for telling family secrets./ Syn.:
PIECE OF ONE'S MIND.
[tongues wag] {informal} People speak in an excited or gossipy
manner; people spread rumors. * /If married women go out with other
men, tongues will wag./ * /When the bank clerk showed up in an
expensive new car, tongues wagged./
[tongue-tied] See: TIGHT-LIPPED.
[tongue twister] {n.} A word or group of words difficult to
pronounce whose meaning is irrelevant compared to the difficulty of
enunciation. * /"She sells sea shells by the seashore" is a popular
American tongue twister./
[to no avail] or [of no avail(1)] {adj. phr.}, {formal} Having no
effect; useless, unsuccessful. * /Tom's practicing was of no avail. He
was sick on the day of the game./ * /Mary's attempts to learn
embroidering were to no avail./
[to no avail(2)] {adv. phr.}, {formal} Without result;
unsuccessfully. * /John tried to pull the heavy cart, but to no
avail./ * /Mary studied hard for the test but to no avail./ Compare:
IN VAIN.
[too] See: EAT ONE'S CAKE AND HAVE IT TOO.
[too bad] {adj.} To be regretted; worthy of sorrow or regret;
regrettable. - Used as a predicate. * /It is too bad that we are so
often lazy./ * /It was too bad Bill had measles when the circus came
to town./
[too big for one's breeches] or [too big for one's boots] {adj.
phr.} Too sure of your own importance; feeling more important than you
really are. * /That boy had grown too big for his breeches. I'll have
to put him back in his place./ * /When the teacher made Bob a monitor,
he got too big for his boots and she had to warn him./
[too ---- by half] {adj.} ({princ. British}) Much too; excessively.
* /The heroine of the story is too nice by half; she is not
believable./
[too close for comfort] {adj. phr.} Perilously near (said of bad
things). * /When the sniper's bullet hit the road the journalist
exclaimed, "Gosh, that was too close for comfort!"/ Compare: CLOSE
CALL, CLOSE SHAVE.
[too many cooks spoil the broth] or [stew] A project is likely to
go bad if managed by a multiplicity of primary movers. - A proverb. *
/When several people acted all at once in trying to reshape the
company's investment policy, Tom spoke up and said, "Let me do this by
myself! Don't you know that too many cooks spoil the broth?"/
[too many irons in the fire] See: IRONS IN THE FIRE.
[to one] See: TEN TO ONE, TWO TO ONE.
[to oneself(1)] {adv. phr.} 1. Silently; in the thoughts; without
making a sign that others can see; secretly. * /Tom thought to himself
that he could win./ * /Mary said to herself that Joan was prettier
than Ann./ * /Bill laughed to himself when John fell down./ 2. Without
telling others; in private; as a secret. - Used after "keep". * /Mary
keeps her affairs to herself./ * /John knew the answer to the problem,
but he kept it to himself./
[to oneself(2)] {adj. phr.} 1. Without company; away from others;
alone; deserted. * /The boys went home and John was left to himself./
* /When Mary first moved to her new neighborhood she was very shy and
kept to herself./ 2. Following one's own beliefs or wishes; not
stopped by others. * /When John insisted on going, Fred left him to
himself./ * /The teacher left Mary to herself to solve the problem./
[to one's face] {adv. phr.} Directly to you; in your presence. * /I
told him to his face that I didn't like the idea./ * /I called him a
coward to his face./ Compare: IN ONE'S FACE. Contrast: BEHIND ONE'S
BACK.
[to one's feet] {adv. phr.} To a standing position; up. * /After
Henry had been tackled hard by four big players, he got to his feet
slowly and painfully./ * /When Sally saw the bus coming, she jumped to
her feet and ran out./ Compare: ON ONE'S FEET.
[to one's guns] See: STICK TO ONE'S GUNS.
[to one's heart's content] {adv. phr.} To the extent of one's
wishes; one's complete satisfaction. * /There is a wonderful small
restaurant nearby where you can eat to your heart's content./
[to one's heels] See: TAKE TO ONE'S HEELS.
[to one's name] {adv. phr.} In your ownership; of your own; as part
of your belongings. * /David did not have a book to his name./ * /Ed
had only one suit to his name./
[to one's ribs] See: STICK TO ONE'S RIBS.
[to one's senses] See: COME TO ONE'S SENSES.
[to order] {adv. phr.} According to directions given in an order in