his job and left town./ 3. To build in a hurry. * /The contractor threw up some temporary sheds to hold the new equipment./ 4. To mention often as an insult. * /His father threw up John's wastefulness to him./ [throw up one's hands] {v. phr.} To give up trying; admit that you cannot succeed. * /Mrs. Jones threw up her hands when the children messed up the living room for the third time./ * /When Mary saw the number of dishes to be washed, she threw up her hands in dismay./ [throw up one's hands in horror] {v. phr.} To be horrified; feel alarmed; give up hope of straightening things out; be shocked by something terrible. * /When Mrs. Brown saw the mess the children were making in her living room, she threw up her hands in horror./ * /Everybody threw up their hands in horror at the destruction caused by the hurricane./ [throw up the sponge] See: THROW IN THE SPONGE. [thumb] See: ALL THUMBS, GREEN THUMB, TURN THUMBS DOWN, TWIDDLE ONE'S THUMBS, UNDER ONE'S THUMB or UNDER THE THUMB OF. [thumb a ride] {v. phr.}, {informal} To get a ride by hitchhiking; hitchhike. * /Not having much money, Carl decided to thumb a ride to New York./ [thumb one's nose] {v. phr.} 1. To hold one's open hand in front of one's face with one's thumb pointed at one's nose as a sign of scorn or dislike. * /After Bob ran into the house he thumbed his nose at Tom through the window./ 2. {informal} To look with disfavor or dislike; regard with scorn; refuse to obey. - Used with "at". * /Betty thumbed her nose at her mother's command to stay home./ * /Mary thumbed her nose at convention by wearing odd clothes./ Compare: LOOK DOWN ON. [thumb through] {v. phr.} To examine superficially; read cursorily. * /I have read "War and Peace" but Fran has only thumbed through it./ [thunder] See: BLOOD AND THUNDER, STEAL ONE'S THUNDER. [thus and so] also [thus and thus] {adv. phr.} In a particular way; according to directions that have been given. * /The teacher is very fussy about the way you write your report. If you don't do it thus and so, she gives you a lower mark./ [thus far] See: SO FAR. [ticket] See: SPLIT TICKET, STRAIGHT TICKET, THE TICKET, WALKING PAPERS also WALKING TICKET. [tickle pink] {v. phr.}, {informal} To please very much; thrill; delight. Usually used in the passive participle. * /Nancy was tickled pink with her new dress./ [tickle to death] See: TO DEATH. [tick off] {v.} 1. To mention one after the other; list. * /The teacher ticked off the assignments that Jane had to do./ 2. To scold; rebuke. * /The boss ticked off the waitress for dropping her tray./ 3. To anger or upset. - Usually used as ticked off. * /She was ticked off at him for breaking their dinner date again./ [tide] See: TURN THE TIDE. [tide over] {v.} To carry past a difficulty or danger; help in bad times or in trouble. * /He was out of work last winter but he had saved enough money to tide him over until spring./ * /An ice cream cone in the afternoon tided her over until supper./ Compare: SEE THROUGH. [tide turn] See: TURN THE TIDE. [tidy sum] {n. phr.} A large amount of money. * /The Smith's big new home cost them a tidy sum./ Compare: PRETTY PENNY. [tie] See: FIT TO BE TIED. [tie down] {v.} To keep (someone) from going somewhere or doing something; prevent from leaving; keep in. * /Mrs. Brown can't come to the party. She's tied down at home with the children sick./ * /The navy tied the enemy down with big gunfire while the marines landed on the beach./ * /I can't help you with history now! I'm tied down with these algebra problems./ [tied to one's mother's apron strings] Not independent of your mother; not able to do anything without asking your mother. * /Even after he grew up he was still tied to his mother's apron strings./ [tie in] {v.} To connect with something else; make a connection for. - Often used with "with". * /The teacher tied in what she said with last week's lesson./ * /The English teacher sometimes gives compositions that tie in with things we are studying in other classes./ * /The detectives tied in the fingerprints on the man's gun with those found on the safe, so they knew that he was the thief./ [tie-in] {n.} A connection; a point of meeting. * /John's essay on World War II provides a perfect tie-in with his earlier work on World War I./ [tie in knots] {v. phr.} To make (someone) very nervous or worried. * /The thought of having her tooth pulled tied Joan in knots./ * /The little boy's experience with the kidnapper tied him in knots and it was hard for him to sleep well for a long time./ [tie into] See: LACE INTO. [tie one's hands] {v. phr.} To make (a person) unable to do anything. - Usually used in the passive. * /Since Mary would not tell her mother what was bothering her, her mother's hands were tied./ * /Charles wanted to help John get elected president of the class, but his promise to another boy tied his hands./ * /Father hoped Jim would not quit school, but his hands were tied; Jim was old enough to quit if he wanted to./ [tie the knot] {v. phr.}, {informal} To get married; also to perform a wedding ceremony. * /Diane and Bill tied the knot yesterday./ * /The minister tied the knot for Diane and Bill yesterday./ [tie up] {v. phr.} 1. To show or stop the movement or action of; hinder; tangle. * /The crash of the two trucks tied up all traffic in the center of town./ * /The strike tied up the factory./ 2. To take all the time of. * /The meeting will tie the President up until noon./ * /The Senate didn't vote because a debate on a small point kept it tied up all week./ * /He can't see you now. He's tied up on the telephone./ 3. To limit or prevent the use of. * /His money is tied up in a trust fund and he can't take it out./ * /Susan tied up the bathroom for an hour./ 4. To enter into an association or partnership; join. * /Our company has tied up with another firm to support the show./ 5. To dock. * /The ships tied up at New York./ 6. {slang} To finish; complete. * /We've talked long enough; let's tie up these plans and start doing things./ [tie-up] {n.} A congestion; a stoppage of the normal flow of traffic, business or correspondence. * /There was a two-hour traffic tie-up on the highway./ * /No pay checks were delivered because of the mail service tie-up./ [tight] See: SIT TIGHT. [tight end] {n.} An end in football who plays close to the tackle in the line. * /The tight end is used to catch passes but most often to block./ Contrast: SPLIT END. [tighten one's belt] {v. phr.} To live on less money than usual; use less food and other things. * /When father lost his job we had to tighten our belts./ Often used in the expression "tighten one's belt another notch". * /When the husband lost his job, the Smiths had to do without many things, but when their savings were all spent, they had to tighten their belts another notch./ [tighten the screws] {v. phr.} To try to make someone do something by making it more and more difficult not to do it; apply pressure. * /When many students still missed class after he began giving daily quizzes, the teacher tightened the screws by failing anyone absent four times./ [tight-lipped] {adj.} A taciturn person; one who doesn't say much. * /The witness was tight-lipped about what she saw for fear of physical retaliation by the mob./ [tight money] {n. phr.} The opposite of inflation, when money is hard to borrow from the banks. * /The government decided that tight money is the way to bring down inflation./ [tight squeeze] {n. phr.} A difficult situation; financial troubles. * /The Browns aren't going out to dinner these days; they are in a tight squeeze./ [tightwad] {n. phr.} A stingy person. * /My father is such a tightwad that he won't give me an allowance./ [Tijuana taxi] {., {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon} A police car. * /I've got a Tijuana taxi in sight./ [till] See: ROB THE TILL or HAVE ONE'S HAND IN THE TILL. [till the cows come home] {adv. phr.} Until sunset; until the last. * /The women in the country used to sit in the spinning room making yarn out of skeins of wool, usually till the cows came home./ [till the last gun is fired] or [until the last gun is fired] {adv. phr.} Until the end; until everything is finished or decided. * /Fred always liked to stay at parties until the last gun was fired./ * /The candidate didn't give up hope of being elected until the last gun was fired./ [tilt] See: FULL TILT. [tilt at windmills] {v. phr.}, {literary} To do battle with an imaginary foe (after Cervantes' Don Quixote). * /John is a nice guy but when it comes to departmental meetings he wastes everybody's time by constantly tilting at windmills./ [time] See: ABOUT TIME, AGAINST TIME, AT A TIME, AT ONE TIME, AT THE SAME TIME, AT TIMES, BEHIND THE TIMES, BEHIND TIME, BIDE ONE'S TIME, BIG TIME, EVERY TIME ONE TURNS AROUND, FOR THE TIME BEING, FROM TIME TO TIME, GIVE A HARD TIME, HAVE A TIME, HIGH TIME, IN GOOD TIME, IN NO TIME, IN THE NICK OF TIME, IN TIME, KEEP TIME, LESS THAN NO TIME, LIVE ON BORROWED TIME, MAKE TIME, MARK TIME, ONCE UPON A TIME, ON ONE'S OWN TIME, ON TIME, PASS THE TIME OF DAY, SMALL-TIME, TAKE ONE'S TIME, TWO-TIME. [time and again] or [time and time again] {adv.} Many times; repeatedly; very often, * /I've told you time and again not to touch the vase!/ * /Children are forgetful and must be told time and time again how to behave./ [time and a half] {n. phr.} Pay given to a worker at a rate half again as much as he usually gets. * /John got time and a half when he worked beyond his usual quitting time./ * /Tom gets one dollar for regular pay and a dollar and a half for time and a half./ [time is ripe] The best time has come for doing something. * /The Prime Minister will hold elections when the time is ripe./ * /Lee saw his mother was upset, so he decided the time was not ripe to tell her about the broken window./ [time of day] See: NOT TO GIVE ONE THE TIME OF DAY. [time off] {n. phr.} A period of release from work. * /If I had some time off this afternoon, I would finish writing the letters I promised to my family./ [time of one's life] {n. phr.} A very happy or wonderful time. * /John had the time of his life at the party./ * /I could see that she was having the time of her life./ [time out] {n. phr.} Time during which a game, a lecture, a discussion or other activity is stopped for a while for some extra questions or informal discussion, or some other reason. * /He took a time out from studying to go to a movie./ * /The player called time out so he could tie his shoe./ * /"Time out!" - The students said, "Could you explain that again?"/ [tin ear] {n. phr.} 1. A lack of sensitivity to noise. * /The construction noise doesn't bother Fred; he's got a tin ear./ 2. A lack of musical ability; state of being tone deaf. * /People with a tin ear make poor choir members./ [tingle] See: SPINE-TINGLING. [tinker's damn] See: NOT WORTH A TINKER'S DAMN. [Tin Pan Alley] {n. phr.} The pop music industry. * /What kind of music will Tin Pan Alley come up with this year?/ [tip] See: AT THE TIP OF ONE'S TONGUE, FROM TIP TO TIP. [tip off] {v.}, {informal} To tell something not generally known; tell secret facts to; warn. * /The class president tipped off the class that it was the superintendent's birthday./ * /The thieves did not rob the bank as planned because someone tipped them off that it was being watched by the police./ Compare: PUT WISE. [tip the balance] See: TIP THE SCALES(2). [tip the scales] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To weigh. * /Martin tips the scales at 180 pounds./ 2. or [tip the balance] To have important or decisive influence; make a decision go for or against you; decide. * /John's vote tipped the scales in our favor, and we won the election./ Compare: TURN THE TIDE. [tired] See: DEAD TIRED, SICK AND TIRED. [tire out] See: WEAR OUT(2). [tit for tat] {n. phr.} Equal treatment in return; a fair exchange. * /Billy hit me, so I gave him tit for tat./ * /I told him if he did me any harm I would return tit for tat./ * /They had a warm debate and the two boys gave each other tit for tat./ Compare: GET BACK AT, EYE FOR AN EYE AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH. [to a conclusion] See: JUMP TO A CONCLUSION. [to a crisp] See: BURN TO A CRISP. [to a degree] {adv. phr.} 1. {Chiefly British} Very; to a large extent. * /In some things I am ignorant to a degree./ 2. Somewhat; slightly; in a small way; rather. * /His anger was, to a degree, a confession of defeat./ * /To a degree, Mary was to blame for Bob's failing mathematics, because he spent much time with her when he should have been studying./ [to advantage] {adv. phr.} So as to bring out the good qualities of; favorably; in a flattering way. * /The jeweler's window showed the diamonds to advantage./ * /The green dress showed up to advantage with her red hair./ [to a fault] {adv. phr.} So very well that it is in a way bad; to the point of being rather foolish; too well; too much. * /Aunt May wants everything in her house to be exactly right; she is neat to a fault./ * /Mary acts her part to a fault./ * /John carries thoroughness to a fault; he spends many hours writing his reports./ [to a halt] See: GRIND TO A HALT. [to a large extent] See: IN GREAT MEASURE. [to all intents and purposes] {adv. phr.} In most ways; in fact. * /The president is called the head of state, but the prime minister, to all intents and purposes, is the chief executive./ [to a man] {adv. phr.} Without exception; with all agreeing. * /The workers voted to a man to go on strike./ * /To a man John's friends stood by him in his trouble./ Compare: EVERY LAST MAN. [to and fro] {adv. phr.} Forward and back again and again. * /Father pushed Judy in the swing, and she went to and fro./ * /Busses go to and fro between the center of the city and the city limits/ * /The man walked to and fro while he waited for his phone call./ Compare: BACK AND FORTH. [to another tune] See: DANCE TO ANOTHER TUNE. [to a T] or [to a turn] {adv. phr.} Just right; to perfection; exactly. * /The roast was done to a turn./ * /His nickname, Tiny, suited him to a T./ Compare: TO THE LETTER. [to bat] See: GO TO BAT FOR. [to bay] See: BRING TO BAY. [to-be] {adj.} That is going to be; about to become. - Used after the noun it modifies. * /Bob kissed his bride-to-be./ * /The principal of the high school greeted the high school students-to-be on their last day in junior high./ [to bed] See: PUT TO BED, PUT TO BED WITH A SHOVEL. [to be on the safe side] {adv. phr.} To take extra precautions; reduce or eliminate the possibility of a mistake, an error, or even danger. * /Dad always keeps his valuables in a bank's safe deposit box, just to be on the safe side./ Compare: JUST IN CASE. [to be sure] {adv. phr.} Without a doubt; certainly; surely. * /"Didn't you say Mr. Smith would take us home?" "Oh, yes. To be sure, I did."/ - Often used before a clause beginning with "but". * /He works slowly, to be sure, but he does a good job./ * /To be sure, Jim is a fast skater, but he is not good at doing figures./ Syn.: OF COURSE. [to blame] {adj. phr.} Having done something wrong; to be blamed; responsible. * /John was to blame for the broken window./ * /The teacher tried to find out who was to blame in the fight./ [to boot] {adv. phr.} In addition; besides; as something extra. * /He not only got fifty dollars, but they bought him dinner to boot./ Compare: FOR GOOD MEASURE, IN THE BARGAIN, THROW IN. [to date] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} Up to the present time; until now. * /To date twenty students have been accepted into the school./ * /The police have not found the runaway to date./ * /Jim is shoveling snow to earn money, but his earnings to date are small./ Syn.: SO FAR. [to death] {adv. phr.}, {informal} To the limit; to the greatest degree possible. - Used for emphasis with verbs such as "scare", "frighten", "bore". * /Cowboy stories bore me to death, but I like mysteries./ * /Sara is scared to death of snakes./ * /John is tickled to death with his new bike./ [to do] See: HAVE TO DO WITH. [toe] See: CURL ONE'S HAIR or CURL ONE'S TOES, ON ONE'S TOES, STEP ON THE TOES OF. [toe the line] or [toe the mark] {v. phr.} To be very careful to do just what you are supposed to do; obey the rules and do your duties. * /The new teacher will make Joe toe the line./ * /Bill's father is strict with him and he has to toe the mark./ Compare: WALK THE CHALK. [to first base] See: GET TO FIRST BASE. [together] See: GET IT ALL TOGETHER. [together with] {prep.} In addition to; in the company of; along with. * /John, together with his brother, has gone to the party./ * /The police found a knife, together with the stolen money, hidden in a hollow tree./ [to grips] See: COME TO GRIPS WITH. [to heart] See: TAKE TO HEART also LAY TO HEART. [to heel] {adj. phr.} 1. Close behind. * /The dog ran after a rabbit, but Jack brought him to heel./ 2. Under control; to obedience. * /When Peter was sixteen, he thought he could do as he pleased, but his father cut off his allowance, and Peter soon came to heel./ [to hell with] or [the hell with] {prep. phr.}, {informal} Used to express disgusted rejection of something. * /It's slop; the hell with what the cook calls it./ Compare: FED UP, GIVE A HANG. [to it] See: PUT ONE'S BACK TO IT. [to light] See: BRING TO LIGHT, COME TO LIGHT. [toll] See: TAKE ITS TOLL. [toll call] {n. phr.} A long distance telephone call for which one has to pay. * /We had several toll calls on last month's telephone bill./ [toll free] {adv. phr.} Calling an (800) telephone number with the call paid by the business whose number one has dialed. * /You can call us day and night, seven days a week, toll free./ [Tom] See: PEEPING TOM. [Tom, Dick, and Harry] {n. phr.} People in general; anyone; everyone. - Usually preceded by "every" and used to show scorn or disrespect. * /The drunk told his troubles to every Tom, Dick and Harry who passed by./ [tone down] {v.} To make softer or quieter; make less harsh or strong; moderate. * /He toned down the sound of the TV./ * /She wanted the bright colors in her house toned down./ * /When the ladies arrived, he toned down his language./ * /The strikers were asked to tone down their demands for higher pay so that there might be a quicker agreement and an end to the strike./ [tong] See: GO AT IT HAMMER AND TONGS. [tongue] See: AT THE TIP OF ONE'S TONGUE, CAT GET ONE'S TONGUE, HOLD ONE'S TONGUE, KEEP A CIVIL TONGUE IN ONE'S HEAD, SLIP OF THE TONGUE. [tongue-in-cheek] {adj. phr.} In an ironic or insincere manner. * /When the faculty complained about the poor salary increments, the university's president said that he was not a psychiatrist, thus making an inappropriate tongue-in-cheek remark./ [tongue-lashing] {n.} A sharp scolding or criticism. * /Jim's mother gave him a tongue-lashing for telling family secrets./ Syn.: PIECE OF ONE'S MIND. [tongues wag] {informal} People speak in an excited or gossipy manner; people spread rumors. * /If married women go out with other men, tongues will wag./ * /When the bank clerk showed up in an expensive new car, tongues wagged./ [tongue-tied] See: TIGHT-LIPPED. [tongue twister] {n.} A word or group of words difficult to pronounce whose meaning is irrelevant compared to the difficulty of enunciation. * /"She sells sea shells by the seashore" is a popular American tongue twister./ [to no avail] or [of no avail(1)] {adj. phr.}, {formal} Having no effect; useless, unsuccessful. * /Tom's practicing was of no avail. He was sick on the day of the game./ * /Mary's attempts to learn embroidering were to no avail./ [to no avail(2)] {adv. phr.}, {formal} Without result; unsuccessfully. * /John tried to pull the heavy cart, but to no avail./ * /Mary studied hard for the test but to no avail./ Compare: IN VAIN. [too] See: EAT ONE'S CAKE AND HAVE IT TOO. [too bad] {adj.} To be regretted; worthy of sorrow or regret; regrettable. - Used as a predicate. * /It is too bad that we are so often lazy./ * /It was too bad Bill had measles when the circus came to town./ [too big for one's breeches] or [too big for one's boots] {adj. phr.} Too sure of your own importance; feeling more important than you really are. * /That boy had grown too big for his breeches. I'll have to put him back in his place./ * /When the teacher made Bob a monitor, he got too big for his boots and she had to warn him./ [too ---- by half] {adj.} ({princ. British}) Much too; excessively. * /The heroine of the story is too nice by half; she is not believable./ [too close for comfort] {adj. phr.} Perilously near (said of bad things). * /When the sniper's bullet hit the road the journalist exclaimed, "Gosh, that was too close for comfort!"/ Compare: CLOSE CALL, CLOSE SHAVE. [too many cooks spoil the broth] or [stew] A project is likely to go bad if managed by a multiplicity of primary movers. - A proverb. * /When several people acted all at once in trying to reshape the company's investment policy, Tom spoke up and said, "Let me do this by myself! Don't you know that too many cooks spoil the broth?"/ [too many irons in the fire] See: IRONS IN THE FIRE. [to one] See: TEN TO ONE, TWO TO ONE. [to oneself(1)] {adv. phr.} 1. Silently; in the thoughts; without making a sign that others can see; secretly. * /Tom thought to himself that he could win./ * /Mary said to herself that Joan was prettier than Ann./ * /Bill laughed to himself when John fell down./ 2. Without telling others; in private; as a secret. - Used after "keep". * /Mary keeps her affairs to herself./ * /John knew the answer to the problem, but he kept it to himself./ [to oneself(2)] {adj. phr.} 1. Without company; away from others; alone; deserted. * /The boys went home and John was left to himself./ * /When Mary first moved to her new neighborhood she was very shy and kept to herself./ 2. Following one's own beliefs or wishes; not stopped by others. * /When John insisted on going, Fred left him to himself./ * /The teacher left Mary to herself to solve the problem./ [to one's face] {adv. phr.} Directly to you; in your presence. * /I told him to his face that I didn't like the idea./ * /I called him a coward to his face./ Compare: IN ONE'S FACE. Contrast: BEHIND ONE'S BACK. [to one's feet] {adv. phr.} To a standing position; up. * /After Henry had been tackled hard by four big players, he got to his feet slowly and painfully./ * /When Sally saw the bus coming, she jumped to her feet and ran out./ Compare: ON ONE'S FEET. [to one's guns] See: STICK TO ONE'S GUNS. [to one's heart's content] {adv. phr.} To the extent of one's wishes; one's complete satisfaction. * /There is a wonderful small restaurant nearby where you can eat to your heart's content./ [to one's heels] See: TAKE TO ONE'S HEELS. [to one's name] {adv. phr.} In your ownership; of your own; as part of your belongings. * /David did not have a book to his name./ * /Ed had only one suit to his name./ [to one's ribs] See: STICK TO ONE'S RIBS. [to one's senses] See: COME TO ONE'S SENSES. [to order] {adv. phr.} According to directions given in an order in the way and size wanted. * /The manufacturer built the machine to order./ * /A very big man often has his suits made to order./ 2. See: CALL TO ORDER. [tooth] See: BY THE SKIN OF ONE'S TEETH, CUT TEETH or CUT EYETEETH, EYE FOR AN EYE AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH, FED TO THE GILLS or FED TO THE TEETH, GET ONE'S TEETH INTO or SINK ONE'S TEETH INTO, KICK IN THE PANTS or KICK IN THE TEETH, PULL ONE'S TEETH, SET ONE'S TEETH ON EDGE, TAKE THE BIT IN ONE'S TEETH, THROW SOMETHING IN ONE'S FACE or THROW SOMETHING IN ONE'S TEETH. [tooth and nail] See: HAMMER AND TONGS. [tooth and nail] {adv. phr.} With all weapons or ways of fighting as hard as possible; fiercely. - Used after "fight" or a similar word. * /When the Indian girl was captured, she fought tooth and nail to get away./ * /The farmers fought tooth and nail to save their crops from the grasshoppers./ * /His friends fought tooth and nail to elect him to Congress./ [toot one's own horn] See: BLOW ONE'S OWN HORN. [top] See: AT THE TOP OF ONE'S VOICE, BIG TOP, BLOW A FUSE or BLOW ONE'S TOP, HARD-TOP, OFF THE TOP OF ONE'S HEAD, ON TOP, ON TOP OF, ON TOP OF THE WORLD, OVER THE TOP. [top banana] or [top dog] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} The head of any business or organization; the most influential or most prestigious person in an establishment. * /Who's the top banana in this outfit?/ See: MAIN SQUEEZE. [to pass] See: COME TO PASS. [top-drawer] {adj.}, {informal} Of the best; or most important kind. * /Mary's art work was top-drawer material./ * /Mr. Rogers is a top-drawer executive and gets a very high salary./ [topflight] or [topnotch] See: TOP DRAWER. [to pieces] {adv. phr.} 1. Into broken pieces or fragments; destroyed. * /The cannon shot the town to pieces./ * /The vase fell to pieces in Mary's hand./ 2. {informal} So as not to work; into a state of not operating. * /After 100,000 miles the car went to pieces./ * /When Mary heard of her mother's death, she went to pieces./ 3. {informal} Very much; greatly; exceedingly. * /Joan was thrilled to pieces to see Mary./ * /The noise scared Bob to pieces./ 4. See: PICK APART. [top off] {v.} To come or bring to a special or unexpected ending; climax. * /John batted three runs and topped off the game with a home run./ * /Mary hadn't finished her homework, she was late to school, and to top it all off she missed a surprise test./ * /George had steak for dinner and topped it off with a fudge sundae./ [to put It mildly] See: TO SAY THE LEAST. [torch] See: CARRY A TORCH. [to reason] See: STAND TO REASON. [to rest] See: LAY TO REST. [to rights] See: PUT TO RIGHTS or SET TO RIGHTS. [to Rome] See: ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME. [to say nothing of] See: NOT TO MENTION. [to say the least] {v. phr.} To understate; express as mildly as possible. * /After all we did for him, his behavior toward us, to say the least, was a poor way to show his appreciation./ [to scale] {adv. phr.} In the same proportions as in the true size; in the same shape, but not the same size. * /The statue was made to scale, one inch to a foot./ * /He drew the map to scale, making one inch represent fifty miles./ [to sea] See: PUT TO SEA. [to shame] See: PUT TO SHAME. [to size] See: CUT DOWN TO SIZE. [to speak of] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Important; worth talking about; worth noticing. - Usually used in negative sentences. * /Did it rain yesterday? Not to speak of./ * /What happened at the meeting? Nothing to speak of./ * /Judy's injuries were nothing to speak of; just a few scratches./ Compare: NOT TO MENTION. [to spite one's face] See: CUT OFF ONE'S NOSE TO SPITE ONE'S FACE. [toss off] {v. phr.} 1. To drink rapidly; drain. * /He tossed off two drinks and left./ 2. To make or say easily without trying or thinking hard. * /She tossed off smart remarks all during dinner./ * /He thinks a reporter should be able to toss off an article every few hours./ [toss one to the sharks] See: THROW ONE TO THE WOLVES. [toss out] See: THROW OUT. [total] See: SUM TOTAL. [to task] See: TAKE TO TASK. [to terms] See: BRING TO TERMS, COME TO TERMS. [to that effect] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} With that meaning. * /She said she hated spinach, or words to that effect./ * /When I leave, I will write you to that effect so you will know./ [to the best of one's knowledge] As far as you know; to the extent of your knowledge. * /He has never won a game, to the best of my knowledge./ * /To the best of my knowledge he is a college man, but I may be mistaken./ [to the bitter end] {adv. phr.} To the point of completion or conclusion. - Used especially of a very painful or unpleasant task or experience. * /Although Mrs. Smith was bored by the lecture, she stayed to the bitter end./ * /They knew the war would be lost, but the men fought to the bitter end./ [to the bone] {adv.}, {slang}, {informal} Thoroughly, entirely, to the core, through all layers. * /I am dreadfully tired; I've worked my fingers to the bone./ See: ALSO WORK ONE'S FINGERS TO THE BONE. [to the bottom] See: GET TO THE BOTTOM OF. [to the contrary] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} With an opposite result or effect; just the opposite; in disagreement; saying the opposite. * /Although Bill was going to the movies, he told Joe to the contrary./ * /We will expect you for dinner unless we get word to the contrary./ * /School gossip to the contrary, Mary is not engaged to be married./ Compare: ON THE CONTRARY. [to the effect that] {adj. phr.} With the meaning or purpose; to say that. * /He made a speech to the effect that we would all keep our jobs even if the factory were sold./ * /The new governor would do his best in the office to which he had been elected./ [to the eye] {adv. phr.} As it is seen; as a person or thing first seems; apparently. * /That girl looks to the eye like a nice girl to know, but she is really rather mean./ * /That suit appears to the eye to be a good buy, but it may not be./ Compare: AT FIRST GLANCE. [to the fore] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} Into leadership; out into notice or view; forward. * /The hidden skill of the lawyer came to the fore during the trial./ * /In the progress of the war some new leaders came to the fore./ [to the full] {adv. phr.} Very much; fully. * /The campers enjoyed their trip to the full./ * /We appreciated to the full the teacher's help./ Compare: TO THE HILT. [to the gallery] See: PLAY TO THE GALLERY. [to the good] {adv. phr.} On the side of profit or advantage; in one's favor; to one's benefit; ahead. * /After I sold my stamp collection, I was ten dollars to the good./ * /The teacher did not see him come in late, which was all to the good./ [to the grindstone] See: KEEP ONE'S NOSE TO THE GRINDSTONE. [to the heart] See: GET TO THE HEART OF. [to the hilt] or [up to the hilt] {adv. phr.} To the limit; as far as possible; completely. * /The other boys on the team told Tom he couldn't quit. They said, "You're in this to the hilt."/ * /The Smith's house is mortgaged up to the hilt./ Compare: HEART AND SOUL, TO THE FULL, UP TO THE --- IN. [to the kings taste] or [to the queen's taste] {adv. phr.} Perfectly; just as anyone could want it; very satisfactorily. * /The rooms in her new home were painted and decorated to the queen's taste./ * /The soldiers dressed and marched to the king's taste./ [to the letter] {adv. phr.} With nothing done wrong or left undone; exactly; precisely. * /He carried out his orders to the letter./ * /When writing a test you should follow the instructions to the letter./ Compare: TO A T. [to the manner born] {adj. phr.} At ease with something because of lifelong familiarity with it. * /She says her English is the best because she is to the manner born./ [to the nth degree] {adv. phr.} To the greatest degree possible; extremely; very much so. * /Scales must be accurate to the nth degree./ * /His choice of words was exactly to the nth degree./ [to the point] See: COME TO THE POINT. [to the punch] See: BEAT TO THE PUNCH. [to the ribs] See: STICK TO ONE'S RIBS or STICK TO THE RIBS. [to the salt mines] See: BACK TO THE SALT MINES. [to the stump] See: TAKE THE STUMP or TAKE TO THE STUMP. [to the sword] See: PUT TO THE SWORD. [to the tune of] {adv. phr.}, {informal} To the amount or extent of; in the amount of. * /He had to pay to the tune of fifty dollars for seeing how fast the car would go./ * /When she left the race track she had profited to the tune of ten dollars./ [to the wall] {adv. phr.} Into a place from which there is no escape; into a trap or corner. - Usually used after "drive" or a similar word. * /John's failing the last test drove him to the wall./ * /The score was 12-12 in the last minute of play, but a touchdown forced the visitors to the wall./ * /Bill had to sell his five Great Danes. The high cost of feeding them was driving him to the wall./ [to the wolves] See: THROW TO THE WOLVES. [to the woods] See: TAKE TO THE WOODS. [to the world] See: DEAD TO THE WORLD. [to think of it] See: COME TO THINK OF IT. [toto] See: IN TOTO. [touch] See: COMMON TOUCH, IN TOUCH, LOSE TOUCH, OUT OF TOUCH, [touch and go] {adj. phr.} Very dangerous or uncertain in situation. * /Our team won the game, all right, but it was touch and go for a while./ * /At one time while they were climbing the cliff it was touch and go whether they could do it./ [touch base with] {v. phr.} To confer or consult with one. * /Before we make a decision, I'd like to touch base with our financial department./ [touch bottom] See: HIT BOTTOM. [touch off] {v.} 1. To cause to fire or explode by lighting the priming or the fuse. * /The boy touched off a firecracker./ Compare: SET OFF. 2. To start something as if by lighting a fuse. * /The coach's resignation touched off a quarrel./ Compare: SET OFF. [touch on] or [touch upon] {v.} To speak of or write of briefly. * /The speaker touched on several other subjects in the course of his talk but mostly kept himself to the main topic./ Contrast: DWELL ON. [touch to the quick] {v. phr.} To hurt someone's feelings very deeply; offend. * /His remark about her lack of education touched her to the quick./ [touchup] {n.} 1. A small repair; a small amount of paint. * /Just a small touchup here and there and your novel may be publishable./ 2. Redoing the color of one's hair. * /My roots are showing; I need a touchup./ [touch up] {v.} 1. To paint over (small imperfections.) * /I want to touch up that scratch on the fender./ * /The woodwork is done, but there are a few places he has to touch up./ 2. To improve with small additions or changes. * /He touched up the photographic negative to make a sharper print./ * /It's a good speech, but it needs a little touching up./ 3. {slang} To talk into lending; wheedle from. * /He touched George up for five bucks./ [tough act to follow] {n. phr.} A speech, performance, or activity of such superior quality that the person next in line feels and thinks that it would be very difficult to match it in quality. * /Sir Lawrence Olivier's performance of Hamlet was a tough act to follow in every sense./ [tough break] See: TOUGH LUCK, TOUGH SHIT. [tough cat] {n.}, {slang} A man who is very individualistic and, as a result, highly successful with women. * /Joe is a real tough cat, man./ [tough cookie] {n. phr.} An extremely determined, hardheaded person, or someone with whom it is unusually difficult to deal. * /Marjorie is a very pretty girl, but when it comes to business she sure is one tough cookie./ [tough it out] {v. phr.} To live through and endure a trying situation. * /The tourists got lost in the desert without a compass, and they had to tough it out for three days on a single bottle of water./ [tough luck] {n. phr.} An informal way to say that one had that coming; it serves one right. * /So your date didn't show up, eh? Tough luck, fellow./ [tough nut to crack] See: HARD NUT TO CRACK. [tough row to hoe] See: HARD ROW TO HOE. [tough shit] {n. phr.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} See: HARD CHEESE, TOUGH LUCK. [tough sledding] See: HARD SLEDDING. [tourist trap] See: CLIP JOINT. [to use] See: PUT TO USE. [tow] See: IN TOW. [towel] See: THROW IN THE SPONGE or THROW IN THE TOWEL. [tower of strength] {n. phr.} Someone who is strong, helpful, and sympathetic, and can always be relied on in times of trouble. * /John was a veritable tower of strength to our family while my father was in the war and my mother lay ill in the hospital./ [town] See: GO TO TOWN, ON THE TOWN, PAINT THE TOWN RED. [town and gown] {n.} The residents of a college town and the students and teachers of the college. * /The senator made a speech attended by both town and gown./ * /There were fights between town and gown./ [toy with an] or [the idea] {v. phr.} To consider an idea or an offer periodically without coming to a decision. * /He was toying with the idea of accepting the company's offer of the vice presidency in Tokyo, but he was unable to decide./ [to your hat] See: HANG ON TO YOUR HAT or HOLD ON TO YOUR HAT. [trace] See: KICK OVER THE TRACES also JUMP THE TRACES. [track] See: COVER ONE'S TRACKS, IN ONE'S TRACKS, INSIDE TRACK, JUMP THE TRACK, KEEP TRACK, LOSE TRACK, MAKE TRACKS, OFF THE BEATEN TRACK, ON THE TRACK OF, THE TRACKS. [track down] {v.} To find by or as if by following tracks or a trail. * /The hunters tracked down game in the forest./ * /She spent weeks in the library tracking the reference down in all their hooks on the subject./ Compare: HUNT DOWN. [trade] See: CARRIAGE TRADE, HORSE TRADE, TRICKS OF THE TRADE. [trade in] {v.} To give something to a seller as part payment for another thing of greater value. * /The Browns traded their old car in on a new one./ Syn.: TURN IN(3). [trade-in] {n.} Something given as part payment on something better. * /The dealer took our old car as a trade-in./ - Often used like an adjective. * /We cleaned up the car at trade-in time./ [trade on] {v.} To use as a way of helping yourself. * /The coach traded on the pitcher's weakness for left-handed batters by using all his southpaws./ * /The senator's son traded on his father's name when he ran for mayor./ [trading stamp] {n.} One of the stamps that you get (as from a store or gas station) because you buy something there; a stamp you get with a purchase and save in special books until you have enough to take to a special store and trade for something you want. * /Mother always buys things in stores where they give trading stamps./ [trail] See: BLAZE A TRAIL, ON THE TRACK OF or ON THE TRAIL OF. [trail-blazer] See: BLAZE A TRAIL. [trap] See: MIND LIKE A STEEL TRAP, SAND TRAP, SPEED TRAP. [travel light] {v. phr.} To travel with very little luggage or with very little to carry. * /Plane passengers must travel light./ * /Tom and Fred traveled light on their camping trip./ [tread on the toes of] or [tread on one's toes] See: STEP ON THE TOES OF or STEP ON ONE'S TOES. [tread water] {v. phr.} To keep the head above water with the body in an upright position by moving the feet as if walking. * /He kept afloat by treading water./ [treat] See: TRICK OR TREAT. [tree] See: BARK UP THE WRONG TREE, CAN'T SEE THE WOOD FOR THE TREES, UP A TREE. [trembling] See: FEAR AND TREMBLING. [trial] See: ON TRIAL. [trial and error] {n.} A way of solving problems by trying different possible solutions until you find one that works. * /John found the short circuit by trial and error./ * /The only way Tom could solve the algebra problem was by the method of trial and error./ [trial balloon] {n.} A hint about a plan of action that is given out to find out what people will say. * /John mentioned the class presidency to Bill as a trial balloon to see if Bill might be interested in running./ * /The editorial was a trial balloon to test the public's reaction to a change in the school day./ [trice] See: IN A FLASH also IN A TRICE. [trick] See: DO THE TRICK, TURN THE TRICK.