Текст книги "Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц"

Автор книги: Adam Makkai

Соавторы: Maya Glinberg
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[talk up]{v.} 1. To speak in favor or support of. •/Let’s talk up the game and get a big crowd./ 2. To speak plainly or clearly. •/The teacher asked the student to talk up./ Syn.: SPEAK UP. 3. {informal} To say what you want or think; say what someone may not like. •/Talk up if you want more pie./ •/George isn’t afraid to talk up when he disagrees with the teacher./ Syn.: SPEAK UP. Compare: SPEAK OUT.

[tall order] See: LARGE ORDER.

[tall story] or [tale]{n. phr.} See: FISH STORY.

[tamper with]{v.} 1. To meddle with (something); handle ignorantly or foolishly. •/He tampered with the insides of his watch and ruined it./ 2. To secretly get someone to do or say wrong things, especially by giving him money, or by threatening to hurt him. •/A friend of the man being tried in court tampered with a witness./

[tank] See: THINK TANK.

[tan one’s hide]{v. phr.}, {informal} To give a beating to; spank hard. •/Bob’s father tanned his hide for staying out too late./

[tape] See: FRICTION TAPE, MASKING TAPE.

[taper down]{adj. phr.} To decrease; reduce. •/He has tapered down his drinking from three martinis to one beer a day./

[taper off]{v.} 1. To come to an end little by little; become smaller toward the end. •/The river tapers off here and becomes a brook./ 2. To stop a habit gradually; do something less and less often. •/Robert gave up smoking all at once instead of tapering off./ Contrast: COLD TURKEY.

[tar] See: BEAT THE – OUT OF.

[tar and feather]{v.} To pour heated tar on and cover with feathers as a punishment. •/In the Old West bad men were sometimes tarred and feathered and driven out of town./

[task] See: TAKE TO TASK.

[taste] See: LEAVE A BAD TASTE IN ONE’S MOUTH.

[tat] See: TIT FOR TAT.

[tax trap]{n.}, {informal} Predicament in which taxpayers in middle-income brackets are required to pay steeply progressive rates of taxation as their earnings rise with inflation but their personal exemptions remain fixed, resulting in a loss of real disposable income. •/Everybody in my neighborhood has been caught in a tax trap./

[T-bone steak]{n.} A steak with a bone in it which looks like a "T". •/On Jim’s birthday we had T-bone steak for supper./

[tea] See: CUP OF TEA also DISH OF TEA.

[teach a lesson]{v. phr.} To show that bad behavior can be harmful. •/When Johnny pulled Mary’s hair, she taught him a lesson by breaking his toy boat./ •/The burns Tommy got from playing with matches taught him a lesson./

[teach the ropes] See: THE ROPES.

[team up with]{v. phr.} To join with; enter into companionship with. •/My brother prefers to do business by himself rather than to team up with anybody else./

[teapot] See: TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT.

[tear around]{v. phr.} To be constantly on the go; dash around. •/No one can understand how she manages to tear around from one social event to another and yet be a good mother to her children./

[tear down]{v.} 1. To take all down in pieces; destroy. •/The workmen tore down the old house and built a new house in its place./ 2. To take to pieces or parts. •/The mechanics had to tear down the engine, and fix it, and put it together again./ 3. To say bad things about; criticize. •/«Why do you always tear people down? Why don’t you try to say nice things about them?»/ •/Dorothy doesn’t like Sandra, and at the class meeting she tore down every idea Sandra suggested./

[tear into]{v. phr.} To attack vigorously, physically or verbally. •/The anxious buyers tore into the wedding gowns on sale at the famous department store./ See: RIP INTO.

[tearjerker]{n.} A sentimental novel or movie that makes one cry. •/Love Story, both in its novel form and as a movie, was a famous tearjerker./

[tear oneself away]{v. phr.} To force oneself to leave; leave reluctantly. •/The beaches in Hawaii are so lovely that I had to tear myself away from them in order to get back to my job in Chicago./

[tear one’s hair]{v. phr.} To show sorrow, anger, or defeat. •/Ben tore his hair when he saw the wrecked car./ •/The teacher tore his hair at the boy’s stupid answer./ •/It was time to go to class, but Mary had not finished the report she had to give, and she began tearing her hair./

[tears] See: BORE TO TEARS, CROCODILE TEARS.

[tear up]{v.} 1. To dig a hole in; remove the surface of; remove from the surface. •/The city tore up the street to lay a new water pipe./ •/Mother tore up the carpeting in the living room and had a new rug put in./ 2. To tear into pieces. •/Mary tore up the old sheets and made costumes for the play out of the pieces./ •/John tore up his test paper so that his mother wouldn’t see his low grade./

[tee off]{v.} 1. To hit the golf ball from a small wooden peg or tee to begin play for each hole. •/We got to the golf course just in time to see the champion tee off./ 2. {slang} To hit a ball, especially a baseball very hard or far. •/He teed off on the first pitch./ 3. {slang} To attack vigorously. •/The governor teed off on his opponent’s speech./ 4. {slang} To make (someone) angry or disgusted. •/It teed me off when Billy stole my candy./ •/Joe was teed off because he had to wait so long./

[teeth] See: TOOTH.

[tee up]{v.} To set the golf ball on the tee in preparation for hitting it toward the green. •/Arnold Palmer teed the ball up for the final hole./

[telepathy] See: MENTAL TELEPATHY.

[tell] See: DO TELL, I’LL SAY or I TELL YOU, I’LL TELL YOU WHAT, I’M TELLING YOU, YOU’RE TELLING ME, YOU TELL 'EM.

[tell apart]{v. phr.} To see the difference between; know each of. •/The teacher could not tell the twins apart./

[tell a thing or two]{v. phr.}, {informal} To tell in plain or angry words; scold. •/When John complained about the hard work, his father told him a thing or two./ •/If Bert thinks he would like to join the army, I’ll tell him a thing or two that will make him change his mind./ Compare: BAWL OUT, GIVE A PIECE OF ONE’S MIND, TELL OFF, THING OR TWO.

[tell it like it is]{v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To be honest, sincere; to tell the truth. •/Joe is the leader of our commune; he tells it like it is./

[tell it to the marines] or [tell it to Sweeney]{slang} I don’t believe you; Stop trying to fool me. •/John said, «My father knows the President of the United States.» Dick answered, «Tell it to the marines.»/

[tell off]{v.} 1. To name or count one by one and give some special duty to; give a share to. •/Five boy scouts were told off to clean the camp./ 2. {informal} To speak to angrily or sharply; attack with words; scold. •/Mr. Black got angry and told off the boss./ •/Bobby kept pulling Sally’s hair; finally she got angry and told him where to get off./ Syn.: TELL ONE WHERE TO GET OFF. Compare: GIVE A PIECE OF ONE’S MIND, LAY DOWN THE LAW, TELL A THING OR TWO.

[tell on]{v.} 1. To tire; wear out; make weak. •/The ten-mile hike told on Bill./ 2. {informal} To tell someone about another’s wrong or naughty acts. – Used mainly by children. •/Andy hit a little girl and John told the teacher on Andy./ •/If you hit me, I’ll tell Mother on you./

[tell tales out of school]{v. phr.} To tell something that is secret; tell others something that is not meant to be known. •/Don’t tell Jane anything. She is always telling tales out of school./ Compare: LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG, SPILL THE BEANS.

[tell one where to get off] or [tell one where to head in]{v. phr.}, {informal} To talk angrily to; speak to or answer with rough language; scold. •/Bob told Ted to get out of his way. Ted told Bob where to get off./ •/Mary laughed at Barbara’s hairdo. Barbara told Mary where to head in./ Compare: TELL A THING OR TWO, TELL OFF.

[tell time]{v. phr.} To read a clock or watch. •/Although Johnny is only three years old, he is already able to tell time./

[tell you what] See: I’LL TELL YOU WHAT.

[temper] See: GOD TEMPERS THE WIND TO THE SHORN LAMB, HOLD ONE’S TEMPER or KEEP ONE’S TEMPER, LOSE ONE’S TEMPER.

[temperature] See: RUN A TEMPERATURE.

[tempest in a teapot]{n. phr.} Great excitement about something not important. •/Bess tore her skirt a little and made a tempest in a teapot./

[tempt fate] or [tempt the fates]{v. phr.} To take a chance; run a risk; gamble. •/You’re tempting fate every time you drive that old wreck of a car./

[ten] See: DIME STORE or FIVE-AND-TEN, COUNT TO TEN.

[ten-four?]{v. phr.}, {interrog.}, {slang}, {citizen’s band radio jargon} Do you understand? •/Is that a ten-four?/

[ten gallon hat]{n.}, {informal} A tall felt hat with a wide, rolled brim worn by men in the western part of the U.S. •/Men from the southwest usually wear ten gallon hats./

[ten roger]{v. phr.}, {slang}, {citizen’s band radio jargon} I acknowledge. •/That’s a ten roger./

[ten to one] or [two to one]{adv.} or {adj. phr.}, {informal} Almost certainly, nearly sure to be true; very likely to happen. •/Ten to one it will rain tomorrow./ •/It is ten; to one that Bill will be late./

[term] See: BRING TO TERMS, COME TO TERMS, IN SO MANY WORDS(2) or IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS, IN TERMS OF.

[terror] See: HOLY TERROR.

[test] See: ROAD TEST, SCREEN TEST.

[tether] See: END OF ONE’S ROPE or END OF ONE’S TETHER.

[than] See: LESS THAN, LESS THAN NO TIME, MORE THAN.

[thank one’s lucky stars]{v. phr.}, {informal} To be thankful for good luck; think oneself lucky. •/You can thank your lucky stars you didn’t fall in the hole./

[thanks to]{prep.} 1. With the help of. •/Thanks to a good teacher, John passed the examination./ •/I finally finished washing the dishes, no thanks to you./ 2. Owing to; because of. •/Thanks to a sudden rain, the children came home with wet clothes./

[that is] or [that is to say] I mean; that means; in other words. •/John is a New Yorker; that is, he lives in New York./ •/Susan is a good student; that is to say, she gets good grades in school./

[that is that] or [that’s that]{informal} The matter is decided; there is nothing more to be said; it is done. •/Jim, you will go to school this morning, and that is that./

[that’ll be the day]{informal} That will never happen. •/Joe wanted me to lend him money to take my girl to the movies. That’ll be the day!/ •/«Wouldn’t it be nice if we had to go to school only one day a week?» «That’ll be the day!»/

[That makes two of us!] Informal way to say, «I am in agreement with what you arc saying or doing.» •/So you voted for Senator Aldridge? So did I – that makes two of us./

[That takes care of that!] Informal way to say, «That concludes our business.» •/I paid my ex-wife the last alimony check and that takes care of that!/

[That will do!] Informal expression of impatience meaning «stop,» «no more.» •/«That will do, Tommy,» his mother cried. «I’ve had just about enough of your drumming on the table.»/

[that’s – for you] That’s the way (someone or something) is; (someone or something) is like that. •/John tried hard, but he lost the game. That’s life for you./ •/Mary changed her mind about going. That’s a girl for you./

[That’s about the size of it!] Informal way to say, «What you said is true; the rumor or the news is true.» •/«I am told you’re leaving our firm for Japan,» Fred said to Tom. «That’s about the size of it,» Tom replied with a grin./

[That’s the story of my life…] Usually spoken when something goes wrong. •/I spent seven years writing a novel, but no publisher wants to accept it. That’s the story of my life./

[That’s the ticket!] Informal way to say, «excellent; correct.» •/«First we’ll go up the Sears Tower, and then we’ll take a night sightseeing tour on the lake,» Fran said. «That’s the ticket!» Stan, an old inhabitant of Chicago, replied./

[That’s the way the ball bounces] or [the cookie crumbles!] Nothing unusual about that. – Said of unpleasant things. •/«Susan left me for a heavyweight boxer, and then I got drunk and wrecked my car,» Bob bitterly complained. «Well, that’s the way the cookie crumbles,» Pam answered philosophically./

[theater] See: LITTLE THEATER.

[the business]{n.}, {slang} – Usually used with «give» or «get». 1. All that you are able to do; greatest effort. •/Johnny gave the tryouts the business but he failed to make the team./ 2. The most harm possible; the greatest damage or hurt. •/Fred got the business when Tom caught him with his bicycle./ 3. A harsh scolding. •/The teacher gave Walter the business when he came to school late again./ •/Mike thought he was the star of the team until he got the business from the coach./ Compare: THE WORKS.

[The cat did it!] A humorous and convenient way to pass the blame. •/«My vase is broken!» Mother shrieked in horror. «Well,» Dad smirked cynically, «I guess the cat did it!»/

[the creeps]{n.}, {informal} 1. An uncomfortable tightening of the skin caused by fear or shock. •/Reading the story of a ghost gave Joe the creeps./ •/The queer noises in the old house gave Mary the creeps./ 2. A strong feeling of fear or disgust. •/The cold, damp, lonely swamp gave John the creeps./ •/The dog was so ugly it gave Mary the creeps./

[the devil to pay]{n. phr.} A severe penalty. •/If we don’t finish the work by next Monday, there will be the devil to pay./

[the edge]{n.}, {informal} The advantage. – Usually used in the phrases «get the edge on», «have the edge on». •/In the last quarter of the game, our team got the edge on the other team and kept it./ •/Mary has the edge on Jane in the beauty contest./

[the fickle finger of fate] See: ACT OF GOD.

[the idea] or [the very idea]{n. phr.} – Used in exclamations to show that you do not like something. •/The idea! Thinking Mother was my sister!/ •/The very idea of Tom bringing that dirty dog into my clean house!/

[the lid]{n.}, {slang} Something that holds back or holds out of sight. •/The police blew the lid off the gambling operations./ •/John kept the lid on his plans until he was ready to run for class president./ •/The chief of police placed the lid on gambling in the town./

[the likes of]{informal} Something like or similar to; something of the same kind as. •/I have never seen the likes of John./ •/It was a chocolate sundae the likes of which Mary would never see again./

[the long and the short] or [the long and short]{n. phr.} All that needs to be said; the basic fact; point. •/The long and the short of the matter is that the man is no actor./ •/The money isn’t there, and that’s the long and short of it./

[the matter]{adj.} Not as it should be; wrong. – Used in questions or with negatives or «if». •/Why don’t you answer me? What’s the matter?/ •/John may be slow in arithmetic, but nothing’s the matter with his pitching arm./ •/If anything is the matter, please tell me./

[the more – the more –] or [the –er the –er] – Used in two halves of a sentence to show that when there is more of the first, there is more of the second too. •/The more you eat. the fatter you will get./ •/Get your report in when you can; the sooner, the better./ •/The bigger they are, the harder they fall./ •/The more Bill worked on the arithmetic problem, the more confused he became./

[then] See: AND THEN SOME, EVERY NOW AND THEN, NOW AND THEN.

[then again]{adv.} As an opposite possibility; another thing. •/He may be here tomorrow. Then again, he may not come until next week./ •/I thought you told me about the fire, but then again it could have been Bill./

[then and there]{adv. phr.} At that very time and place in the past; right then. •/He said he wanted his dime back then and there, so I had to give it to him./ Compare: IN ONE’S TRACKS, ON THE SPOT, HERE AND NOW.

[the other day]{adv. phr.} In the recent past. •/I saw an incredible parade of elephants along Michigan Avenue the other day on my way to work./

[the other way around]{adv. phr.} See: JUST THE OTHER WAY.

[the picture]{n.} The way things are or were; the facts about something; the situation; what happened or happens. •/Where does Susan come into the picture./ •/When you are looking for a job your education enters into the picture./ •/Old Mr. Brown is out of the picture now and his son runs the store./ •/After the fight on the playground, the principal talked to the boys who were watching, until he got the whole picture./ Compare: GET THE MESSAGE.

[the pits]{n.}, {slang} 1. A low class, blighted and ill-maintained place, motel room or apartment. •/Max, this motel is the pits, I will not sleep here!/ 2. The end of the road, the point of no return, the point of total ruin of one’s health (from the drug anticulture referring to the arm-pits as the only place that had veins for injections). •/John flunked high school this year for the third time; he will never get to college; it’s the pits for him./ 3. A very depressed state of mind. •/Poor Marcy is down in the pits over her recent divorce./

[the powers that be]{n. phr.} Constituted authority; those in power. •/I have done all I can; the rest is up to the powers that be./

[there] See: ALL THERE, HERE AND THERE, NEITHER HERE NOR THERE, THEN AND THERE.

[There] or [here you are!] 1. Informal way to say, «Here is what you wanted.» •/The doorman politely opened the door of the taxi and said, «There you are, sir!»/ •/The clerk wrapped up the package and handed it to the customer saying, «Here you are, ma’am!»/ 2. You have found the correct answer; you are correct. •/«The reason for the violent crime rate is the all too easy availability of handguns,» he said. «Yeah, there you are!» Officer Maloney replied./

[there is more than one way to get a pig to market] or [flay a fox] or [skin a cat] There are always new and different ways to accomplish a difficult task. – A proverb. •/«'How did you get Tommy to study so hard?» Eleanor asked. «I simply disconnected the television set,» Tommy’s mother answered. «There’s more than one way to get a pig to market.»/

[there is nothing to it] Informal way to say, «It is easy.» •/Cooking stir-fried Chinese food is really not difficult at all; in fact, there’s nothing to it./

[There you go!] 1. Informal way to say, «You are doing it already and you are doing it well.» •/«Is roller skating hard?» Freddie asked. «No,» Beth replied, «let me show you how to do it. There you go!»/ 2. See: THERE or HERE YOU ARE(2).

[the ropes]{n. plural}, {informal} Thorough or special knowledge of a job; how to do something; the ways of people or the world. •/On a newspaper a cub reporter learns his job from an older reporter who knows the ropes./ •/When you go to a new school it takes a while to learn the ropes./ •/Betty showed Jane the ropes when she was learning to make a dress./ •/Mr. Jones was an orphan and he had to learn the ropes when he was young to make his way in the world./ Compare: BE AROUND, INS AND OUTS, TRICK OF THE TRADE.

[the score]{n.}, {slang} The truth; the real story or information; what is really happening; the way people and the world really are. •/Very few people know the score in politics./ •/You are too young to know the score yet./ •/What’s the score anyhow? When will the program begin?/ Compare: KNOW ONE’S STUFF, KNOW ONE’S WAY AROUND, THE ROPES.

[these] See: ONE OF THESE DAYS or SOME OF THESE DAYS.

[the three R’s]{n. phr.} (W)riting, reading, and (a)rithmetic, the three basic skills of an elementary education. •/Barry has completed the three R’s, but otherwise he has had little formal education./

[the ticket]{n.} Exactly what is needed. – Often used with «just». •/This airtight locker is just the ticket for storing your winter clothes./

[the tracks]{n.} The line between the rich or fashionable part of town and the poor or unfashionable part of town. •/The poor children knew they would not be welcome on the other side of the tracks./ •/Mary’s mother did not want her to date Jack, because he came from across the tracks./ – Often used in the expression «the wrong side of the tracks». •/The mayor was born on the wrong side of the tracks, but he worked hard and became successful./

[the whole way] See: ALL THE WAY.

[the wiser]{adj.} Knowing about something which might be embarrassing of knowing. – Usually used with «nobody» or «no one». •/Mary took the teacher’s book home by mistake, but early the next morning she returned it with nobody the wiser./

[the works]{n. plural}, {slang} 1. Everything that can be had or that you have; everything of this kind, all that goes with it. •/When the tramp found $100, he went into a fine restaurant and ordered the works with a steak dinner./ 1b. See: SHOOT THE WORKS. 2. Rough handling or treatment; a bad beating or scolding; killing; murder. – Usually used with «get» or «give». •/The boy said that Joe was going to get the works if he ever came back to that neighborhood again./ •/The newspaper gave the police department the works when they let the burglars get away./ •/The gangster told his friend he would give him the works if he double-crossed him./ Compare: THE BUSINESS.

[they] See: LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY.

[thick] See: BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER, LAY IT ON or LAY IT ON THICK, THROUGH THICK AND THIN.

[thicker] See: BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER.

[thin] See: INTO THIN AIR, OUT OF THIN AIR, SIT ON THIN ICE, SPREAD ONESELF TOO THIN, THROUGH THICK AND THIN, WEAR THIN.

[thing] See: A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS A DANGEROUS THING, DO ONE’S THING or DO ONE’S OWN THING, FIRST THINGS COME FIRST, FOR ONE THING, SEE THINGS, SURE THING, TAKE IT EASY or TAKE THINGS EASY, TELL A THING OR TWO.

[thing or two]{n. phr.}, {informal} 1. Facts not generally known, or not known to the hearer or reader; unusual or important information. •/Mary told Joan a thing or two about Betty’s real feelings./ 2. A lot; much. •/Bob knows a thing or two about sailing./ Compare: TELL A THING OR TWO.

[Things are looking up!] Informal way to say that conditions are improving. •/Things are looking up at our university as the governor promised a 5% salary raise./

[think] See: COME TO THINK OF IT.

[think a great deal of] or [think a lot of] also [think much of]{v. phr.} To consider to be very worthy, valuable, or important; to esteem highly. •/Mary thinks a great deal of Tim./ •/The teacher thought a lot of Joe’s project./ – The phrase «think much of» is usually used in negative sentences. •/Father didn’t think much of Paul’s idea of buying a goat to save lawn mowing./ Contrast: THINK LITTLE OF.

[think a lot of] See: THINK A GREAT DEAL OF.

[think aloud] or [think out loud]{v.} To say what you are thinking. •/«I wish I had more money for Christmas presents,» Father thought aloud. «What did you say?» said Mother. Father answered, «I’m sorry. I wasn’t talking to you. I was thinking out loud.»/

[think better of]{v.} To change your mind about; to consider again and make a better decision about. •/John told his mother he wanted to leave school, but later he thought better of it./ Compare: SECOND THOUGHT, THINK TWICE.

[Think big!]{v. phr.}, {informal} To believe in one’s ability, purpose, or power to perform or succeed. •/Be confident; be positive; tell yourself you are the greatest; above all, think big!/

[think fit] See: FIT.

[thinking cap] See: PUT ON ONE’S THINKING CAP.

[think little of]{v. phr.} Think that (something or someone) is not important or valuable. •/John thought little of Ted’s plan for the party./ •/Joan thought little of walking two miles to school./ Contrast: THINK A GREAT DEAL OF.

[think much of] See: THINK A GREAT DEAL OF.

[think nothing of]{v. phr.} To think or consider easy, simple, or usual. •/Jim thinks nothing of hiking ten miles in one day./

[think nothing of it]{v. phr.}, {informal} Used as a courteous phrase in replying to thanks. /"Thank you very much for your help." «Think nothing of it.»/ Compare: YOU’RE WELCOME.

[think on one’s feet]{v. phr.} To think quickly; answer or act without waiting; know what to do or say right away. •/A good basketball player can think on his feet./ •/Our teacher can think on his feet; he always has an answer ready when we ask him questions./

[think out]{v.} 1. To find out or discover by thinking; study and understand. •/Andy thought out a way of climbing to the top of the pole./ Compare FIGURE OUT, WORK OUT. 2. To think through to the end; to understand what would come at last. •/Bill wanted to quit school, but he thought out the matter and decided not to./

[think out loud] See: THINK ALOUD.

[think over]{v.} To think carefully about; consider; study. •/When Charles asked Betty to marry him, she asked him for time to think it over./ •/Think over what we studied in history this year and write a lesson on the thing that interested you most./ Compare: MAKE UP ONE’S MIND, SEE ABOUT.

[think piece]{n.}, {slang} 1. The human brain. •/Lou’s got one powerful think piece, man./ 2. Any provocative essay or article that, by stating a strong opinion, arouses the reader to think about it and react to it by agreeing or disagreeing. •/That article by Charles Fenyvesi on Vietnamese refugees in the Washington Post sure was a think piece!/

[think tank]{n.} A company of researchers who spend their time developing ideas and concepts. •/The government hired a think tank to study the country’s need for coins, and was advised to stop making pennies./

[think twice]{v.} To think again carefully; reconsider; hesitate. •/The teacher advised Lou to think twice before deciding to quit school./ Compare: THINK BETTER OF.

[think up]{v.} To invent or discover by thinking; have a new idea of. •/Mary thought up a funny game for the children to play./

[third base]{n.} The base to be touched third in baseball. •/He reached third base standing up on a long triple./

[third class]{n.} 1. The third best or highest group; the class next after the second class. •/Mary won the pie-making contest in the third class, for the youngest girls./ 2. Mail that is printed, other than magazines and newspapers that are published regularly, and packages that are not sealed and weigh less than a pound. •/The company uses third class to mail free samples of soap./ 3. The least expensive class of travel. •/I couldn’t afford anything better than the third class on the ship coming home from France./ Compare: FIRST CLASS, SECOND CLASS.

[third-class(1)]{adj.} Belonging to the third class; of the third highest or best class. •/Much advertising is sent by third-class mall./ •/I bought a third-class airline ticket to Hawaii./

[third-class(2)]{adv.} By third class. •/How did you send the package? Third class./ •/We traveled third-class on the train./

[third degree]{n. phr.} A method of severe grilling used to extract information from an arrested suspect. •/«Why give me the third degree?» he asked indignantly. «All I did was come home late because I had a drink with my friends.»/

[third sex]{n.}, {euphemism}, {slang}, {informal} Homosexual individuals who are either men or women. •/Billy is rumored to belong to the third sex./

[third world]{n.} 1. The countries not aligned with either the former U.S.S.R.-dominated Communist bloc or the U.S.A.-dominated capitalist countries. •/New Zealand made a move toward third country status when it disallowed American nuclear submarines in its harbors./ 2. The developing nations of the world where the industrial revolution has not yet been completed. •/Africa and the rest of the third world must be freed from starvation and illiteracy./

[this] See: OUT OF THIS WORLD.

[this and that] also [this, that, and the other]{n. phr.} Various things; different things; miscellaneous things. •/When the old friends met they would talk about this and that./ •/The quilt was made of this, that, and the other./

[this, that, and the other] See: THIS AND THAT.

[this is how the cookie crumbles] or [that’s how the cookie crumbles]{v. phr.}, {informal} That’s how things are; that’s life. •/It’s too bad about John and Mary getting divorced, but then that’s how the cookie crumbles./

[thither] See: HITHER AND THITHER.

[thorn in the flesh] or [thorn in one’s side]{n. phr.} Something that causes stubborn trouble; a constant bother; a vexation. •/The new voter organization soon became the biggest thorn in the senator’s side./ •/The guerrilla band was a thorn in the flesh of the invaders./

[though] See: AS IF or AS THOUGH.

[thought] See: FOOD FOR THOUGHT, PENNY FOR ONE’S THOUGHTS, PERISH THE THOUGHT, SECOND THOUGHT.

[thousand] See: BY THE DOZEN or BY THE THOUSAND.

[thrash out]{v. phr.} To discuss fully; confer about something until a decision is reached. •/They met to thrash out their differences concerning how to run the office./

[thread] See: HANG BY A THREAD.

[threat] See: TRIPLE THREAT.

[three-ring circus]{n.} A scene of much confusion or activity. •/The street was a three-ring circus of cars, people, noise, and lights./ •/It is a three-ring circus to watch that silly dog play./

[three sheets in the wind] or [three sheets to the wind]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Unsteady from too much liquor; drunk. •/The sailor came down the street, three sheets in the wind./

[thrill one to death] or [pieces] See: TICKLE PINK.

[throat] See: CUT ONE’S THROAT, FLY AT ONE’S THROAT, JUMP DOWN ONE’S THROAT, LUMP IN ONE’S THROAT, RAM DOWN ONE’S THROAT and SHOVE DOWN ONE’S THROAT.

[through a hoop] See: JUMP THROUGH A HOOP.

[through and through]{adv.} Completely; entirely; whole-heartedly. •/Bob was a ball player through and through./ •/Mary was hurt through and through by Betty’s remarks./ Compare: OUT-AND-OUT.

[through hell and high water] See: HELL AND HIGH WATER.

[through one’s hat] See: TALK THROUGH ONE’S HAT.

[through one’s head] See: GET THROUGH ONE’S HEAD.

[through one’s mind] See: CROSS ONE’S MIND or PASS THROUGH ONE’S MIND.

[through one’s paces] See: PUT THROUGH ONE’S PACES.

[through street]{n.} 1. A street on which cars can move without stopping at intersections, but cars on streets crossing it have to stop at the intersection. •/You have to be especially careful crossing a through street./ •/Mr. Jones stopped his car when he came to the through street. He waited until there were no cars on it, and drove across it./ Contrast: STOP STREET. 2. A street that is open to other streets at both ends; a street that has a passage through it, so that it is not necessary to come back to get out of it. •/We thought we could get through to Main St. by going up a side street but there was a sign that said «Not a through street.»/

[through the mill]{adv. phr.} 1. Experienced. •/You could tell immediately that the new employee had been through the mill./ 2. Through real experience of the difficulties of a certain way of life. •/Poor Jerry has had three operations in one year, and now he’s back in the hospital. He’s realty gone through the mill./ Compare: GO THROUGH HELL AND HIGH WATER, COME HELL OR HIGH WATER.