[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. [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