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 the way and size wanted. * /The manufacturer built the machine to order./ * /A very big man often has his suits made to order./ 2. See: CALL TO ORDER. [tooth] See: BY THE SKIN OF ONE'S TEETH, CUT TEETH or CUT EYETEETH, EYE FOR AN EYE AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH, FED TO THE GILLS or FED TO THE TEETH, GET ONE'S TEETH INTO or SINK ONE'S TEETH INTO, KICK IN THE PANTS or KICK IN THE TEETH, PULL ONE'S TEETH, SET ONE'S TEETH ON EDGE, TAKE THE BIT IN ONE'S TEETH, THROW SOMETHING IN ONE'S FACE or THROW SOMETHING IN ONE'S TEETH. [tooth and nail] See: HAMMER AND TONGS. [tooth and nail] {adv. phr.} With all weapons or ways of fighting as hard as possible; fiercely. - Used after "fight" or a similar word. * /When the Indian girl was captured, she fought tooth and nail to get away./ * /The farmers fought tooth and nail to save their crops from the grasshoppers./ * /His friends fought tooth and nail to elect him to Congress./ [toot one's own horn] See: BLOW ONE'S OWN HORN. [top] See: AT THE TOP OF ONE'S VOICE, BIG TOP, BLOW A FUSE or BLOW ONE'S TOP, HARD-TOP, OFF THE TOP OF ONE'S HEAD, ON TOP, ON TOP OF, ON TOP OF THE WORLD, OVER THE TOP. [top banana] or [top dog] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} The head of any business or organization; the most influential or most prestigious person in an establishment. * /Who's the top banana in this outfit?/ See: MAIN SQUEEZE. [to pass] See: COME TO PASS. [top-drawer] {adj.}, {informal} Of the best; or most important kind. * /Mary's art work was top-drawer material./ * /Mr. Rogers is a top-drawer executive and gets a very high salary./ [topflight] or [topnotch] See: TOP DRAWER. [to pieces] {adv. phr.} 1. Into broken pieces or fragments; destroyed. * /The cannon shot the town to pieces./ * /The vase fell to pieces in Mary's hand./ 2. {informal} So as not to work; into a state of not operating. * /After 100,000 miles the car went to pieces./ * /When Mary heard of her mother's death, she went to pieces./ 3. {informal} Very much; greatly; exceedingly. * /Joan was thrilled to pieces to see Mary./ * /The noise scared Bob to pieces./ 4. See: PICK APART. [top off] {v.} To come or bring to a special or unexpected ending; climax. * /John batted three runs and topped off the game with a home run./ * /Mary hadn't finished her homework, she was late to school, and to top it all off she missed a surprise test./ * /George had steak for dinner and topped it off with a fudge sundae./ [to put It mildly] See: TO SAY THE LEAST. [torch] See: CARRY A TORCH. [to reason] See: STAND TO REASON. [to rest] See: LAY TO REST. [to rights] See: PUT TO RIGHTS or SET TO RIGHTS. [to Rome] See: ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME. [to say nothing of] See: NOT TO MENTION. [to say the least] {v. phr.} To understate; express as mildly as possible. * /After all we did for him, his behavior toward us, to say the least, was a poor way to show his appreciation./ [to scale] {adv. phr.} In the same proportions as in the true size; in the same shape, but not the same size. * /The statue was made to scale, one inch to a foot./ * /He drew the map to scale, making one inch represent fifty miles./ [to sea] See: PUT TO SEA. [to shame] See: PUT TO SHAME. [to size] See: CUT DOWN TO SIZE. [to speak of] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Important; worth talking about; worth noticing. - Usually used in negative sentences. * /Did it rain yesterday? Not to speak of./ * /What happened at the meeting? Nothing to speak of./ * /Judy's injuries were nothing to speak of; just a few scratches./ Compare: NOT TO MENTION. [to spite one's face] See: CUT OFF ONE'S NOSE TO SPITE ONE'S FACE. [toss off] {v. phr.} 1. To drink rapidly; drain. * /He tossed off two drinks and left./ 2. To make or say easily without trying or thinking hard. * /She tossed off smart remarks all during dinner./ * /He thinks a reporter should be able to toss off an article every few hours./ [toss one to the sharks] See: THROW ONE TO THE WOLVES. [toss out] See: THROW OUT. [total] See: SUM TOTAL. [to task] See: TAKE TO TASK. [to terms] See: BRING TO TERMS, COME TO TERMS. [to that effect] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} With that meaning. * /She said she hated spinach, or words to that effect./ * /When I leave, I will write you to that effect so you will know./ [to the best of one's knowledge] As far as you know; to the extent of your knowledge. * /He has never won a game, to the best of my knowledge./ * /To the best of my knowledge he is a college man, but I may be mistaken./ [to the bitter end] {adv. phr.} To the point of completion or conclusion. - Used especially of a very painful or unpleasant task or experience. * /Although Mrs. Smith was bored by the lecture, she stayed to the bitter end./ * /They knew the war would be lost, but the men fought to the bitter end./ [to the bone] {adv.}, {slang}, {informal} Thoroughly, entirely, to the core, through all layers. * /I am dreadfully tired; I've worked my fingers to the bone./ See: ALSO WORK ONE'S FINGERS TO THE BONE. [to the bottom] See: GET TO THE BOTTOM OF. [to the contrary] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} With an opposite result or effect; just the opposite; in disagreement; saying the opposite. * /Although Bill was going to the movies, he told Joe to the contrary./ * /We will expect you for dinner unless we get word to the contrary./ * /School gossip to the contrary, Mary is not engaged to be married./ Compare: ON THE CONTRARY. [to the effect that] {adj. phr.} With the meaning or purpose; to say that. * /He made a speech to the effect that we would all keep our jobs even if the factory were sold./ * /The new governor would do his best in the office to which he had been elected./ [to the eye] {adv. phr.} As it is seen; as a person or thing first seems; apparently. * /That girl looks to the eye like a nice girl to know, but she is really rather mean./ * /That suit appears to the eye to be a good buy, but it may not be./ Compare: AT FIRST GLANCE. [to the fore] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} Into leadership; out into notice or view; forward. * /The hidden skill of the lawyer came to the fore during the trial./ * /In the progress of the war some new leaders came to the fore./ [to the full] {adv. phr.} Very much; fully. * /The campers enjoyed their trip to the full./ * /We appreciated to the full the teacher's help./ Compare: TO THE HILT. [to the gallery] See: PLAY TO THE GALLERY. [to the good] {adv. phr.} On the side of profit or advantage; in one's favor; to one's benefit; ahead. * /After I sold my stamp collection, I was ten dollars to the good./ * /The teacher did not see him come in late, which was all to the good./ [to the grindstone] See: KEEP ONE'S NOSE TO THE GRINDSTONE. [to the heart] See: GET TO THE HEART OF. [to the hilt] or [up to the hilt] {adv. phr.} To the limit; as far as possible; completely. * /The other boys on the team told Tom he couldn't quit. They said, "You're in this to the hilt."/ * /The Smith's house is mortgaged up to the hilt./ Compare: HEART AND SOUL, TO THE FULL, UP TO THE --- IN. [to the kings taste] or [to the queen's taste] {adv. phr.} Perfectly; just as anyone could want it; very satisfactorily. * /The rooms in her new home were painted and decorated to the queen's taste./ * /The soldiers dressed and marched to the king's taste./ [to the letter] {adv. phr.} With nothing done wrong or left undone; exactly; precisely. * /He carried out his orders to the letter./ * /When writing a test you should follow the instructions to the letter./ Compare: TO A T. [to the manner born] {adj. phr.} At ease with something because of lifelong familiarity with it. * /She says her English is the best because she is to the manner born./ [to the nth degree] {adv. phr.} To the greatest degree possible; extremely; very much so. * /Scales must be accurate to the nth degree./ * /His choice of words was exactly to the nth degree./ [to the point] See: COME TO THE POINT. [to the punch] See: BEAT TO THE PUNCH. [to the ribs] See: STICK TO ONE'S RIBS or STICK TO THE RIBS. [to the salt mines] See: BACK TO THE SALT MINES. [to the stump] See: TAKE THE STUMP or TAKE TO THE STUMP. [to the sword] See: PUT TO THE SWORD. [to the tune of] {adv. phr.}, {informal} To the amount or extent of; in the amount of. * /He had to pay to the tune of fifty dollars for seeing how fast the car would go./ * /When she left the race track she had profited to the tune of ten dollars./ [to the wall] {adv. phr.} Into a place from which there is no escape; into a trap or corner. - Usually used after "drive" or a similar word. * /John's failing the last test drove him to the wall./ * /The score was 12-12 in the last minute of play, but a touchdown forced the visitors to the wall./ * /Bill had to sell his five Great Danes. The high cost of feeding them was driving him to the wall./ [to the wolves] See: THROW TO THE WOLVES. [to the woods] See: TAKE TO THE WOODS. [to the world] See: DEAD TO THE WORLD. [to think of it] See: COME TO THINK OF IT. [toto] See: IN TOTO. [touch] See: COMMON TOUCH, IN TOUCH, LOSE TOUCH, OUT OF TOUCH, [touch and go] {adj. phr.} Very dangerous or uncertain in situation. * /Our team won the game, all right, but it was touch and go for a while./ * /At one time while they were climbing the cliff it was touch and go whether they could do it./ [touch base with] {v. phr.} To confer or consult with one. * /Before we make a decision, I'd like to touch base with our financial department./ [touch bottom] See: HIT BOTTOM. [touch off] {v.} 1. To cause to fire or explode by lighting the priming or the fuse. * /The boy touched off a firecracker./ Compare: SET OFF. 2. To start something as if by lighting a fuse. * /The coach's resignation touched off a quarrel./ Compare: SET OFF. [touch on] or [touch upon] {v.} To speak of or write of briefly. * /The speaker touched on several other subjects in the course of his talk but mostly kept himself to the main topic./ Contrast: DWELL ON. [touch to the quick] {v. phr.} To hurt someone's feelings very deeply; offend. * /His remark about her lack of education touched her to the quick./ [touchup] {n.} 1. A small repair; a small amount of paint. * /Just a small touchup here and there and your novel may be publishable./ 2. Redoing the color of one's hair. * /My roots are showing; I need a touchup./ [touch up] {v.} 1. To paint over (small imperfections.) * /I want to touch up that scratch on the fender./ * /The woodwork is done, but there are a few places he has to touch up./ 2. To improve with small additions or changes. * /He touched up the photographic negative to make a sharper print./ * /It's a good speech, but it needs a little touching up./ 3. {slang} To talk into lending; wheedle from. * /He touched George up for five bucks./ [tough act to follow] {n. phr.} A speech, performance, or activity of such superior quality that the person next in line feels and thinks that it would be very difficult to match it in quality. * /Sir Lawrence Olivier's performance of Hamlet was a tough act to follow in every sense./ [tough break] See: TOUGH LUCK, TOUGH SHIT. [tough cat] {n.}, {slang} A man who is very individualistic and, as a result, highly successful with women. * /Joe is a real tough cat, man./ [tough cookie] {n. phr.} An extremely determined, hardheaded person, or someone with whom it is unusually difficult to deal. * /Marjorie is a very pretty girl, but when it comes to business she sure is one tough cookie./ [tough it out] {v. phr.} To live through and endure a trying situation. * /The tourists got lost in the desert without a compass, and they had to tough it out for three days on a single bottle of water./ [tough luck] {n. phr.} An informal way to say that one had that coming; it serves one right. * /So your date didn't show up, eh? Tough luck, fellow./ [tough nut to crack] See: HARD NUT TO CRACK. [tough row to hoe] See: HARD ROW TO HOE. [tough shit] {n. phr.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} See: HARD CHEESE, TOUGH LUCK. [tough sledding] See: HARD SLEDDING. [tourist trap] See: CLIP JOINT. [to use] See: PUT TO USE. [tow] See: IN TOW. [towel] See: THROW IN THE SPONGE or THROW IN THE TOWEL. [tower of strength] {n. phr.} Someone who is strong, helpful, and sympathetic, and can always be relied on in times of trouble. * /John was a veritable tower of strength to our family while my father was in the war and my mother lay ill in the hospital./ [town] See: GO TO TOWN, ON THE TOWN, PAINT THE TOWN RED. [town and gown] {n.} The residents of a college town and the students and teachers of the college. * /The senator made a speech attended by both town and gown./ * /There were fights between town and gown./ [toy with an] or [the idea] {v. phr.} To consider an idea or an offer periodically without coming to a decision. * /He was toying with the idea of accepting the company's offer of the vice presidency in Tokyo, but he was unable to decide./ [to your hat] See: HANG ON TO YOUR HAT or HOLD ON TO YOUR HAT. [trace] See: KICK OVER THE TRACES also JUMP THE TRACES. [track] See: COVER ONE'S TRACKS, IN ONE'S TRACKS, INSIDE TRACK, JUMP THE TRACK, KEEP TRACK, LOSE TRACK, MAKE TRACKS, OFF THE BEATEN TRACK, ON THE TRACK OF, THE TRACKS. [track down] {v.} To find by or as if by following tracks or a trail. * /The hunters tracked down game in the forest./ * /She spent weeks in the library tracking the reference down in all their hooks on the subject./ Compare: HUNT DOWN. [trade] See: CARRIAGE TRADE, HORSE TRADE, TRICKS OF THE TRADE. [trade in] {v.} To give something to a seller as part payment for another thing of greater value. * /The Browns traded their old car in on a new one./ Syn.: TURN IN(3). [trade-in] {n.} Something given as part payment on something better. * /The dealer took our old car as a trade-in./ - Often used like an adjective. * /We cleaned up the car at trade-in time./ [trade on] {v.} To use as a way of helping yourself. * /The coach traded on the pitcher's weakness for left-handed batters by using all his southpaws./ * /The senator's son traded on his father's name when he ran for mayor./ [trading stamp] {n.} One of the stamps that you get (as from a store or gas station) because you buy something there; a stamp you get with a purchase and save in special books until you have enough to take to a special store and trade for something you want. * /Mother always buys things in stores where they give trading stamps./ [trail] See: BLAZE A TRAIL, ON THE TRACK OF or ON THE TRAIL OF. [trail-blazer] See: BLAZE A TRAIL. [trap] See: MIND LIKE A STEEL TRAP, SAND TRAP, SPEED TRAP. [travel light] {v. phr.} To travel with very little luggage or with very little to carry. * /Plane passengers must travel light./ * /Tom and Fred traveled light on their camping trip./ [tread on the toes of] or [tread on one's toes] See: STEP ON THE TOES OF or STEP ON ONE'S TOES. [tread water] {v. phr.} To keep the head above water with the body in an upright position by moving the feet as if walking. * /He kept afloat by treading water./ [treat] See: TRICK OR TREAT. [tree] See: BARK UP THE WRONG TREE, CAN'T SEE THE WOOD FOR THE TREES, UP A TREE. [trembling] See: FEAR AND TREMBLING. [trial] See: ON TRIAL. [trial and error] {n.} A way of solving problems by trying different possible solutions until you find one that works. * /John found the short circuit by trial and error./ * /The only way Tom could solve the algebra problem was by the method of trial and error./ [trial balloon] {n.} A hint about a plan of action that is given out to find out what people will say. * /John mentioned the class presidency to Bill as a trial balloon to see if Bill might be interested in running./ * /The editorial was a trial balloon to test the public's reaction to a change in the school day./ [trice] See: IN A FLASH also IN A TRICE. [trick] See: DO THE TRICK, TURN THE TRICK. [trick of the trade] {n. phr.}, {usually in plural}, {informal} 1. A piece of expert knowledge; a smart, quick, or skillful way of working at a trade or job. * /Mr. Olson spent years learning the tricks of the trade as a carpenter./ * /Any one can learn how to hang wallpaper, but only an expert can show you the tricks of the trade./ 2. A smart and sometimes tricky or dishonest way of doing something in order to succeed or win. * /The champion knows all the tricks of the boxing trade; he knows many ways to hurt his opponent and to get him mixed up./ [trick or treat] {n.} The custom of going from house to house on Halloween asking for small gifts and playing tricks on people who refuse to give. * /When Mrs. Jones answered the doorbell, the children yelled "Trick or treat." Mrs. Jones gave them all some candy./ * /On Halloween Bill and Tom went out playing trick or treat./ [trigger] See: QUICK ON THE TRIGGER. [trigger happy] See: QUICK ON THE TRIGGER(1). [triple threat] {n.} A football player who is able to pass, kick, and run all very well. * /The triple threat halfback was the star of the team./ [tripped out] {adj.}, {slang}, {informal} Incoherent, confused, faulty of speech, illogical; as if under the influence of drugs or alcohol. * /It was hard to make sense of anything Fred said yesterday, he sounded so tripped out./ See: SPACED OUT. [trip up] {v.} 1. To make (someone) unsteady on the feet; cause to miss a step, stumble, or fall. * /A root tripped Billy up while he was running in the woods, and he fell and hurt his ankle./ 2. To cause (someone) to make a mistake. * /The teacher asked tricky questions in the test to trip up students who were not alert./ [trolley] See: OFF ONE'S ROCKER or OFF ONE'S TROLLEY. [trot out] {v. phr.} To bring out for inspection; display. * /Don't mention compact disks to Joe, or he'll trot out his entire collection and we'll be stuck here all night./ [trouble] See: BORROW TROUBLE, GO TO THE TROUBLE or TAKE THE TROUBLE. [troubled waters] See: POUR OIL ON TROUBLED WATERS. [trousers] See: WEAR THE TROUSERS. [trowel] See: LAY IT ON. [truck] See: PANEL TRUCK. [true] See: COME TRUE, HOLD TRUE, RUN TRUE TO FORM. [trump] See: HOLD ALL THE TRUMPS. [trump card] {n.} Something kept back to be used to win success if nothing else works. * /The coach saved his star pitcher for a trump card./ * /Mary had several ways to get Joan to come to her party. Her trump card was that the football captain would be there./ [trump up] {v.} To make up (something untrue); invent in the mind. * /Every time Tom is late getting home he trumps up some new excuse./ * /The Russians were afraid he was a spy, so they arrested him on a trumped-up charge and made him leave the country./ [trust] See: IN TRUST. [truth] See: CHILDREN AND FOOLS SPEAK THE TRUTH. [try on] {v.} To put (clothing) on to see if it fits. * /She tried on several pairs of shoes before she found one she liked./ * /The clerk told him to try the coat on./ [try one's hand] {v. phr.} To make an inexperienced attempt (at something unfamiliar.) * /I thought I would try my hand at bowling, although I had never bowled before./ [try one's wings] {v. phr.} To try out a recently acquired ability. * /Marjorie just had her twelfth French lesson and wants to try her wings by speaking with our visitors from Paris./ [tryout] {n.} An audience at a theater or opera for would-be actors and singers. * /The Civic Opera is holding tryouts throughout all of next week. Maybe I'll go and see if I can sing in the chorus./ [try out] {v. phr.} 1. To test by trial or by experimenting. * /He tried golf out to see if he would like it./ * /The scientists tried out thousands of chemicals before they found the right one./ * /The coach wants to try the new play out in the first game./ 2. To try for a place on a team or in a group. * /Tom tried out for the basketball team./ * /Shirley will try out for the lead in the play./ Compare: OUT FOR. [tuck] See: NIP AND TUCK. [tucker] See: BEST BIB AND TUCKER. [tuck in] {v. phr.} To place the covers carefully around the person (usually a child) in bed. * /When I was a child, my mother used to tuck me into bed every night./ [tug-of-war] {n.} 1. A game in which two teams pull on opposite ends of a rope, trying to pull the other team over a line marked on the ground. * /The tug-of-war ended when both teams tumbled in a heap./ 2. A contest in which two sides try to defeat each other; struggle. * /A tug-of-war developed between the boys who wanted to go fishing and those who wanted to go hiking./ * /Betty felt a tug-of-war between her wish to go to the movies and her realizing she had to do her homework./ * /The tug of war between the union men and management ended in a long strike./ [tune] See: CALL THE TUNE, CHANGE ONE'S TUNE, IN TUNE, SING A DIFFERENT TUNE or WHISTLE A DIFFERENT TUNE also SING A NEW TUNE, TO THE TUNE OF. [tune in] To adjust a radio or television set to pick up a certain station. * /Bob tuned in his portable radio to a record show./ * /Tom tuned in to Channel 11 to hear the news./ [tune out] {v. phr.} To not listen to something. * /"How can you work in such a noisy environment?" Jane asked Sue. "Well, I simply tune it out," she answered./ [tune up] {v.} 1a. To adjust (a musical instrument) to make the right sound. * /Before he began to play, Harry tuned up his banjo./ 1b. To adjust a musical instrument or a group of musical instruments to the right sound. * /The orchestra came in and began to tune up for the concert./ 2. To adjust many parts of (car engine) which must work together so that it will run properly. * /He took his car to the garage to have the engine tuned up./ [tune-up] {n.} 1. The adjusting or fixing of something (as a motor) to make it work safely and well. * /Father says the car needs a tune-up before winter begins./ 2. Exercise or practicing for the purpose of getting ready; a trial before something. * /The team went to the practice field for their last tune-up before the game tomorrow./ Syn.: WARM UP. [turkey] See: TALK TURKEY. [turn] See: AT EVERY TURN, BLOOD RUN COLD or BLOOD TURNS TO ICE, BY TURNS, CALL THE TURN at CALL ONE'S SHOTS(2), EVERY TIME ONE TURNS AROUND, IN TURN, NOT KNOW WHICH WAY TO TURN, OUT OF TURN, TAKE A TURN, TAKE TURNS, TO A T or TO A TURN. [turn a blind eye] {v. phr.} To pretend not to see; not pay attention. * /The corrupt police chief turned a blind eye to the open gambling in the town./ * /Bob turned a blind eye to the "No Fishing" sign./ Compare: CLOSE ONE'S EYES. [turn a cold shoulder] See: COLD SHOULDER. [turn a deaf ear to] {v. phr.} To pretend not to hear; refuse to hear; not pay attention. * /Mary turned a deaf ear to Lois's asking to ride her bicycle./ * /The teacher turned a deaf ear to Bob's excuse./ Compare: COLD SHOULDER. [turn a hand] {v. phr.} To do anything to help. - Usually used in the negative. * /When we were all hurrying to get the house ready for company, Mary sat reading and wouldn't turn a hand./ Syn.: LIFT A FINGER. [turn an honest penny] {v. phr.} To realize a good profit. * /Tom turned an honest penny in the soybean trading business./ Compare: PRETTY PENNY. [turn back the clock] See: PUT BACK THE CLOCK. [turn color] {v. phr.} To become a different color. * /In the fall the leaves turn color./ * /When the dye was added the solution turned color./ [turn down] {v.} 1. To reduce the loudness, brightness, or force of. * /The theater lights were turned down./ * /Turn down that radio, will you?/ * /The hose was throwing too much water so I turned down the water a little bit./ 2. To refuse to accept; reject. * /His request for a raise was turned down./ * /If she offers to help, I'll turn her down./ * /Many boys courted Lynn, but she turned them all down./ [turn for the worse] See: FOR THE WORSE. [turn in] {v.} 1. or [hand in] To give to someone; deliver to someone. * /I want you to turn in a good history paper./ * /When the football season was over, we turned in our uniforms./ 2. To inform on; report. * /She turned them in to the police for breaking the street light./ 3. To give in return for something. * /They turned in their old money for new./ * /We turned our car in on a new model./ Syn.: TRADE IN. 4. {informal} To go to bed. * /We were tired, so we turned in about nine o'clock./ Contrast: TURN OUT(4). [turn in one's grave] or [turn over in one's grave] {v. phr.} To be so grieved or angry that you would not rest quietly in your grave. * /If your grandfather could see what you're doing now, he would turn over in his grave./ [turn loose] See: LET LOOSE(1a). [turn off] {v.} 1. To stop by turning a knob or handle or by working a switch; to cause to be off. * /He turned the water off./ * /He turned off the light./ 2. To leave by turning right or left onto another way./ * /Turn off the highway at exit 5./ * /The car turned off on Bridge Street./ 3. {slang} To disgust, bore, or repel (someone) by being intellectually, emotionally, socially, or sexually unattractive. * /I won't date Linda Bell anymore - she just turns me off./ Contrast: TURN ON. [turn of the century] {n. phr.} The time at the end of one century and the beginning of the next century; {especially}: The time when the 1800's became the 1900's; the early 1900's. * /Automobiles were strange things to see at the turn of the century./ [turn on] {v.} 1. To start by turning a knob or handle or working a switch; cause to be on. * /Jack turned on the water./ * /Who turned the lights on?/ 2. {informal} To put forth or succeed with as easily as turning on water. * /She really turns on the charm when that new boy is around./ 3. To attack. * /The lion tamer was afraid the lions would turn on him./ * /After Joe fumbled the ball and lost the big game, his friends turned on him./ 4. {slang} The opposite of turning someone off; to become greatly interested in an idea, person, or undertaking; to arouse the senses pleasantly. * /Mozart's music always turns me on./ 5. Introducing someone to a new experience, or set of values. * /Benjamin turned me on to transcendental meditation, and ever since I've been feeling great!/ Contrast: TURN OFF. [turn on a dime] {v. phr.} To be able to turn in a very narrow spot comparable to a small coin. * /This new sports car can turn on a dime./ [turn one around one's little finger] See: TWIST ONE AROUND ONE'S LITTLE FINGER. [turn one's back on] {v. phr.} To refuse to help (someone in trouble or need.) * /He turned his back on his own family when they needed help./ * /The poorer nations are often not grateful for our help, but still we can not turn our back on them./ Compare: GO BACK ON(1). [turn one's hand to] See: PUT ONE'S HAND TO. [turn one's head] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make you lose your good judgment. * /The first pretty girl he saw turned his head./ * /Winning the class election turned his head./ [turn one's nose up at] {v. phr.} To scorn; snub; look down at somebody or something. * /I don't understand why Sue has to turn her nose up at everyone who didn't go to an Ivy League college./ [turn one's stomach] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make you feel sick. * /The smell of that cigar was enough to turn your stomach./ * /The sight of blood turns my stomach./ [turn on one's heel] {v. phr.} To turn around suddenly. * /When John saw Fred approaching him, he turned on his heel./ * /When little Tommy's big brother showed up, the bully turned on his heel./ [turnout] {n.} The number of people in attendance at a gathering. * /This is a terrific turnout for Tim's poetry reading./ [turn out] {v.} 1. To make leave or go away. * /His father turned him out of the house./ * /If you don't behave, you will be turned out./ Compare: THROW OUT. 2. To turn inside out; empty. * /He turned out his pockets looking for the money./ * /Robbers turned out all the drawers in the house in a search for jewels./ 3. To make; produce. * /The printing press turns out a thousand books an hour./ * /Sally can turn out a cake in no time./ * /Martin turns out a poem each week for the school paper./ 4. {informal} To get out of bed. * /At camp the boys had to turn out early and go to bed early too./ Contrast: TURN IN(4). 5. {informal} To come or go out to see or do something. * /Everybody turned out for the big parade./ * /Many boys turned out for football practice./ Compare: FALL OUT. 6. To prove to be; be in the end; be found to be. * /The noise turned out to be just the dog scratching at the door./ * /Her guess turned out to be right./ * /Everything turned out all right./ 7. To make (a light) go out. * /Please turn out the lights./ Syn.: TURN OFF(1). [turnover] {n.} 1. The proportion of expenditure and income realized in a business; the volume of traffic in a business. * /Our turnover is so great that in two short years we tripled our original investment and are expanding at a great rate./ 2. Triangular baked pastry filled with some fruit. * /John's favorite dessert is apple turnovers./ 3. The number of employees coming and going in a company. * /The boss is so strict in our office that the turnover in personnel is very large./ [turn over] {v.} 1. To roll, tip, or turn from one side to the other; overturn; upset. * /He's going to turn over the page./ * /The bike hit a rock and turned over./ 2, To think about carefully; to consider. * /He turned the problem over in his mind for three days before he did anything about it./ 3. To give to someone for use or care. * /I turned my library books over to the librarian./ * /Mrs. Jackson brought her boy to the school and turned him over to the housefather./ * /Bob turns over most of the money he earns to his mother./ 4. Of an engine or motor; to start. * /The battery is dead and the motor won't turn over./ 5a. To buy and then sell to customers. * /The store turned over $5,000 worth of skiing equipment in January./ 5b. To be bought in large enough amounts; sell. * /In a shoe store, shoes of medium width turn over quickly, because many people wear that size, but a pair of narrow shoes may not be sold for years./ [turn over a new leaf] {v. phr.} To start afresh; to have a new beginning. * /"Don't be sad, Jane," Sue said. "A divorce is not the end of the world. Just turn over a new leaf and you will soon be happy again."/ Compare: CLEAN SLATE. [turn over in one's grave] See: TURN IN ONE'S GRAVE. [turn over in one's mind] {v. phr.} To carefully consider. * /I will have to turn it over in my mind whether to accept the new job offer from Japan./ [turn tail] {v. phr.}, {informal} To run away from trouble or danger. * /When the bully saw my big brother, he turned tail and ran./ [turn the clock back] {v. phr.} To return to an earlier period. * /Mother wished she could turn the clock back to the days before the children grew up and left home./ * /Will repealing the minimum wage for workers under age eighteen turn the clock back to the abuses of the last century?/ [turn the other cheek] {v. phr.} To let someone do something to you and not to do it in return; not hit back when hit; be patient when injured or insulted by someone; not try to get even. * /Joe turned the other cheek when he was hit with a snowball./ [turn the scales] {v. phr.} To affect the balance in favor of one party or group against the other. * /It could well be that the speech he made turned the scales in their favor./ [turn the tables] {v. phr.} To make something happen just the opposite of how it is supposed to happen. * /The boys turned the tables on John when they took his squirt gun away and squirted him./ [turn the tide] {v. phr.} To change what looks like defeat into victory. * /We were losing the game until Jack got there. His coming turned the tide for us, and we won./ Compare: TIP THE SCALES. [turn the trick] {v. phr.}, {informal} To bring about the result you want; succeed in what you plan to do. * /Jerry wanted to win both the swimming and diving contests, but he couldn't quite turn the trick./ Compare: DO THE TRICK. [turn thumbs down] {v. phr.} To disapprove or reject; say no. - Usually used with "on". * /The company turned thumbs down on Mr. Smith's sales plan./ * /The men turned thumbs down on a strike at that time./ [turn to] {v.} To begin working with much energy. * /All the boys turned to and cleaned the cabin in a few minutes./ * /Mary turned to and studied for the test./ Syn.: FALL TO. [turn turtle] {v. phr.} To turn upside down. * /The car skidded on the ice and turned turtle./ [turn up] {v.} 1. To find; discover. * /The police searched the house hoping to turn up more clues./ 2. To appear or be found suddenly or unexpectedly. * /The missing boy turned up an hour later./ * /A man without training works at whatever jobs turn up./ Compare: SHOW UP(3). [turn up one's nose at] {v. phr.} To refuse as not being good enough for you. * /He thinks he should only get steak, and he turns up his nose at hamburger./ [turn up one's toes] {v. phr.}, {slang} To die. * /One morning the children found that their pet mouse had turned up his toes, so they had a funeral for him./ Compare: PUSH UP THE DAISIES. [turtle] See: TURN TURTLE. [tut-tut] {interj.}, {informal} Used to express mild disapproval. * /"Tut-tut," said the teacher. "You shouldn't cross the street without looking."/ * /Tut-tut, put that piece of candy back. You've already had three pieces./ [twice] See: BIG AS LIFE(2), LIGHTNING NEVER STRIKES TWICE IN THE SAME PLACE, THINK TWICE, ONCE BITTEN, TWICE SHY and BURNT CHILD DREADS THE FIRE. [twice as natural] See: BIG AS LIFE or BIG AS LIFE AND TWICE AS NATURAL. [twiddle one's thumbs] {v. phr.} To do nothing; be idle. * /I'd rather work than stand around here twiddling my thumbs./ [twist one around one's little finger] also [turn one around one's little finger] or [wrap one around one's finger] {v. phr.} To have complete control over; to be able to make (someone) do anything you want. * /Sue can twist any of the boys around her little finger./ Compare: JUMP THROUGH A HOOP. [twist one's arm] {v. phr.}, {informal} To force someone; threaten someone to make him do something. - Usually used jokingly. * /Will you dance with the prettiest girl in school? Stop, you're twisting my arm!/ * /I had to twist Tom's arm to make him eat the candy!/ [two] See: BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA or BETWEEN TWO FIRES, TWO CENTS, BIRD IN THE HAND IS WORTH TWO IN THE BUSH, CUT BOTH WAYS or CUT TWO WAYS, HAVE TWO STRIKES AGAINST ONE, IN TWO, KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE, NO TWO WAYS ABOUT IT, PUT TWO AND TWO TOGETHER, STAND ON ONE'S OWN FEET or STAND ON ONE'S OWN TWO FEET, TELL A THING OR TWO, THING OR TWO. [two bits] {n.}, {slang} Twenty-five cents; a quarter of a dollar. * /A haircut only cost two bits when Grandfather was young./ Compare: FOUR BITS, SIX BITS. [two cents] {n.} {informal} 1. Something not important or very small; almost nothing. * /Paul was so angry that he said for two cents he would quit the team./ * /When John saw that the girl he was scolding was lame, he felt like two cents./ 2. or [two cents worth] Something you want to say; opinion. - Used with a possessive. * /The boys were talking about baseball, and Harry put in his two cents worth, even though he didn't know much about baseball./ * /If we want your two cents, we'll ask for it./ [two-faced] {adj.} Insincere; disloyal; deceitful. * /Don't confide too much in him as he has the reputation of being two-faced./ Compare: SPEAK WITH A FORKED TONGUE. [two's company; three's a crowd] An informal way to express a situation when two people desire privacy and a third one is present. - A proverb. * /Beth and Carl wanted to be alone so when Maggie joined them they said, "Two's company; three's a crowd."/ [two strikes against one] {n. phr.}-From baseball. Two opportunities wasted in some undertaking, so that only one chance is left. * /Poor John has two strikes against him when it comes to his love for Frances: first, he is too fat, and, second, he is bald./ [two-time] {v.}, {slang} To go out with a second boy or girlfriend and keep it a secret from the first. * /Joan was two-timing Jim with Fred./ * /Mary cried when she found that Joe was two-timing her./ Compare: DOUBLE-CROSS. [two to one] See: TEN TO ONE. [two ways about it] See: NO TWO WAYS ABOUT IT. U [U.F.O.] {n. phr.} Unidentified Flying Object. * /Some people think that the U.F.O.s are extraterrestrial beings of higher than human development who pay periodic visits to Earth to warn us of our self-destructive tendencies./ [ugly duckling] {n.} An ugly or plain child who grows up to be pretty and attractive. * /Mary was the ugly duckling in her family, until she grew up./ [uh-huh] or [um-hum] {adv.}, {informal} Yes. - Used only in speech or when recording dialogue. * /Are you going to the Fair? Uh-huh./ * /We were in Alaska, um-hum, but that was long before the earthquakes./ * /When I asked for an appointment, the nurse said, "Um-hum, I have an opening at four o'clock on Friday."/ Contrast: HUH-UH. [um-hum] See: UH-HUH. [unbosom oneself] {v. phr.} To confess one's personal thoughts or feelings; disclose private information to a confidante. * /Once she was at home with her mother, she unbosomed herself of all her troubles./ [uncertain] See: IN SO MANY WORDS(2). or IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS. [uncle] See: SAY UNCLE also CRY UNCLE. [under] See: CUT THE GROUND FROM UNDER, GO UNDER, OUT FROM UNDER, SNOW UNDER. [under a bushel] See: HIDE ONE'S LIGHT UNDER A BUSHEL. [under a cloud] {adj. phr.} 1. Under suspicion; not trusted. * /Joyce has been under a cloud since her roommate's bracelet disappeared./ * /The butcher is under a cloud because the inspectors found his scales were not honest./ 2. Depressed, sad, discouraged. * /Joe has been under a cloud since his dog died./ [under age] {adj. phr.} Too young; not old enough; below legal age. * /He could not enlist in the army because he was under age./ * /Rose was not allowed to enroll in the Life Saving Course because she was under age./ Contrast: OF AGE(1). [under arrest] {adj. phr.} Held by the police. * /The man believed to have robbed the bank was placed under arrest./ * /The three boys were seen breaking into the school building and soon found themselves under arrest./ [under construction] {adv. phr.} In the process of being built or repaired. * /It is a good idea to take the train to work while the expressway is under construction./ [under cover] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} Hidden; concealed. * /The prisoners escaped under cover of darkness./ * /He kept his invention under cover until it was patented./ Compare: UNDER WRAPS. [under false colors] See: SAIL UNDER FALSE COLORS. [under fire] {adv. phr.} Being shot at or being attacked; hit by attacks or accusations; under attack. * /The soldiers stood firm under fire of the enemy./ * /The principal was under fire for not sending the boys home who stole the car./ [under lock and key] {adv. phr.} Secured; locked up; well protected. * /Dad keeps all his valuables under lock and key./ [under one's belt] {adv. phr.}, {informal} 1. In your stomach; eaten; or absorbed. * /Once he had a good meal under his belt, the man loosened his tie and fell asleep./ * /Jones is talkative when he has a few drinks under his belt./ 2. In your experience, memory or possession; learned or gotten successfully; gained by effort and skill. * /Jim has to get a lot of algebra under his belt before the examination./ * /With three straight victories under their belts, the team went on to win the championship./ [under one's breath] {adv. phr.} In a whisper; with a low voice. * /The teacher heard the boy say something under his breath and she asked him to repeat it aloud./ * /I told Lucy the news under my breath, but Joyce overheard me./ [under one's hat] See: KEEP UNDER ONE'S HAT. [under one's heel] {adv. phr.} In one's power or control. * /If one marriage partner always wants to keep the other person under his or her heel, it is not a happy or democratic arrangement and may lead to a divorce./ [under one's nose] or [under the nose of] {adv. phr.}, {informal} In sight of; in an easily seen or noticeable place. * /The thief walked out of the museum with the painting, right under the nose of the guards./ * /When Jim gave up trying to find a pen, he saw three right under his nose on the desk./ [under one's own steam] {adv. phr.}, {informal} By one's own efforts; without help. * /The boys got to Boston under their own steam and took a bus the rest of the way./ * /We didn't think he could do it, but Bobby finished his homework under his own steam./ [under one's skin] See: GET UNDER ONE'S SKIN. [under one's spell] {adv. phr.} Unable to resist one's influence. * /From the first moment they saw each other, Peter was under Nancy's spell./ [under one's thumb] or [under the thumb] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} Obedient to you; controlled by you; under your power. * /The Jones family is under the thumb of the mother./ * /Jack is a bully. He keeps all the younger children under his thumb./ * /The mayor is so popular that he has the whole town under his thumb./ Compare: JUMP THROUGH THE HOOP. [under one's wing] {adv. phr.} Under the care or protection of. * /Helen took the new puppy under her wing./ * /The boys stopped teasing the new student when Bill took him under his wing./ Compare: IN TOW. [under orders] {adv. phr.} Not out of one's own desire or one's own free will; obligatorily; not freely. * /"So you were a Nazi prison guard? " the judge asked. "Yes, your Honor," the man answered, "but I was acting under orders and not because I wished to harm anyone."/ [under pain of] See: ON PAIN OF also UNDER PAIN OF. [under protest] {adv. phr.} Against one's wish; unwillingly. * /"I'll go with you all right," she said to the kidnapper, "but I want it clearly understood that I do so under protest."/ [understand] See: GIVE ONE TO UNDERSTAND. [under the circumstances] also [in the circumstances] {adv. phr.} In the existing situation; in the present condition; as things are. * /In the circumstances, Father couldn't risk giving up his job./ * /Under the circumstances, the stagecoach passengers had to give the robbers their money./ [under the collar] See: HOT UNDER THE COLLAR. [under the counter] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Secretly (bought or sold). * /That book has been banned, but there is one place you can get it under the counter./ * /The liquor dealer was arrested for selling beer under the counter to teenagers./ - Also used like an adjective, with hyphens. * /During World War II, some stores kept scarce things hidden for under-the-counter-sales to good customers./ [under the hammer] {adv. phr.} Up for sale at auction. * /The Brights auctioned off the entire contents of their home. Mrs. Bright cried when her pewter collection went under the hammer./ * /The picture I wanted to bid on came under the hammer soon after I arrived./ [under the nose of] See: UNDER ONE'S NOSE. [under the sun] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} On earth; in the world. - Used for emphasis. * /The President's assassination shocked everyone under the sun./ * /Where under the sun could I have put my purse?/ [under the table] See: UNDER THE COUNTER. [under the thumb of] See: UNDER ONE'S THUMB. [under the weather] {adv. phr.} In bad health or low spirits. * /Mary called in today asking for a sick day as she is under the weather./ [under the wire] {adv. phr.} With a narrow time limit; in the last minute. * /The journalist's new lead article on Russia was due in press at 5 P.M., and he got it in at 4:57, just under the wire./ [underway] {adv. phr.} In progress; in motion. * /The yearly fund-raising campaign for the renovation of our university campus is already underway./ [under wraps] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} Not allowed to be seen until the right time; not allowed to act or speak freely; in secrecy; hidden. - Usually used with "keep". * /We have a new player, hut we are keeping him under wraps until the game./ * /What the President is planning will be kept under wraps until tomorrow./ * /The spy was kept under wraps and not allowed to talk to newspapermen./ Compare: UNDER COVER. [unknown quantity] {n.} Someone or something whose value and importance are not known, especially in a certain situation, time or place; a new and untested person or thing. * /What we would find if we could fly to the moon is an unknown quantity./ * /The new player is still an unknown quantity. We'll find out how good he is in the game./ [unseen] See: SIGHT UNSEEN. [until all hours] {adv. phr.} Until very late at night. * /He is so anxious to pass his exams with flying colors that he stays up studying until all hours./ [until hell freezes over] {adv. phr.}, {slang} Forever, for an eternity. * /He can argue until hell freezes over; nobody will believe him./ Contrast: WHEN HELL FREEZES OVER. [until the last gun is fired] See: TILL THE LAST GUN IS FIRED. [unturned] See: LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED. [up against] {prep. phr.} Blocked or threatened by. * /When she applied to medical school, the black woman wondered whether she was up against barriers of sex and race prejudice./ [up against it] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Faced with a great difficulty or problem; badly in need. * /The Smith family is up against it because Mr. Smith cannot find a job./ * /You will be up against it if you don't pass the test. You will probably fail arithmetic./ Compare: HARD UP, END OF ONE'S ROPE, BACK TO THE WALL(2). [up and about] or [around] {adv. phr.} Recovered and able to move about; once again in good health after an illness. * /My sister was ill for several weeks, but is now up and about again./ [up and at them] 1. {adv. phr.} Actively engaged in a task as if doing combat. * /"You want to know whether he will make a diligent worker?" Dick asked. "Well, I can tell you that most of the time he is up and at them like no one else I know."/ 2. {v. phr.} To become aggressively engaged in doing something; (useable as a command). * /Come on, up and at them, you guys. We still have a lot of work to get done./ [up-and-coming] {adj. phr.} Bound toward success; upwardly mobile; progressive; ambitious. * /The newly elected state senator is an up-and-coming young politician who is expected to be highly successful in national politics in the future./ [up a stump] {adj. phr.}, {slang} Stumped; blocked; mixed up or confused in what you are trying to do. * /Jimmy knows how to add and subtract but fractions have him up a stump./ [up a tree] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. Hunted or chased into a tree; treed. * /The dog drove the coon up a tree so the hunter could shoot him./ 2. {informal} in trouble; having problems; in a difficulty that it is hard to escape or think of a way out of. * /John's father has him up a tree in the checker game./ Compare: UP THE CREEK. [up for grabs] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Available for anyone to try to get; ready to be competed for; there for the taking. * /When the captain of the football team moved out of town, his place was up for grabs./ [up front(1)] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} The managerial section of a corporation or firm. * /Joe Catwallender finally made it (with the) up front./ [up front(2)] {adj.}, {slang}, {informal} Open, sincere, hiding nothing. * /Sue was completely up front about why she didn't want to see him anymore./ [up in arms] {adj. phr.} 1. Equipped with guns or weapons and ready to fight. * /All of the colonies were up in arms against the Redcoats./ Syn.: IN ARMS. 2. Very angry and wanting to fight. * /Robert is up in arms because John said he was stupid./ * /The students were up in arms over the new rule against food in the dormitory./ [up in the air] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} 1. {informal} In great anger or excitement. * /My father went straight up in the air when he heard I damaged the car./ * /The Jones family are all up in the air because they are taking a trip around the world./ Compare: HIT THE CEILING, BLOW A FUSE. 2. also [in midair] Not settled; uncertain; undecided. * /Plans for the next meeting have been left up in the air until Jane gets better./ * /The result of the game was left hanging in midair because it rained before the finish./ Compare: LEAVE HANGING. [up one's alley] See: DOWN ONE'S ALLEY. [up one's sleeve] or [in one's sleeve] {adv. phr.} 1. Hidden in the sleeve of one's shirt or coat and ready for secret or wrongful use. * /The crooked gambler hid aces up his sleeve during the card game so that he would win./ 2. {informal} Kept secretly ready for the right time or for a time when needed. * /Jimmy knew that his father had some trick up his sleeve because he was smiling to himself during the checker game./ Compare: CARD UP ONE'S SLEEVE. 3. See: LAUGH UP ONE'S SLEEVE. [upon oneself] See: TAKE ON ONESELF also TAKE UPON ONESELF. [upon one's head] See: ON ONE'S HEAD. [upon the spot] See: ON THE SPOT(1). [upper] See: KEEP A STIFF UPPER LIP, ON ONE'S UPPERS. [upper crust] {n.}, {informal} The richest, most famous, or important people in a certain place; the highest class. * /It is a school that only the children of the upper crust can afford./ [upper hand] or [whip hand] {n.} Controlling power; advantage. * /In the third round the champion got the upper hand over his opponent and knocked him out./ * /The cowboy trained the wild horse so that he finally got the whip hand and tamed the horse./ [upper story] {n.} 1. A floor or level of a building above the first floor. * /The apartment house where Gene lives is five stories high and he lives in one of the upper stories./ 2. {slang} A person's head or brain. * /Lulu has nobody home in the upper story./ * /Bill's sister says he is weak in the upper story./ [Upsadaisy!] or [Upsee-daisy!] or [Upsy-daisy!] {adv. phr.} - A popular exclamation used when just about anything is lifted, particularly a small child raised to his or her highchair or bed. * /"Upsee-daisy!" the nurse said with a smile on her face, as she lifted the baby from its bed./ [ups and downs] {n. phr.} Vicissitudes; alternating periods between good and bad times; changes in fortune. * /He is now a wealthy stock trader, but at the beginning of his career he, too, had many ups and downs./ [upset the applecart] or [upset one's applecart] {v. phr.}, {informal} To ruin a plan or what is being done, often by surprise or accident; change how things are or are being done, often unexpectedly; ruin or mix up another person's success or plan for success. * /John upset the other team's applecart by hitting a home run in the last inning and we won the game./ * /We are planning a surprise party for Bill, so don't let Mary upset the applecart by telling him before the party./ * /Frank thinks he is going to be the boss, but I'll upset his applecart the first chance I get./ Compare: ROCK THE BOAT. [upside down] {adv. phr.} Overturned so that the bottom is up and the top is down. * /The ladybug lay upside down in the sand and was unable to take off./ * /The problem with this company is that everything is upside down; we need a new C.E.O./ [upstairs] See: NOBODY HOME UPSTAIRS. [up the creek] or [up the creek without a paddle] {adj. phr.}, {informal} In trouble or difficulty and unable to do anything about it; stuck. * /Father said that if the car ran out of gas in the middle of the desert, we would be up the creek without a paddle./ * /I'll be up the creek if I don't pass this history test./ Compare: DEEP WATER, IN THE SOUP, UP A TREE, OUT OF LUCK. [up tight] or [uptight] {adj.}, {slang}, {informal} Worried, irritated, excessively eager or anxious. * /Why are you so uptight about getting that job? The more you worry, the less you'll succeed./ [up to] {prep.} 1. As far, as deep, or as high as. * /The water in the pond was only up to John's knees./ * /Mary is small and just comes up to Bill's chest./ * /The shovel sank in the soft mud all the way up to the handle./ 2. Close to; approaching. * /The team did not play up to its best today./ * /Because of the rain, the number of people at the party didn't come up to the number we expected./ 3. As high as; not more than; as much or as many as. * /Pick any number up to ten./ * /There were up to eight fire engines at the fire./ 4. or [up till] or [up until] - Until; till. * /Up to her fourth birthday, the baby slept in a crib./ * /Up to now I always thought John was honest./ * /We went swimming up till breakfast time./ * /Up until last summer we always went to the beach for our vacation./ 5. Capable of; fit for; equal to; strong or well enough for. * /We chose Harry to be captain because we thought he was up to the job./ * /Mother is sick and not up to going out to the store./ 6. Doing or planning secretly; ready for mischief. * /What are you up to with the matches, John?/ * /Mrs. Watson was sure that the boys were up to no good, because they ran when they saw her coming./ 7. Facing as a duty; to be chosen or decided by; depending on. * /It's up to you to get to school on time./ * /I don't care when you cut the grass. When you do it is up to you./ [up-to-date] {adj.} Modern; contemporary; the latest that technology can offer. * /"I want an up-to-date dictionary of American idioms," Mr. Lee said, "that has all the latest Americanisms in it."/ Contrast: STATE-OF-THE-ART. [up to no good] {adv. phr.} Intending to do something bad; perpetrating an illicit act. * /We could tell from the look on Dennis the Menace's face that he was once again up to no good./ [up to one's ears] {adv. phr.} Immersed in; covered with. * /"Around final examination time," Professor Brown explained, "I am always up to my ears in work."/ [up to one's neck] {adv. phr.} Overwhelmed with; submerged in. * /"During the summer season in our cottage by the lake," the Allens complained, "we are usually up to our necks in uninvited guests."/ Compare: UP TO ONE'S EARS. [up to par] or {informal} [up to scratch] or {informal} [up to snuff] 1. In good or normal health or physical condition. * /I have a cold and don't feel up to par./ * /The boxer is training for the fight but he isn't up to scratch yet./ 2. or [up to the mark] As good as usual; up to the usual level or quality. * /The TV program was not up to par tonight./ * /John will have to work hard to bring his grades up to snuff./ Compare: MEASURE UP. [up to scratch] See: UP TO FAR. [up to snuff] See: UP TO PAR. [up to the chin in] or [in --- up to the chin] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Used also with "ears", "elbows", "eyes" or "knees" instead of "chin", and with a possessive instead of "the". 1. Having a big or important part in; guilty of; not innocent of; deeply in. * /Was Tom mixed up in that trouble last night? He was up to his ears in it./ * /Mr. Johnson is up to the eyes in debt./ * /Mrs. Smith is in debt up to her chin./ Compare: TO THE HILT. 2. Very busy with; working hard at. * /Bob is up to his neck in homework./ * /They are up to their elbows in business before Christmas./ 3. Having very much or many of; flooded with. * /Mary was up to her knees in invitations to go to parties./ Compare: KNEE-DEEP. [up to the hilt] See: TO THE HILT. [up