Текст книги "Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц"

Автор книги: Adam Makkai

Соавторы: Maya Glinberg
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[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./