t by changing the rules at school./ [stitch] See: IN STITCHES. [stock] See: IN STOCK, OUT OF STOCK, TAKE STOCK, TAKE STOCK IN. [stock-in-trade] {n. phr.} The materials which one customarily deals, sells, or offers. * /Imported silk blouses from the Orient are the stock-in-trade of their small shop./ * /Anecdotes are often an after-dinner speaker's stock-in-trade./ [stomach] See: EYES BIGGER THAN ONE'S STOMACH, BUTTERFLIES IN YOUR STOMACH, TURN ONE'S STOMACH. [stone] See: CAST THE FIRST STONE, HAVE A HEART OF STONE, KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE, LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED, PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT THROW STONES, ROLLING STONE GATHERS NO MOSS. [stone-blind] {adj. phr.} 1. Completely blind. * /Poor Al is stone-blind and needs help to get across the street carefully./ 2. Highly intoxicated. * /George drank too much and got stone-blind at the office party./ See: GET STONED, THREE SHEETS TO THE WIND. [stone-broke] or [dead broke] or [flat broke] {adj.}, {informal} Having no money; penniless. * /Jill wanted to go to the movies but she was stone-broke./ * /The man gambled and was soon flat broke./ [stone-cold] {adj.} Having no warmth; completely cold. - Used to describe things that are better when warm. * /The boys who got up late found their breakfast stone-cold./ * /The furnace went off and the radiators were stone-cold./ [stone-dead] {adj.}, {informal} Showing no signs of life; completely dead. * /Barry tried to revive the frozen robin but it was stone-dead./ [stone-deaf] {adj. phr.} Completely deaf. * /Sam is stone-deaf so let him read your lips if you know no sign language./ [stone wall] or [brick wall] {adj.} Something hard to overcome; an idea or belief that is hard to change. * /The students ran into a brick wall when they asked the principal to put off the examination./ * /Dick tried to change Father's mind about letting him use the car Saturday night, but he was up against a stone wall./ [stone's throw] or [within a stone's throw] {adv. phr.} Within a very short distance. * /They live across the street from us, just within a stone's throw./ See: HOP, SKIP AND A JUMP. [stool pigeon] {n.} A criminal who informs on his associates. * /The detective was able to solve the crime mainly through information obtained from a stool pigeon./ [stop] See: PUT AN END TO(1), or PUT A STOP TO. [stop at nothing] {v. phr.} To be unscrupulous. * /Al will stop at nothing to get Nancy to go out with him./ [stop by] See: DROP BY. [stop cold] or [stop dead] or [stop in one's tracks] {v. phr.}, {informal} To stop very quickly or with great force. * /The hunter pulled the trigger and stopped the deer cold./ * /When I saw Mary on the street, I was so surprised I stopped dead./ * /The deer heard a noise and he stopped in his tracks./ [stop off] {v.} To stop at a place for a short time while going somewhere. * /We stopped off after school at the soda fountain before going home./ * /On our trip to California we stopped off in Las Vegas for two days./ [stop over] {v.} To stay at a place overnight or for some other short time while on a trip elsewhere. * /When we came back from California, we stopped over one night near the Grand Canyon./ [stop short] {v. phr.} To suddenly stop. * /Jake stopped short when he heard somebody yell out his name loud but there was no one in sight./ [stop street] {n.} A street where cars must come to a full stop before crossing another street. * /Johnny was late because he traveled on a stop street./ Contrast: THROUGH STREET. [stop the show] {v. phr.} To elicit such a strong applause from the audience that the show is interrupted. * /Pavarotti's rendition of "O sole mio" always stops the show./ [stop up] {v. phr.} To block; close. * /If you want to get rid of the leak, you must stop up the two holes you have in the ceiling./ [store] See: DIME STORE, IN STORE, SET STORE BY, VARIETY STORE. [storm] See: TAKE BY STORM. [story] See: OLD STORY, SOB STORY, UPPER STORY. [stow away] {v.} 1. {informal} To pack or store away. * /After New Year's Day the Christmas decorations were stowed away until another season./ 2. To hide on a ship or another kind of transportation to get a free ride. * /John ran away from home and stowed away on a freighter going to Jamaica./ [straight] See: GO STRAIGHT, SHOOT STRAIGHT. [straighten out] {v.} To correct a mistake; make you realize you are wrong. * /The teacher saw Jim's awkward sentence on the board and asked for volunteers to straighten it out./ * /Sometimes only a good spanking will straighten out a naughty child./ Syn.: SQUARE AWAY(2). [straighten up] {v.} To put in order; make neat. * /Vic had to straighten up his room before he could go swimming./ * /Mrs. Johnson straightened up the house before company came./ Compare: PICK UP(6b), SQUARE AWAY. [straight face] {n.} A face that is not laughing or smiling. * /Mary told all the funny stories she knew to try to make Joan laugh, but Joan kept a straight face./ * /It is hard to tell when Jim is teasing you. He can tell a fib with a straight face./ * /When Bob fell into the water, he looked funny and I could hardly keep a straight face./ [straight from the horse's mouth] {slang} Directly from the person or place where it began; from a reliable source or a person that cannot be doubted. * /They are going to be married. I got the news straight from the horse's mouth - their minister./ * /John found out about the painting straight from the horse's mouth, from the painter himself./ [straight from the shoulder] {adv. phr.}, {informal} In an open and honest way of speaking; without holding back anything because of fear or politeness or respect for someone's feelings; frankly. * /John asked what he had done wrong. Bob told him straight from the shoulder./ * /The candidate for Congress spoke out against his opponent's dishonesty straight from the shoulder./ Contrast: PULL ONE'S PUNCHES. [straightlaced] {adj.} Of very strict morals and manners. * /She is so straightlaced that she won't even go out with a man unless she senses that he is serious about her./ [straight off] {adv. phr.} At once; immediately. * /After school is over, you come home straight off, and don't waste time./ * /He asked his father for the car, but his father said straight off that he couldn't have it./ [straight out] See: RIGHT OUT. [straight shooters] See: SHOOT STRAIGHT. [straight ticket] {n.} A vote for all the candidates of a single party. * /Uncle Fred was a loyal member of his party. He always voted the straight ticket./ Contrast: SPLIT TICKET. [strain a point] See: STRETCH A POINT. [strange to say] {adv. phr.} Not what you might think; surprisingly. - Used for emphasis. * /Strange to say, Jerry doesn't like candy./ * /Strange to say, the Indians didn't kill Daniel Boone./ [strapped for] {adj.} Broke; out of funds. * /My brother is so extravagant that he is always strapped for cash./ [straw] See: GIVE A HANG, GRASP AT A STRAW, GRASP AT STRAWS, LAST STRAW or STRAW THAT BREAKS THE CAMEL'S BACK, MAKE BRICKS WITHOUT STRAW. [straw boss] {n.} 1. The boss of a few workers who is himself under another boss or foreman. * /The straw boss told Jim he would have to see the foreman about a job./ 2, A man who works himself and also bosses a few other workers. * /Smith worked better than the other men, so the foreman made him straw boss, too./ [straw in the wind] {n. phr.} A small sign of what may happen. * /The doctor's worried face was a straw in the wind./ * /The quickly-called meeting of the President and his cabinet was a straw in the wind./ [straw poll] {n. phr.} An informal survey taken in order to get an opinion. * /The results of our straw poll show that most faculty members prefer to teach between 9 and 11 A.M./ [straw that breaks the camel's back] See: LAST STRAW. [straw vote] See: STRAW POLL. [streak] See: WINNING STREAK. [streak of luck] See: RUN OF LUCK. [stream] See: CHANGE HORSES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREAM, SWIM AGAINST THE CURRENT or SWIM AGAINST THE STREAM. [street] See: BACK STREET, CROSS STREET, MAN IN THE STREET, ON EASY STREET, SIDE STREET, STOP STREET, THROUGH STREET. [strength] See: ON THE STRENGTH OF. [stretch a point] or [strain a point] {v. phr.} To permit something different or more than usual; not tell the exact truth or make an exception. * /Mother stretched a point because it was Christmas time and let the children stay up later than usual./ * /It's straining a point to call Joe a hero just because he saved the kitten from drowning in the bathtub./ [stretch of the imagination] {n. phr.} Imaginative attempt or effort. * /By no stretch of the imagination can I see Al as a successful lawyer./ [stride] See: HIT ONE'S STRIDE, TAKE IN STRIDE. [strike] See: CALLED STRIKE, HAVE TWO STRIKES AGAINST ONE, LIGHTNING NEVER STRIKES TWICE IN THE SAME PLACE, TWO STRIKES AGAINST ONE. [strike a bargain] {v. phr.} To arrive at a price satisfactory to both the buyer and the seller. * /After a great deal of haggling, they managed to strike a bargain./ [strike a happy medium] {v. phr.} To find an answer to a problem that is halfway between two unsatisfactory answers. * /Mary said the dress was blue. Jane said it was green. They finally struck a happy medium and decided it was blue-green./ * /Two teaspoons of sugar made the cup of coffee too sweet, and one not sweet enough. One heaping teaspoon struck a happy medium./ [strike all of a heap] See: ALL OF A HEAP. [strikebreaker] {n.} One who takes the place of workers on strike or one who recruits such people. * /The striking workers threw rotten eggs at the strikebreakers./ [strike gold] {v. phr.} 1. To find gold. * /Ted struck gold near an abandoned mine in California./ 2. To find suddenly the answer to an old puzzle. * /Professor Brown's assistant struck gold when he came up with an equation that explained the irregular motions of a double star./ See: PAY DIRT. [strike home] See: HIT HOME. [strike it rich] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To discover oil, or a large vein of minerals to be mined, or a buried treasure. * /The old prospector panned gold for years before he struck it rich./ 2. To become rich or successful suddenly or without expecting to. * /Everyone wanted to buy one of the new gadgets, and their inventor struck it rich./ * /John did not know that he had a rich Uncle John in Australia. John struck it rich when his uncle left his money to John./ Compare: PAY DIRT(2). [strike one funny] {v. phr.} To appear or seem laughable, curious, ironic, or entertaining. * /"It strikes me funny," he said, "that you should refuse my invitation to visit my chateau in France. After all, you love both red wine and old castles. "/ [strike one's colors] See: HAUL DOWN ONE'S COLORS. [strike one's fancy] {v. phr.} To please one's predilections; appeal to one. * /The red tie with the yellow dragon on it happened to strike my fancy, so I bought it./ [strike] or [hit a sour note] {v. phr.} To spoil the mood at a gathering by hearing some bad news. * /The news of Mr. Brown's sudden illness struck a sour note during our New Year's Eve party./ Compare: SPIT INTO THE WEDDING CAKE. [strike out] {v.} 1. To destroy something that has been written or drawn by drawing a line or cross through it or by erasing it. * /John misspelled "corollary. " He struck it out and wrote it correctly./ 2. To begin to follow a new path or a course of action that you have never tried. * /The boy scouts struck out at daybreak over the mountain pass./ * /John quit his job and struck out on his own as a traveling salesman./ 3. To put (a batter) out of play by making him miss the ball three times; also: To be put out of play by missing the ball three times. * /The pitcher struck out three men in the game./ * /The batter struck out twice./ 4. To push out an arm suddenly in a hitting motion. * /The boxer saw his chance and struck out at his opponent's jaw./ [strike out at] {v. phr.} To attack someone verbally or physically. * /She was so angry that she struck out at him every occasion she got./ [strike the hour] {v. phr.} To mark or toll the hour (said of clocks or bells). * /We heard the church clock strike the hour of two./ [strike up] {v.} 1a. To start to sing or play. * /We were sitting around the camp fire. Someone struck up a song, and we all joined in./ * /The President took his place on the platform, and the band struck up the national anthem./ 1b. To give a signal to start (a band) playing. * /When the team ran on the field, the band director struck up the band./ 2. To bring about; begin; start. * /The policeman struck up a conversation with John while they were waiting for the bus./ * /It did not take Mary long to strike up acquaintances in her new school./ [strike while the iron is hot] See: MAKE HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES. [string] See: FIRST STRING, LATCH STRING, ON THE STRING or ON A STRING, PULL STRINGS, PURSE STRINGS, SHOE-STRING CATCH, TIED TO ONE'S MOTHER'S APRON STRINGS. [string along] {v.}, {informal} 1. To deceive; fool; lead on dishonestly. * /Mary was stringing John along for years but she didn't mean to marry him./ * /George told the new boy that he must always call the teacher "Sir," but the new boy soon saw that George was stringing him along./ Compare: ON A STRING. 2. To follow someone's leadership; join his group. * /Those of you who want to learn about wild flowers, string along with Jake./ [string out] {v.} To make (something) extend over a great distance or a long stretch of time. * /The telephone poles were strung out along the road as far as we could see./ * /Mary and Ann did not have much to say but they did not want to go home. They strung out their gossip for a long time./ [string up] {v.}, {slang} To put a rope around the neck of a person and choke him to death; hang. * /The posse strung up the rustler without a trial./ Compare: NECKTIE PARTY. [strings attached] {adv. phr.} With some special proviso or condition that is a handicap. * /John inherited a large fortune but with the string attached that he could not touch a penny of it before his 28th birthday./ [strip] See: DRAG STRIP. [stripe] See: MIDFIELD STRIPE. [stroke] See: AT A STROKE or AT ONE'S STROKE. [stroke of luck] See: RUN OF LUCK. [strong language] {n. phr.} Cursing; swearing. * /When Ned learned that he had been fired, he used some very strong language about his boss./ [strung out] {adj.}, {slang}, {colloquial} 1. Nervous, jittery, jumpy; generally ill because of drug use or withdrawal symptoms. * /The only explanation I can think of for Max's behavior is that he must be strung out./ 2. To suffer because of a lack of something previously accustomed to, such as the love and affection of someone. * /Sue is all strung out for Jim; they've just split up./ Compare: SPACED OUT. [stuck on] {slang} Very much in love with; crazy about. * /Judy thinks she is very pretty and very smart. She is stuck on herself./ * /Lucy is stuck on the football captain./ [stuck-up] {adj.}, {informal} Acting as if other people are not as good as you are; conceited; snobbish. * /Mary is very stuck-up, and will not speak to the poor children in her class./ [stuck with] {adj. phr.} Left in a predicament; left having to take care of a problem caused by another. * /Our neighbors vanished without a trace and we got stuck with their cat and dog./ [study] See: BROWN STUDY. [stuff] See: KNOW ONE'S WAY AROUND(2). [stuff and nonsense] {n.} Foolish or empty writing or talk; nonsense. * /Fred told a long story about his adventures in Africa, but it was all stuff and nonsense./ Often used as an interjection. * /When Jane said she was too sick to go to school, her mother answered, "Stuff and nonsense! I know there's a test today."/ [stuff the ballot box] {v. phr.} To give more votes to a candidate in an election than there are people who actually voted for him. * /It is a crime to stuff the ballot box./ - [ballot-stuffing] {adj. phr.} [stuffed shirt] {n. phr.} A pretentious bore; a pompous, empty person. * /I think that Howard is a terrible stuffed shirt with no sense of humor./ [stuffed up] {adj. phr.} Impeded; blocked. * /Our kitchen sink is all stuffed up so I have to call the plumber./ [stumble across] {v. phr.} To encounter a person or thing, mostly by accident. * /I gave up looking for my old hat when I accidentally stumbled across it in a dark corner of the closet./ [stump] See: TAKE THE STUMP or TAKE TO THE STUMP, UP A STUMP. [style] See: CRAMP ONE'S STYLE, HIGH STYLE. [subject to] {adj. phr.} 1. Under the government or control of; in the power of. * /The English colonies in America were subject to the English king./ * /The principal and the teachers of a school are subject to the school board./ 2. Likely to get or have; liable. * /John is in rather poor health and is subject to colds./ * /The western plains are subject to tornadoes./ 3. Depending on some change, happening, or need. * /The company and the union agreed that the workers' wages should be subject to changes in the cost of living./ * /Agreements made by the President with other countries are subject to the approval of the Senate./ [substance] See: IN SUBSTANCE. [succeed] See: HOWLING SUCCESS, NOTHING SUCCEEDS LIKE SUCCESS. [such and such] {pron.} Something whose name is not mentioned because it does not need to be mentioned. * /George's argument tries to prove such and such to be true, but it does not convince me./ [such-and-such] {adj. phr.} Being one whose name has been forgotten or whose name does not need to be mentioned. * /She told me to go to such-and-such a street and turn right./ * /Suppose, now, that we have such-and-such a group coming to the school, and we don't have enough chairs. What do we do then?/ [such as] {conj.} 1. Of a kind or amount shown or named; of a kind like. * /The explorer took only such men and things as he really needed into the jungle with him./ * /They felt such heat in the jungle as they had never felt before./ * /Many different pies were in the bakery such as apple, cherry, and blueberry pies./ 2. Of the average or ordinary kind; poor; humble. * /Such as the food was, there was plenty of it./ * /The room is not very nice, but such as it is, you may stay there for the night./ [such as it is] Just as it appears or is presented, not being any better or worse than most others of its kind; being average or mediocre. * /This pie, such as it is, is the best I can make./ * /Jane told her grandmother her grades, such as they were./ [such that] {conj.} Of a kind or amount that; so great or so little that; enough that. * /There was such a big line at me movie that we had to wait before we could get in./ * /Jimmy made such noise that his sister told him to be quiet./ * /Mother's answer was such that she didn't say yes and she didn't say no./ [sucker list] {n.}, {slang} A list of easily-fooled people, especially people who are easily persuaded to buy things or give money. * /The crook got hold of a sucker list and started out to sell his worthless stock./ * /Mr. Smith gets so many advertisements in his mail that he says he is on every sucker list in the country./ [suck in] {v.} 1. {informal} To pull in by taking a deep breath and tightening the muscles; flatten. * /"Suck in those stomachs," the gym teacher said./ 2. {slang} To make a fool of; cheat. * /The uneducated farmer was sucked in by a clever crook./ [sugar daddy] {n.}, {slang}, {semi-vulgar}, {avoidable} An older, well-to-do man, who gives money and gifts to a younger woman or girls usually in exchange for sexual favors. * /Betty Morgan got a mink coat from her sugar daddy./ [suit] See: BIRTHDAY SUIT, FOLLOW SUIT. [suit to a T] See: TO A T. [suit up] {v. phr.} To don a uniform or sports outfit. * /The veterans like to suit up for the Fourth of July parade./ [suit yourself] {v. phr.}, {informal} To do what one likes or prefers. * /"I don't care where you want to sleep," he said. "Suit yourself!"/ [sum total] {n.} The final amount; everything taken together; total. * /The sum total of expenses for the trip was $450./ * /Ten years was the sum total of John's education./ [sum up] {v.} To put something into a few words; shorten into a brief summary; summarize. * /The teacher summed up the lesson in three rules./ * /The mailman's job, in all kinds of weather, is summed up in the phrase "Deliver the mail."/ [sun] See: UNDER THE SUN. [sunbelt] {n.}, {informal} A portion of the southern United States where the winter is very mild in comparison to other states. * /The Simpsons left Chicago for the sunbelt because of Jeff's rheumatism./ [Sunday] See: MONTH OF SUNDAYS. [Sunday best] or [Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes] See: BEST BIB AND TUCKER. [sunny-side up] {adj.} Fried on one side only. * /Barbara likes her eggs sunny-side up./ [supper] See: COVERED-DISH SUPPER or POTLUCK SUPPER. [supply] See: IN SHORT SUPPLY. [sure] See: FOR SURE, MAKE SURE, TO BE SURE. [sure enough] {adv.} As expected. * /Charles was afraid he had done badly on the test, and sure enough, his grade was failing./ * /The children saw a familiar shape coming up the street and hoped it was their lost dog. When it came near, sure enough, it was Spot./ Compare: SURE THING(2). [sure-enough] {adj.} Real; genuine. * /Rick found a sure-enough nickel./ * /Martha's uncle gave her a sure-enough pearl on a little gold chain./ * /Jane's uncle is a sure-enough cowboy./ [surefire] {adj.} Without fail; effective; bringing actual results. * /During a campaign the only surefire way to get the sympathy of the voters is to mingle with them in person./ [sure thing] 1. {n.}, {informal} Something sure to happen; something about which there is no doubt. * /It's no fun betting on a sure thing./ 2. {adv.} Of course; certainly * /Sure thing, I'll be glad to do it for you./ Compare: FOR SURE(2), SURE ENOUGH. [surface] See: SCRATCH THE SURFACE. [surprise] See: TAKE BY SURPRISE. [survival of the fittest] {n. phr.} The staying alive or in action of the best prepared; often: idea that those living things best able to adjust to life survive and those unable to adjust die out. * /Life in the old West was often a case of survival of the fittest./ * /With changes in the world's climate, dinosaurs died but many smaller animals lived on. It was survival of the fittest./ * /On the 50-mile hike it was survival of the fittest; only 12 out of 25 Scouts finished./ [suspicion] See: ABOVE SUSPICION. [swallow] See: LOOK LIKE THE CAT THAT ATE THE CANARY. [swallow hook, line, and sinker] See: HOOK, LINE, AND SINKER. [swallow one's pride] {v. phr.} To bring your pride under control; humble yourself. * /After Bill lost the race, he swallowed his pride and shook hands with the winner./ Compare: EAT ONE'S WORDS, [swallow one's words] 1. To speak unclearly; fail to put enough breath into your words. * /Phyllis was hard to understand because she swallowed her words./ 2. See: EAT ONE'S WORDS. [swallow up] {v. phr.} To do away with; absorb; engulf. * /My expenses are so great that they swallow up my modest salary./ [swan song] {n. phr.}, {literary} A farewell or last appearance. * /The famous soprano gave her swan song in La Traviata before she retired./ [SWAT team] {n.}, {informal} Police unit trained for especially hazardous or sensitive law-enforcement assignments; short for Special Weapons and Tactics. * /Joe made the SWAT team of the NYPD due to his athletic skills./ [swathe] See: CUT A SWATHE. [swear by] {v.} 1. To use as the support or authority that what you are saying is truthful; take an oath upon. * /A witness swears by the Bible that he will tell the truth./ * /In ancient Greece a doctor swore by Apollo, the god of healing, that he would be a good doctor./ * /John swore by his honor he would return the bike./ 2. To have complete confidence in; be sure of; trust completely. * /When John has to go somewhere fast, he swears by his bike to get there./ * /We can be sure that Fred will come on time, since his friend Tom swears by him./ [swear in] or [swear into] {v.} To have a person swear or promise to do his duty as a member or an officer of an organization, government department, or similar group. - "Swear into" is used when the name of the group is given. * /Mary and Ann will be sworn into the club tonight./ * /Fred was sworn in as class president./ * /Many new men were sworn into the army last month./ * /At the inauguration, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court swore in the new President./ [swear off] {v.}, {informal} To give up something you like or you have got in the habit of using by making a promise. * /Mary swore off candy until she lost ten pounds./ * /John has sworn off dessert for Lent./ [swear out] {v.} To get (a written order to do something) by swearing that a person has broken the law. * /The policeman swore out a warrant for the suspect's arrest./ * /The detectives swore out a search warrant./ [sweat] See: BY THE SWEAT OF ONE'S BROW. [sweat blood] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To be very much worried. * /The engine of the airplane stopped, and the pilot sweated blood as he glided to a safe landing./ 2. To work very hard. * /Jim sweated blood to finish his composition on time./ [sweat out] {v.}, {informal} To wait anxiously; worry while waiting. * /Karl was sweating out the results of the college exams./ * /The search plane signaled that help was on the way. The men in the lifeboat just had to sweat it out./ [Sweeney] See: TELL IT TO THE MARINES or TELL IT TO SWEENEY. [sweep] See: NEW BROOM SWEEPS CLEAN. [sweep off one's feet] {v. phr.} To make (someone) have feelings (as love or happiness) too strong to control; overcome with strong feeling; win sudden and complete acceptance by (someone) through the feelings. * /The handsome football captain swept Joan off her feet when he said so many things to her at the dance./ * /Joan was swept off her feet when the football captain started flirting with her./ * /Mary is swept off her feet whenever she hears a band start playing./ * /John was swept off his feet when he won the contest./ Compare: BOWL OVER (2), CARRY AWAY. [sweep out of] {v. phr.} To leave in an impressive, majestic manner. * /Offended by Tim's remark, Mary swept out of the room with her head high in the air./ [sweep the city] or [country] or [nation] or [world] {v. phr.} To gain great attention or popularity throughout the city, country, etc. * /Pavarotti's unmatched tenor voice swept the world in an unprecedented manner./ [sweep under the rug] {v. phr.} To hide or dismiss casually (something one is ashamed of or does not know what to do about). * /In many places, drug abuse by school children is swept under the rug./ [sweet] See: SHORT AND SWEET. [sweetie pie] {n.}, {informal} A person who is loved; darling; sweetheart. * /Arnold blushed with pleasure when Annie called him her sweetie pie./ * /Nancy is Bill's sweetie pie./ [sweet on] {adj. phr.}, {informal} In love with; very fond of. * /John is sweet on Alice./ [sweet talk] 1. {n.}, {informal} Too much praise; flattery. * /Sometimes a girl's better judgment is overcome by sweet talk./ 2. {v.}, {informal} To get what you want by great praise; flatter. * /Polly could sweet talk her husband into anything./ [sweet tooth] {n. phr.} A great weakness or predilection for sweets. * /Sue has such a sweet tooth that she hardly eats anything else but cake./ [swelled head] {n.}, {informal} A feeling that you are very important or more important than you really are. * /When John won the race, he got a swelled head./ * /Pretty girls shouldn't get a swelled head about it./ - [swell-headed] {adj. phr.} * /After he was elected captain of the team, Bob became swell-headed./ Compare: BIG HEAD. [swell-headed] See: SWELLED HEAD. [swim] See: IN THE SWIM, SINK OR SWIM. [swim against the current] or [swim against the stream] {v. phr.} To do the opposite of what most people want to do; go against the way things are happening; struggle upstream. * /The boy who tries to succeed today without an education is swimming against the stream./ [swine] See: CAST PEARLS BEFORE SWINE or CAST ONE'S PEARLS BEFORE SWINE. [swing] See: IN FULL SWING. [swing one's weight] {v. phr.} To use your personal power to get something done * /The President swings his weight to get laws passed./ * /Mr. Thomas swung his weight to get his son a job with the company./ [switch] See: ASLEEP AT THE SWITCH. [switched on] {adj.}, {slang} 1. In tune with the latest fads, ideas, and fashions. * /I dig Sarah, she is really switched on./ 2. Stimulated; as if under the influence of alcohol or drugs. * /How come you're talking so fast? Are you switched on or something?/ [swoop] See: AT ONE FELL SWOOP. [sword] See: AT SWORDS' POINTS, PUT TO THE SWORD. [sword rattling] See: SABER RATTLING. [sworn enemies] {n. phr.} People or groups or nations that have a long-standing dislike for each other. * /The Israelis and the Arabs used to be sworn enemies but hopefully they will sign a lasting peace accord./ [syllable] See: WORDS OF ONE SYLLABLE. [system] See: PUBLIC-ADDRESS SYSTEM. T [T] See: TO A T. [tab] See: KEEP TAB ON or KEEP TABS ON. [table] See: AT THE TABLE or AT TABLE, COFFEE TABLE, PUT ONE'S CARDS ON THE TABLE or LAY ONE'S CARDS ON THE TABLE, TURN THE TABLES, WAIT AT TABLE or WAIT ON TABLE. [tack] See: GET DOWN TO BRASS TACKS, GO SIT ON A TACK, SHARP AS A TACK. [tackle] See: FLYING TACKLE [tack on] {v. phr.} To append; add. * /We were about to sign the contract when we discovered that the lawyer had tacked on a codicil that was not acceptable to us./ [tag end] or [tail end] {n.}, {informal} The end, farthest to the rear, last in line, nearest the bottom, or least important. * /John was at the tail end of his class./ * /Mary's part in the play came at the tag end, and she got bored waiting./ * /Bill waited at the crossing for the tag end of a freight to go by./ [tail] See: COW'S TAIL, HEADS I WIN, TAILS YOU LOSE, MAKE HEAD OR TAIL OF, TURN TAIL. [tail between one's legs] {n. phr.} State of feeling beaten, ashamed, or very obedient, as after a scolding or a whipping. * /The army sent the enemy home with their tails between their legs./ * /The boys on the team had boasted they would win the tournament, but they went home with their tails between their legs./ (So called because a beaten dog usually puts his tail down between his legs and slinks away.) [tail end] See: TAG END. [taillight] {n.} The rear red light of a car. * /My father was fined $15 for driving without a taillight./ [tailor-made] See: MADE-TO-MEASURE. [tailspin] See: GO INTO A TAILSPIN. [tail wags the dog] Said of situations in which a minor part is in control of the whole. * /He is just a minor employee at the firm, yet he gives everyone orders, a case of the tail wagging the dog./ [take] See: CAN TAKE IT WITH ONE, GIVE AND TAKE, GIVE ONE AN INCH AND HE WILL TAKE A MILE, GIVE OR TAKE, SIT UP AND TAKE NOTICE. [take aback] See: TAKEN BACK. [take a back seat] {v. phr.}, {informal} To accept a poorer or lower position; be second to something or someone else. * /During the war all manufacturing had to take a back seat to military needs./ * /She does not have to take a back seat to any singer alive./ Compare: PLAY SECOND FIDDLE. [take a bath] {v. phr.}, {informal} To come to financial ruin. * /Boy, did we ever take a bath on that merger with Brown & Brown, Inc./ [take a bow] {v. phr.} To stand up or come on a stage to be clapped for or praised for success. * /The audience shouted for the author of the play to take a bow./ * /The basketball team should take a bow for fine work this season./ [take a break] {v. phr.} To have a brief rest period during the course of one's work. * /"You've worked hard. It's time to take a break," the boss said./ [take a chance] {v. phr.} To accept the risk of failure or loss. * /We will take a chance on the weather and have the party outdoors./ [take a crack at] {v. phr.} To try doing something. * /It was a difficult challenge to reorganize our antiquated campus, but the resident architect decided to take a crack at it./ [take a dig at] {v. phr.} To attack verbally; offend; denigrate. * /If you keep taking digs at me all the time, our relationship will be a short one./ [take a dim view of] {v. phr.} 1. To have doubts about; feel unsure or anxious about. * /Tom took a dim view of his chances of passing the exam./ * /Betty hoped to go on a picnic, but she took a dim view of the weather./ 2. To be against; disapprove. * /John's father took a dim view of his wanting to borrow the car./ * /The teacher took a dim view of the class's behavior./ [take a dislike to] Contrast: TAKE A FANCY TO. [take a drop] {v. phr.} 1. To indulge in alcoholic drinks. * /Aunt Liz doesn't really drink; she just takes a drop every now and then./ 2. To lose value; decrease in price. * /Stocks took a big drop yesterday due to the international crisis./ [take advantage of] {v. phr.} 1. To make good use of. * /The cat took advantage of the high grass to creep up on the bird./ * /Jean took advantage of the lunch hour to finish her homework./ 2. To treat (someone) unfairly for your own gain or help; make unfair use of. * /He took advantage of his friend's kindness./ * /The little children did not know how much to pay for the candy, and Ralph took advantage of them./ Syn.: IMPOSE ON. [take after] {v.} To be like because of family relationship; to have the same looks or ways as (a parent or ancestor). * /He takes after his father in mathematical ability./ * /She takes after her father's side of the family in looks./ Compare: LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON; RUN IN THE FAMILY. [take a fancy to] {v. phr.} To become fond of; cultivate a predilection for. * /Aunt Hermione has taken a fancy to antique furniture./ [take a flop] {v. phr.} To fall heavily. * /I took a nasty flop on the ice-covered sidewalk./ [take aim] {v. phr.} To get ready to hit, throw at, or shoot at by sighting carefully. * /When the captain orders "Take aim," raise your gun to your shoulder and sight along the barrel at the target./ * /Before the hunter could take aim, the deer jumped out of sight./ [take a hand in] {v. phr.} To assist in the direction of; participate. * /The University Faculty Club decided to take a hand in helping the recent refugees./ [take a hard line with] See: HARD LINE, HARD-LINER. [take a hike] See: GO FLY A KITE. [take a hint] {v. phr.} To understand an allusion or a suggestion and behave accordingly. * /"I don't like people who smoke," she said. "Can't you take a hint and either quit smoking or seeing me?"/ [take a joke] {v. phr.} Accept in good spirit some derision directed at oneself. * /My brother has a good sense of humor when teasing others, but he cannot take a joke on himself./ [take a liking to] See: TAKE A FANCY TO. [take a load off one's feet] {v. phr.} To alleviate one's fatigue by sitting down during some taxing work. * /"You've been standing there for hours, Jake," John said. "Why don't you take a load off your feet?"/ [take a long breath] See: DRAW A LONG BREATH. [take amiss] or [the wrong way] {v. phr.} To become offended due to a misunderstanding. * /"I hope you won't take it amiss," the boss said to Jane, "that I find you irresistibly attractive."/ [take a new turn] {v. phr.} To start a new course; decide upon a new direction. * /The company took a new turn under Jack's directorship./ [take a nose dive] {v. phr.} To plummet; fall sharply. * /The stock market took a nose dive after the news of the President's heart attack./ [take a notion] See: TAKE INTO ONE'S HEAD. [take apart] {v. phr.} To dismantle; disassemble. * /Boys like taking radios and watches apart, but they seldom know how to put them back together again./ [take a poke at] See: TAKE A PUNCH AT. [take a pot shot at] See: POTSHOT. [take a powder] {v. phr.}, {slang} To leave hurriedly; run out or away; desert, flee. * /All the gang except one had taken a powder when the police arrived./ [take a punch at] or [take a poke at] or [take a sock at] {v. phr.} To try to hit (someone) with the fist; swing or strike at; attack with the fists. * /Bob was very angry and suddenly he took a punch at Fred./ * /Johnny knocked my hat off, so I took a poke at him./ * /I felt like taking a sock at Joe, but I kept my temper./ [take a risk] See: RUN A RISK. [take a shine to] {v. phr.}, {slang} To have or show a quick liking for. * /He took a shine to his new teacher the very first day./ Compare: TAKE A FANCY TO. [take a shot at] {v. phr.} To try casually; attempt to do. * /"Can you handle all these new book orders?" Tom asked. "I haven't done it before," Sally replied, "but I can sure take a shot at it."/ [take a sock at] See: TAKE A PUNCH AT. [take a spill] {v. phr.} To fall down; tip over. * /During the harsh winter, when the sidewalk is covered with ice, many people take a spill./ [take at one's word] {v. phr.} To believe everything (someone) says; to act on what is said. * /If you say you don't want this coat, I'll take you at your word and throw it away./ * /When the king said he wished to be rid of his advisor, a friend took him at his word and murdered the councillor./ [take a stand] {v. phr.} To assert one's point. of view; declare one's position. * /It is time for American society to take a stand against crime./ [take a turn] {v. phr.} To become different; change. * /Mary's fever suddenly took a bad turn./ * /The story took an odd turn./ Often used with "for the better" or "for the worse". * /In the afternoon the weather took a turn for the better./ * /Suddenly the battle took a turn for the worse./ [take a turn for the better] {v. phr.} To start improving; start to get better. * /Aunt Hermione was very ill for a long time, but last week she suddenly took a turn for the better./ [take a turn for the worse] See: FOR THE WORSE. Contrast: TAKE A TURN FOR THE BETTER. [take a whack at] See: TAKE A SHOT AT. [take back] {v.} To change or deny something offered, promised, or stated; admit to making a wrong statement. * /I take back my offer to buy the house now that I've had a good look at it./ * /I want you to take back the unkind things you said about Kenneth./ [take by storm] {v. phr.} 1. To capture by a sudden or very bold attack. * /The army did not hesitate. They took the town by storm./ 2. To win the favor or liking of; make (a group of people) like or believe you. * /The comic took the audience by storm./ * /John gave Jane so much attention that he took her by storm, and she said she would marry him./ Compare: MAKE A HIT. [take by surprise] {v. phr.} 1. To appear in front of someone suddenly or to suddenly discover him before he discovers you; come before (someone) is ready; appear before (someone) unexpectedly. * /The policeman took the burglar by surprise as he opened the window./ * /When Mrs. Green's dinner guests came half an hour early, they took her by surprise./ 2. To fill with surprise or amazement; astonish. * /Ellen was taken by surprise when the birthday cake was brought in./ * /When our teacher quit in the middle of the year to work for the government, it took us all by surprise./ [take by the scruff] {v. phr.} 1. To assert authority over a person. * /Tim's mother took him by the scruff and told him to get cleaned up./ 2. To punish a person. * /The boss took us by the scruff when he found us chatting idly by the coffee machine./ 3. To assume firm control over a job or a situation that has been causing some difficulty. * /Someone had better take the post office by the scruff; there are too many customer complaints pouring in./ [take care] {v. phr.} To be careful; use wisdom or caution. * /Take care that you don't spill that coffee!/ * /We must take care to let nobody hear about this./ [take care of] {v. phr.} 1. To attend to; supply the needs of. * /She stayed home to take care of the baby./ Syn.: KEEP AN EYE ON(2), LOOK AFTER. Compare: IN CHARGE(2). 2. {informal} To deal with; do what is needed with. * /I will take care of that letter./ * /The coach told Jim to take care of the opposing player./ Compare: SEE TO. [take charge] {v. phr.} To begin to lead or control; take control or responsibility; undertake the care or management (of persons or things). * /When Mrs. Jackson was in the hospital, her sister took charge of the Jackson children until Mrs. Jackson could care for them./ * /The child care class gave a party for the nursery children, and Mary took charge of the games./ * /John was elected the new president of the club and took charge at the next meeting./ * /Bob is a natural leader, and can take charge in an emergency./ Compare: IN CHARGE(2). [take cold] See: CATCH COLD. [take cover] {v. phr.} To seek shelter or protection. * /The rain began so suddenly that we had to take cover in a doorway./ [take down] {v.} 1. To write or record (what is said). * /I will tell you how to get to the place; you had better take it down./ 2. To pull to pieces; take apart. * /It will be a big job to take that tree down./ * /In the evening the campers put up a tent, and the next morning they took it down./ 3. {informal} To reduce the pride or spirit of; humble. * /Bob thought he was a good wrestler, but Henry took him down./ Syn.: TAKE DOWN A NOTCH. [take down a notch] or [take down a peg] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make (someone) less proud or sure of himself. * /The team was feeling proud of its record, but last week the boys were taken down a peg by a bad defeat./ [take effect] {v. phr.} 1. To have an unexpected or intended result; cause a change. * /It was nearly an hour before the sleeping pill took effect./ 2. To become lawfully right, or operative. * /The new tax law will not take effect until January./ [take exception to] {v. phr.} To speak against; find fault with; be displeased or angered by; criticize. * /There was nothing in the speech that you could take exception to./ * /Did she take exception to my remarks about her cooking./ [take five] {v. phr.} To take a five-minute break during some work or theatrical rehearsal. * /"All right, everyone," the director cried. "Let's take five."/ [take for] {v.} To suppose to be; mistake for. * /Do you take me for a fool?/ * /At first sight you would take him for a football player, not a poet./ [take for a ride] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To take out in a car intending to murder. * /The gang leader decided that the informer must be taken for a ride./ 2. To play a trick on; fool. * /The girls told Linda that a movie star was visiting the school, but she did not believe them; she thought they were taking her for a ride./ Compare: STRING ALONG. 3. To take unfair advantage of; fool for your own gain. * /His girlfriend really took him for a ride before he stopped dating her./ [take for granted] {v. phr.} 1. To suppose or understand to be true. * /Mr. Harper took for granted that the invitation included his wife./ * /A teacher cannot take it for granted that students always do their homework./ Compare: BEG THE QUESTION. 2. To accept or become used to (something) without noticing especially or saying anything. * /George took for granted all that his parents did for him./ * /No girl likes to have her boyfriend take her for granted; instead, he should always try to make her like him better./ [take French leave] {v. phr.} To leave secretly; abscond. * /The party was so boring that we decided to take French leave./ * /While the Smith family was in Europe, the house-sitter packed up all the silver and took French leave./ See: SLIP AWAY. [take heart] {v. phr.} To be encouraged; feel braver and want to try. * /The men took heart from their leader's words and went on to win the battle./ * /When we are in trouble we can take heart from the fact that things often seem worse than they are./ Contrast: LOSE HEART. [take heed] {v. phr.}, {literary} To pay attention; watch or listen carefully; notice. * /Take heed not to spill coffee on the rug./ [take hold of] {v. phr.} To grasp. * /The old man tried to keep himself from falling down the stairs, but there was no railing to take hold of./ [take ill] or [take sick] {v.} To become sick. * /Father took sick just before his birthday./ - Used in the passive with the same meaning. * /The man was taken ill on the train./ [take in] {v.} 1. To include. * /The country's boundaries were changed to fake in a piece of land beyond the river./ * /The class of mammals takes in nearly all warm-blooded animals except the birds./ 2. To go and see; visit. * /The students decided to take in a movie while they were in town./ * /We planned to take in Niagara Palls and Yellowstone Park on our trip./ 3. To make smaller. * /This waistband is too big; it must be taken in about an inch./ * /They had to take in some sail to keep the ship from turning over in the storm./ 4. To grasp with the mind; understand. * /He didn't take in what he read because his mind was on something else./ * /He took in the situation at a glance./ 5a. To deceive; cheat; fool. * /The teacher was taken in by the boy's innocent manner./ Compare: PUT OVER, ROPE IN. 5b. To accept without question; believe. * /The magician did many tricks, and the children took it all in./ 6a. To receive; get. * /The senior class held a dance to make money and took in over a hundred dollars./ 6b. Let come in; admit. * /The farmer took in the lost travelers for the night./ * /When her husband died, Mrs. Smith took in boarders./ 7. To see or hear with interest; pay close attention to, * /When Bill told about his adventures, the other boys took it all in./ [take in stride] {v. phr.} To meet happenings without too much surprise; accept good or bad luck and go on. * /He learned to take disappointments in stride./ [take in tow] {v. phr.} To take charge of; lead; conduct. * /Brian and Kate took a group of children in tow when they went to see the circus./ [take into account] {v. phr.} To remember and understand while judging someone or something; consider. * /How much time will we need to get to the lake? You have to take the bad road into account./ * /His acting in the play was remarkable, taking into account his youth and inexperience./ Syn.: RECKON WITH. Contrast: LEAVE OUT OF ACCOUNT. [take issue with] {v. phr.} To be openly against; speak against; disagree with. * /He thought his boss was wrong but was afraid to take issue with him on the matter./ [take it] {v. phr.} 1. To get an idea or impression; understand from what is said or done. - Usually used with "I". * /I take it from your silence that you don't want to go./ 2. {informal} To bear trouble, hard work, criticism; not give up or weaken. * /Henry could criticize and tease other boys, but he couldn't take it himself./ * /Bob lost his job and his girl in the same week, and we all admired the way he took it./ [take it all in] {v. phr.} To absorb completely; listen attentively. * /Bill's piano music filled the room and we took it all in with admiration./ [take it away] {v. phr.}, {informal}, {Theatrical expression} You're on; it's your turn; you're next. * /And here comes that wonderful comedian, Bob Hope. The announcer said, "Take it away. Bob."/ [take it easy] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. or [go easy] or [take things easy] To go or act slowly, carefully, and gently. - Often used with "on". * /Take it easy. The roads are icy./ * /"Go easy," said Billy to the other boys carrying the table down the stairs./ * /"Take it easy on John and don't scold him too much," said Mrs. Jones to Mr. Jones./ * /Go easy on the cake. There isn't much left./ 2. or [take things easy] To avoid hard work or worry; have an easy time; live in comfort. * /The doctor said that Bob would have to take things easy for awhile after he had his tonsils out./ * /Barbara likes to take it easy./ * /Grandfather will retire from his job next year and take things easy./ * /Mr. Wilson has just made a lot of money and can take things easy now./ [take it from the top] {v. phr.}, {informal} {Musical and theatrical expression} To start again from the beginning. * /The conductor said, "We must try it once again. Take it from the top and watch my baton."/ [take it into one's head] or {informal} [take a notion] {v. phr.} To get a sudden idea; decide without thinking. * /The boy suddenly took it into his head to leave school and get a job./ * /Grandmother keeps a bag packed so that she can go visiting whenever she takes a notion./ [take it on the chin] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To be badly beaten or hurt. * /Our football team really took it on the chin today. They are all bumps and bruises./ * /Mother and I took it on the chin in the card game./ 2. To accept without complaint something bad that happens to you; accept trouble or defeat calmly. * /A good football player can take it on the chin when his team loses./ [take it or leave it] {v. phr.}, {informal} To accept something without change or refuse it; decide yes or no. - Often used like a command. * /He said the price of the house was $10,000, take it or leave it./ [take it out on] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be unpleasant or unkind to (someone) because you are angry or upset; get rid of upset feelings by being mean to. - Often used with the name of the feeling instead of "it." * /The teacher was angry and took it out on the class./ * /Bob was angry because Father would not let him use the car, and he took it out on his little brother./ [take its toll] {v. phr.} To cause loss or damage. * /The bombs had taken their toll on the little town./ * /The budget cut took its toll of teachers./ [take kindly to] {v.} To be pleased by; like. - Usually used in negative, interrogative, and conditional sentences. * /He doesn't take kindly to any suggestions about running his business./ * /Will your father take kindly to the idea of your leaving college?/ [take leave of] {v. phr.} I. To abandon, go away from, or become separated from. - Usually used in the phrase "take leave of one's senses". * /Come down from the roof, Billy! Have you taken leave of your senses?/ 2. See: TAKE ONE'S LEAVE. [take leave of one's senses] {v. phr.} To go mad; become crazy. * /"Have you taken leave of your senses? "Jake cried, when he saw Andy swallow a live goldfish./ [take liberties] {v. phr.} To act toward in too close or friendly a manner; use as you would use a close friend or something of your own. * /Mary would not let any boy take liberties with her./ * /Bill took liberties with Tom's bicycle./ Compare: MAKE FREE WITH. [take lying down] {v. phr.} To accept something without defense or protest. * /If you take such insults lying down, you will only encourage more of the same./ [taken aback] also [taken back] {adj.} Unpleasantly surprised; suddenly puzzled or shocked. * /When he came to pay for his dinner he was taken aback to find that he had left his wallet at home./ [taken by] or [with] {v. phr.} To be impressed by; intrigued by. * /Ned was much taken by the elegance of Sophie's manners./ [take no stock in] See: TAKE STOCK IN. [take note of] or [take notice of] {v. phr.} 1. To look carefully at; pay close attention to; observe well. * /A detective is trained to take note of people and things./ 2. To notice and act in response; pay attention. * /Two boys were talking together in the back of the room but the teacher took no notice of them./ * /The principal thanked everyone who helped in the program, and took note of the decorations made by the art class./ [take oath] {v. phr.} To promise to tell the truth or to do some task honestly, calling on God or some person or thing as a witness. * /Mary took her oath that she did not steal the watch./ * /John took oath that he would fill the office of president faithfully./ [takeoff] {n.} 1. Departure of an airplane; the act of becoming airborne. * /The nervous passenger was relieved that we had such a wonderfully smooth takeoff./ 2. Imitation; a parody. * /Vaughn Meader used to do a wonderful takeoff on President Kennedy's speech./ [take off] {v. phr.} 1a. To leave fast; depart suddenly; run away. * /The dog took off after a rabbit./ Compare: LIGHT OUT. 1b. {informal} To go away; leave. * /The six boys got into the car and took off for the drug store./ 2. To leave on a flight, begin going up. * /A helicopter is able to take off and land straight up or down./ 3. {informal} To imitate amusingly; copy another person's habitual actions or speech. * /He made a career of taking off famous people for nightclub audiences./ * /At the party, Charlie took off the principal and some of the teachers./ 4. To take (time) to be absent from work. * /When his wife was sick he took off from work./ * /Bill was tired out so he took the day off./ [take off one's hat to] {v. phr.} To give honor, praise, and respect to. * /He is my enemy, but I take off my hat to him for his courage./ Compare: HAND IT TO. [take offense at] {v. phr.} To become indignant; become angry. * /Why do you always take offense at everything I say?/ [take off one's hands] {v. phr.} 1. To abdicate one's responsibility of a person or matter. * /"I am herewith taking my hand off your affairs," Lou's father said. "See how you succeed on your own."/ 2. To buy; relieve someone of something. * /He offered to take my old car off my hands for $350./ [take off the edge] See: TAKE THE EDGE OFF. [take on] {v.} 1. To receive for carrying; be loaded with. * /A big ship was at the dock taking on automobiles in crates to carry overseas for sale./ * /The bus driver stopped at the curb to take the woman on./ 2. To begin to have (the look of); take (the appearance of). * /Others joined the fistfight until it took on the look of a riot./ * /After the students put up Christmas decorations, the classroom took on a holiday appearance./ 3a. To give a job to; hire; employ. * /The factory has opened and is beginning to take on new workers./ Contrast: LET GO(4), LET OFF, LET OUT(6). 3b. To accept in business or a contest. * /The big man took on two opponents at once./ * /After his father died, Bill took on the management of the factory./ * /We knew their football team was bigger and stronger, but we took them on anyway and beat them./ 4. {informal} To show great excitement, grief, or anger. * /At the news of her husband's death she took on like a madwoman./ Compare: CARRY-ON. [take one at one's word] {v. phr.} To naively lend credence to what one tells one. * /It's a bad idea to take street vendors at their word in large, crowded cities./ [take one's breath away] {v. phr.} To surprise greatly; impress very much; leave speechless with surprise or wonder or delight; astonish. * /The sunset is so beautiful it takes our breath away./ * /His refusal was so unexpected it took my breath away./ Compare: CATCH ONE'S BREATH(1). [take one's death of] See: CATCH ONE'S DEATH OF. [take one's leave] or [take leave of] {v. phr.}, {formal} To say good-bye and leave. * /He stayed on after most of the guests had taken their leave./ * /The messenger bowed and took leave of the queen./ - [leave-taking] {n.} The end of school in June is a time of leave-taking. [take one's life in one's hands] {v. phr.} To face great danger or take great risk. * /Driving that car with those worn tires would be taking your life in your hands./ * /He took his life in his hands when he tried to capture the wild horse./ [take one's measure] or [take the measure of] {v. phr.} To judge the character, quality, or nature of; try to guess about something - how hard or easy, dangerous or safe, good or bad, etc. * /The boxers sparred for a while taking each other's measure./ * /John took the measure of the cliff before he climbed it./ Compare: SIZE UP. [take one's medicine] {v. phr.} To accept punishment without complaining. * /The boy said he was sorry he broke the window and was ready to take his medicine./ Compare: FACE THE MUSIC(2). [take one's name in vain] {v. phr.} 1. To call upon (God) as a witness to your truth or honesty when you are lying; swear by (God) untruthfully. * /You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain./ 2. {informal} To talk about a person or mention his name. * /"Did I hear someone taking my name in vain?" asked Bill as he joined his friends./ [take one's time] {v. phr.} To avoid haste; act in an unhurried way. * /He liked to take his time over breakfast./ * /It is better to take your time at this job than to hurry and make mistakes./ [take one's word] {v. phr.} To believe one's promise. * /Herb took Eric's word when he promised to pay up his debt./ [take on faith] {v. phr.} To lend credence to something due to one's confidence in the source, rather than based on evidence. * /One should never take on faith what one hears about Washington politics./ [take on oneself] or [take upon oneself] {v. phr.} 1. To accept as a duty or responsibility. * /He took it on himself to see that the packages were delivered./ 2. To assume wrongfully or without permission as a right or privilege. * /You should not have taken it upon yourself to accept the invitation for the whole family./ [take one wrong] See: GET ONE WRONG. [take on the chin] {v. phr.} To gracefully accept criticism. * /It's good to be able to tell people what they do wrong, but it is equally important to be able to take it on the chin when they tell you what you have done wrong./ [take out] {v. phr.} 1. To ask for and fill in. * /Mary and John took out a marriage license./ 2. To begin to run. * /When the window broke, the boys took out in all directions./ * /When the wind blew the man's hat off, Charlie took out after it./ See: TAKE IT OUT ON. [take out after] {v. phr.} To start pursuing one. * /The watchdog took out after the burglars./ [take out on] {v. phr.} To vent one's sadness, frustration, or anger on someone who is usually innocent of the problem at hand. * /"Why are you always taking out your frustrations on me?" Jane asked Tom, when he slammed the door./ [take-out order] {n. phr.} An order in a restaurant that one does not eat on the premises, but takes home. * /The new Chinese restaurant on the corner sells nice take-out orders./ [take over] {v.} 1a. To take control or possession of. * /He expects to take over the business when his father retires./ 1b. To take charge or responsibility. * /The airplane pilot fainted and his co-pilot had to take over./ 2. To borrow, imitate, or adopt. * /The Japanese have taken over many European ways of life./ [take pains] {v. phr.} To do something very carefully and thoroughly. * /She had taken pains to see that her guests had everything that they could possibly want./ * /She always takes pains with her appearance./ [take part] {v. phr.} To have a part or share; join. * /Jim saw the new boy watching the game and asked him to take part./ * /The Swiss did not take part in the two World Wars./ [take pity on] also [take pity upon] {v. phr.} To feel sympathy or pity and do something for. * /Mary took pity on the orphan kittens./ * /The farmer took pity upon the campers, and let them stay in his barn during the rain./ [take place] {v. phr.} To happen; occur. * /The accident took place only a block from his home./ * /The action of the play takes place in ancient Rome./ * /The dance will take place after the graduation exercises./ Compare: GO ON(3). [take potluck] {v. phr.} To share as a guest an everyday meal without special preparation. * /You are welcome to stay for dinner if you will take potluck./ * /They were about to have lunch when he phoned and they asked him to take potluck with them./ [take root] {v. phr.} 1. To form roots so as to be able to live and grow. * /We hope the transplanted apple trees will take root./ 2. To be accepted; to be adopted; to live and succeed in a new place. * /Many European customs failed to take root in the New World./ * /The immigrants to our country took root and began to think of themselves as Native Americans./ [take shape] {v. phr.} To grow or develop into a certain fixed form. * /Plans for our vacation are beginning to take shape./ * /Their new home took shape as the weeks went by./ Compare: SHAPE UP. [take sick] See: TAKE ILL. [take sides] {v. phr.} To join one group against another in a debate or quarrel. * /Switzerland refused to take sides in the two World Wars./ * /Tom wanted to go fishing. Dick wanted to take a hike. Bob took sides with Tom so they all went fishing./ Compare: LINE UP(4b). Contrast: ON THE FENCE. [take someone for a ride] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To cheat or swindle someone. * /Poor Joe Catwallender was taken for a ride./ 2. To kill someone after kidnapping. * /The criminals took the man for a ride./ [take steps] {v. phr.} To begin to make plans or arrangements; make preparations; give orders. - Usually used with "to" and an infinitive. * /The city is taking steps to replace its streetcars with busses./ [take stock] {v. phr.} 1. To count exactly the items of merchandise or supplies in stock; take inventory. * /The grocery store took stock every week on Monday mornings./ 2. To study carefully a situation, or a number of possibilities or opportunities. * /During the battle the commander paused to take stock of the situation./ Compare: SIZE UP. [take stock in] {v. phr.}, {informal} To have faith in; trust; believe. - Usually used in the negative. * /He took no stock in the idea that women were better cooks than men./ * /They took little or no stock in the boy's story that he had lost the money./ * /Do you take any stock in the gossip about Joan?/ [take the bit in one's mouth] also [take the bit in one's teeth] {adv. phr.} To have your own way; take charge of things; take control of something. * /When Mary wanted something, she was likely to take the bit in her teeth and her parents could do nothing with her./ Compare: TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS, TAKE THE LAW INTO ONE'S OWN HANDS. [take the bread out of one's mouth] {v. phr.} To take away or not give your rightful support, especially through selfish pleasure. * /She accused her husband of drinking and gambling - taking bread out of his children's mouths./ [take the bull by the horns] {v. phr.}, {informal} To take definite action and not care about risks; act bravely in a difficulty. * /He decided to take the bull by the horns and demand a raise in salary even though it might cost him his job./ Compare: TAKE THE BIT IN ONE'S MOUTH, TAKE THE LAW INTO ONE'S OWN HANDS. [take the cake] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To take the first prize; be the best; rank first. * /Mr. Jones takes the cake as a storyteller./ 2. To be the limit; to be the worst; have a lot of nerve; be a very rude, bold, or surprising action. * /I let Jack borrow my baseball and he never gave it back. Doesn't that take the cake?/ * /For being absent-minded, Mr. Smith takes the cake./ Compare: BEAT ALL. [take the day off] See: DAY OFF. [take the defensive] Contrast: TAKE THE OFFENSIVE. [take the edge off] also [take off the edge] {v. phr.} To lessen, weaken, soften or make dull. * /Eating a candy bar before dinner has taken the edge off Becky's appetite./ * /Bob was sorry for hurting Tom and that took the edge off Tom's anger./ * /A headache took the edge off Dick's pleasure in the movie./ [take the fifth] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. Taking refuge behind the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States which guarantees any witness the right not to incriminate himself while testifying at a trial. * /Alger Hiss took the Fifth when asked whether he was a member of the Communist Party./ 2. Not to answer any question in an informal setting. * /Have you been married before? - I take the Fifth./ [take the floor] {v. phr.} To get up and make a speech in a meeting. * /The audience became very attentive the moment the president took the floor./ [take the law into one's own hands] {v. phr.} To protect one's supposed rights or punish a suspected wrongdoer without reference to a court. - An overused expression. * /When the men of the settlement caught the suspected murderer, they took the law into their own hands and hanged him to a tree./ * /His farm was going to be sold for taxes, but he took the law into his own hands and drove the sheriff away with a shotgun./ Compare: LAW UNTO ONESELF, TAKE THE BIT IN ONE'S MOUTH. [take the lid off] {v. phr.} 1. To let out in the open; divulge. * /It's about time to take the lid off the question of how many prisoners of war are still in enemy hands./ 2. To start to face an issue. * /"The best way to deal with your divorce," the doctor said to Fran, "is to take the lid off of it."/ Compare: BLOW THE LID OFF, LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG. [take the measure of] See: TAKE ONE'S MEASURE. [take the offensive] {v. phr.} To make oneself the attacking party. * /After many months of preparation, the freedom fighters were ready to take the offensive./ Contrast TAKE THE DEFENSIVE. [take the pledge] {v. phr.} To swear to give up drinking, smoking, or using drugs. * /Gary finally took the pledge and he has kept it thus far./ [take the plunge] {v. phr.} To take a fatal or decisive step; venture. * /When I asked Don when he and Melissa were going to get married, he answered that they'll take the plunge in September./ [take the rap] {v. phr.}, {slang} To receive punishment; to be accused and punished. * /All of the boys took apples, but only John took the rap./ * /Joe took the burglary rap for his brother and went to prison for two years./ [take the stand] {v. phr.} To assume one's position in the witness box during a trial. * /The judge asked the defendant to take the stand./ [take the starch out of] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To make (someone) feel weak or tired. * /The hot weather took the starch out of Mrs. Jones, and she didn't feel like doing a thing./ * /The cross-country run took all the starch out of the boys./ 2. See: TAKE THE WIND OUT OF ONE'S SAILS. [take the stump] or [take to the stump] {v. phr.} To travel around to different places making political speeches. * /The men running for president took to the stump to attract votes./ [take the trouble] See: GO TO THE TROUBLE. [take the wind out of one's sails] {v. phr.} To surprise someone by doing better or by catching him in an error. * /John came home boasting about the fish he had caught; it took the wind out of his sails when he found his little sister had caught a bigger one./ * /Dick took the wind out of Bob's sails by showing him where he was wrong./ Compare: TAKE THE STARCH OUT OF(2). [take the words out of one's mouth] {v. phr.} To say what another is just going to say; to put another's thought into words. * /"Let's go to the beach tomorrow." "You took the words right out of my mouth; I was thinking of that."/ * /I was going to suggest a movie, but she took the words out of my mouth and said she would like to see one./ [take things easy] See: TAKE IT EASY(2). [take time off] See: TIME OFF; Compare: DAY OFF. [take time out] See: TIME OUT. [take to] {v.} 1. To go to or into; get yourself quickly to. - Often used in the imperative. * /Take to the hills! The bandits are coming!/ * /We took to the woods during the day so no one would see us./ * /Take to the boats! The ship is sinking./ * /We stopped at a hotel for the night but took to the road again the next morning./ 2. To begin the work or job of; make a habit of. * /He took to repairing watches in his spare time./ * /She took to knitting when she got older./ * /Grandfather took to smoking cigars when he was young and he still smokes them./ * /Uncle Willie took to drink while he was a sailor./ * /The cat took to jumping on the table at mealtime./ 3. To learn easily; do well at. * /Father tried to teach John to swim, but John didn't take to it./ * /Mary takes to mathematics like a duck takes to water./ 4. To like at first meeting; be pleased by or attracted to; accept quickly. * /Our dog always takes to children quickly./ * /Mary didn't take kindly to the new rule that her mother made of being home at 6 o'clock./ [take to heart] also [lay to heart] {v. phr.} To be seriously affected by; to feel deeply. * /He took his brother's death very much to heart./ * /He took his friend's advice to heart./ [take to one's heels] also [show a clean pair of heels] {v. phr.} To begin to run or run away. * /When he heard the police coming, the thief took to his heels./ [take to task] {v. phr.} To reprove or scold for a fault or error. * /He took his wife to task for her foolish wastefulness./ * /The principal took Bill to task for breaking the window./ [take to the cleaners] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To win all the money another person has (as in poker). * /Watch out if you play poker with Joe; he'll take you to the cleaners./ 2. To cheat a person out of his money and possessions by means of a crooked business transaction or other means of dishonest conduct. * /I'll never forgive myself for becoming associated with Joe; he took me to the cleaners./ [take to the woods] {v. phr.}, {informal} To run away and hide. * /When John saw the girls coming, he took to the woods./ * /Bob took to the woods so he would not have to mow the grass./ Compare: HEAD FOR THE HILLS. [take turns] {v. phr.} To do something one after another instead of doing it all at the same time. * /In class we should not talk all at the same time; we should take turns./ * /Jean and Beth took turns on the swing./ * /The two boys took turns at digging the hole./ * /The three men took turns driving so one would not be too tired./ [take under one's wing] See: UNDER ONE'S WING. [take up] {v.} 1. To remove by taking in. * /Use a blotter to take up the spilled ink./ * /When the vacuum cleaner bag is full, it will not take up dirt from the rug./ 2. To fill or to occupy. * /All his evenings were taken up with study./ * /The oceans take up the greater part of the earth's surface./ * /The mayor has taken up residence on State Street./ 3. To gather together; collect. * /We are taking up a collection to buy flowers for John because he is in the hospital./ 4. To take away. * /John had his driver's license taken up for speeding./ 5a. To begin; start. * /The teacher took up the lesson where she left off yesterday./ 5b. To begin to do or learn; go into as a job or hobby. * /He recently took up gardening./ * /He took up the carpenter's trade as a boy./ Compare: GO INTO(3), GO IN FOR, TAKE TO. 6. To pull and make tight or shorter; shorten. * /The tailor took up the legs of the trousers./ * /Take up the slack on the rope!/ Compare: TAKE IN(3). 7. To take or accept something that is offered. * /The boss offered me a $5 raise and I took him up./ * /I took John up on his bet./ Compare: JUMP AT. [take up arms] {v. phr.}, {literary}. To get ready to fight; fight or make war. * /The people were quick to take up arms to defend their freedom./ * /The President called on people to take up arms against poverty./ Contrast: LAY DOWN ONE'S ARMS. [take upon oneself] See: TAKE ON ONESELF. [take up the cudgels for] {v. phr.}, {literary} To come to the defense of; to support or fight for. * /He was the first to take up the cudgels for his friend./ Compare: STAND UP FOR. [take up with] {v.} To begin to go around with (someone); see a lot of. * /Frank has taken up with Lucy lately./ [take with a grain of salt] also [take with a pinch of salt] {v. phr.} To accept or believe only in part; not accept too much. * /A man who says he is not a candidate for President should usually have his statement taken with a grain of salt./ * /We took Uncle George's stories of the war with a pinch of salt./ [taking pictures] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon} To use a radar-operated speed indicator in order to enforce the 55 MPH speed limit. * /The Smokeys are taking pictures!/ [tale] See: TELL TALES OUT OF SCHOOL. [talent scout] {n. phr.} A person employed by a large organization to seek out promising and gifted individuals. * /Gordon has been working as a talent scout for a television program./ Compare: HEAD HUNTING(2). [talent show] {n.} An entertainment in which new entertainers try to win a prize. * /Mary won the talent show by her dancing./ * /The people liked Bill's singing in the talent show./ [talk] See: DOUBLE-TALK, PEP TALK, SALES TALK, SWEET TALK. [talk a blue streak] {v. phr.}, {informal} To talk on and on, usually very fast. * /Sue is a nice girl but after one drink she talks a blue streak and won't stop./ [talk back] also [answer back] {v.} {informal} To answer rudely; reply in a disrespectful way; be fresh. * /When the teacher told the boy to sit down, he talked back to her and said she couldn't make him./ * /Mary talked back when her mother told her to stop watching television; she said, "I don't have to if I don't want to."/ * /Russell was going somewhere with some bad boys, when his father told him it was wrong, Russell answered him back, "Mind your own business."/ [talk big] {v.}, {informal} To talk boastfully; brag. * /He talks big about his pitching, but he hasn't won a game./ [talk down] {v.} 1. To make (someone) silent by talking louder or longer. * /Sue tried to give her ideas, but the other girls talked her down./ Compare: SHOUT DOWN(2). To use words or ideas that are too easy. * /The speaker talked down to the students, and they were bored./ [talking book] {n.} A book recorded by voice on phonograph records for blind people. * /Billy, who was blind, learned history from a talking book./ [talking point] {n.} Something good about a person or thing that can be talked about in selling it. * /The streamlined shape of the car was one of its talking points./ * /John tried to get Mary to date Bill. One of his talking points was that Bill was captain of the football team./ [talk in circles] {v. phr.} To waste time by saying words that don't mean very much. * /After three hours at the negotiating table, the parties decided to call it quits because they realized that they had been talking in circles./ [talk into] {v.} 1. To get (someone) to agree to; make (someone) decide on (doing something) by talking; persuade to. - Used with a verbal noun. * /Bob talked us into walking home with him./ Compare: TALK OVER(2). Contrast TALK OUT OF. 2. To cause to be in or to get into by talking. * /You talked us into this mess. Now get us out!/ * /Mr. Jones lost the customer in his store by arguing with him./ * /"You'll talk us into the poor house yet!" said Mrs. Jones./ Contrast: TALK OUT OF. [talk of the town] {n. phr.} Something that has become so popular or prominent that everyone is discussing it. * /Even after three decades, Picasso's famous metal statue is still the talk of the town in Chicago./ [talk out] {v.} To talk all about and leave nothing out; discuss until everything is agreed on; settle. * /After their quarrel, Jill and John talked things out and reached full agreement./ [talk out of] {v.} 1. To persuade not to; make agree or decide not to. - Used with a verbal noun. * /Mary's mother talked her out of quitting school./ Contrast: TALK INTO. 2. To allow to go or get out by talking; let escape by talking. * /Johnny is good at talking his way out of trouble./ Contrast: TALK INTO. [talk out of turn] See: SPEAK OUT OF TURN. [talk over] {v.} 1. To talk together about; try to agree about or decide by talking; discuss. * /Tom talked his plan over with his father before he bought the car./ * /The boys settled their argument by talking it over./ 2. To persuade; make agree or willing; talk and change the mind of. * /Fred is trying to talk Bill over to our side./ Compare: TALK INTO. [talk rot] {v. phr.} To say silly things; talk nonsense. * /He's talking rot when he says that our company is almost bankrupt./ [talk shop] {v. phr.}, {informal} To talk about things in your work or trade. * /Two chemists were talking shop, and I hardly understood a word they said./ [talk through one's hat] {v. phr.}, {informal} To say something without knowing or understanding the facts; talk foolishly or ignorantly. * /John said that the earth is nearer the sun in summer, but the teacher said he was talking through his hat./ [talk turkey] {v. phr.}, {informal} To talk about something in a really businesslike way; talk with the aim of getting things done. * /Charles said, "Now, let's talk turkey about the bus trip. The fact is, it will cost each student $1.50."/ * /The father always spoke gently to his son, but when the son broke the windshield of the car, the father talked turkey to him./ [talk up] {v.} 1. To speak in favor or support of. * /Let's talk up the game and get a big crowd./ 2. To speak plainly or clearly. * /The teacher asked the student to talk up./ Syn.: SPEAK UP. 3. {informal} To say what you want or think; say what someone may not like. * /Talk up if you want more pie./ * /George isn't afraid to talk up when he disagrees with the teacher./ Syn.: SPEAK UP. Compare: SPEAK OUT. [tall order] See: LARGE ORDER. [tall story] or [tale] {n. phr.} See: FISH STORY. [tamper with] {v.} 1. To meddle with (something); handle ignorantly or foolishly. * /He tampered with the insides of his watch and ruined it./ 2. To secretly get someone to do or say wrong things, especially by giving him money, or by threatening to hurt him. * /A friend of the man being tried in court tampered with a witness./ [tank] See: THINK TANK. [tan one's hide] {v. phr.}, {informal} To give a beating to; spank hard. * /Bob's father tanned his hide for staying out too late./ [tape] See: FRICTION TAPE, MASKING TAPE. [taper down] {adj. phr.} To decrease; reduce. * /He has tapered down his drinking from three martinis to one beer a day./ [taper off] {v.} 1. To come to an end little by little; become smaller toward the end. * /The river tapers off here and becomes a brook./ 2. To stop a habit gradually; do something less and less often. * /Robert gave up smoking all at once instead of tapering off./ Contrast: COLD TURKEY. [tar] See: BEAT THE --- OUT OF. [tar and feather] {v.} To pour heated tar on and cover with feathers as a punishment. * /In the Old West bad men were sometimes tarred and feathered and driven out of town./ [task] See: TAKE TO TASK. [taste] See: LEAVE A BAD TASTE IN ONE'S MOUTH. [tat] See: TIT FOR TAT. [tax trap] {n.}, {informal} Predicament in which taxpayers in middle-income brackets are required to pay steeply progressive rates of taxation as their earnings rise with inflation but their personal exemptions remain fixed, resulting in a loss of real disposable income. * /Everybody in my neighborhood has been caught in a tax trap./ [T-bone steak] {n.} A steak with a bone in it which looks like a "T". * /On Jim's birthday we had T-bone steak for supper./ [tea] See: CUP OF TEA also DISH OF TEA. [teach a lesson] {v. phr.} To show that bad behavior can be harmful. * /When Johnny pulled Mary's hair, she taught him a lesson by breaking his toy boat./ * /The burns Tommy got from playing with matches taught him a lesson./ [teach the ropes] See: THE ROPES. [team up with] {v. phr.} To join with; enter into companionship with. * /My brother prefers to do business by himself rather than to team up with anybody else./ [teapot] See: TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT. [tear around] {v. phr.} To be constantly on the go; dash around. * /No one can understand how she manages to tear around from one social event to another and yet be a good mother to her children./ [tear down] {v.} 1. To take all down in pieces; destroy. * /The workmen tore down the old house and built a new house in its place./ 2. To take to pieces or parts. * /The mechanics had to tear down the engine, and fix it, and put it together again./ 3. To say bad things about; criticize. * /"Why do you always tear people down? Why don't you try to say nice things about them?"/ * /Dorothy doesn't like Sandra, and at the class meeting she tore down every idea Sandra suggested./ [tear into] {v. phr.} To attack vigorously, physically or verbally. * /The anxious buyers tore into the wedding gowns on sale at the famous department store./ See: RIP INTO. [tearjerker] {n.} A sentimental novel or movie that makes one cry. * /Love Story, both in its novel form and as a movie, was a famous tearjerker./ [tear oneself away] {v. phr.} To force oneself to leave; leave reluctantly. * /The beaches in Hawaii are so lovely that I had to tear myself away from them in order to get back to my job in Chicago./ [tear one's hair] {v. phr.} To show sorrow, anger, or defeat. * /Ben tore his hair when he saw the wrecked car./ * /The teacher tore his hair at the boy's stupid answer./ * /It was time to go to class, but Mary had not finished the report she had to give, and she began tearing her hair./ [tears] See: BORE TO TEARS, CROCODILE TEARS. [tear up] {v.} 1. To dig a hole in; remove the surface of; remove from the surface. * /The city tore up the street to lay a new water pipe./ * /Mother tore up the carpeting in the living room and had a new rug put in./ 2. To tear into pieces. * /Mary tore up the old sheets and made costumes for the play out of the pieces./ * /John tore up his test paper so that his mother wouldn't see his low grade./ [tee off] {v.} 1. To hit the golf ball from a small wooden peg or tee to begin play for each hole. * /We got to the golf course just in time to see the champion tee off./ 2. {slang} To hit a ball, especially a baseball very hard or far. * /He teed off on the first pitch./ 3. {slang} To attack vigorously. * /The governor teed off on his opponent's speech./ 4. {slang} To make (someone) angry or disgusted. * /It teed me off when Billy stole my candy./ * /Joe was teed off because he had to wait so long./ [teeth] See: TOOTH. [tee up] {v.} To set the golf ball on the tee in preparation for hitting it toward the green. * /Arnold Palmer teed the ball up for the final hole./ [telepathy] See: MENTAL TELEPATHY. [tell] See: DO TELL, I'LL SAY or I TELL YOU, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, I'M TELLING YOU, YOU'RE TELLING ME, YOU TELL 'EM. [tell apart] {v. phr.} To see the difference between; know each of. * /The teacher could not tell the twins apart./ [tell a thing or two] {v. phr.}, {informal} To tell in plain or angry words; scold. * /When John complained about the hard work, his father told him a thing or two./ * /If Bert thinks he would like to join the army, I'll tell him a thing or two that will make him change his mind./ Compare: BAWL OUT, GIVE A PIECE OF ONE'S MIND, TELL OFF, THING OR TWO. [tell it like it is] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To be honest, sincere; to tell the truth. * /Joe is the leader of our commune; he tells it like it is./ [tell it to the marines] or [tell it to Sweeney] {slang} I don't believe you; Stop trying to fool me. * /John said, "My father knows the President of the United States." Dick answered, "Tell it to the marines."/ [tell off] {v.} 1. To name or count one by one and give some special duty to; give a share to. * /Five boy scouts were told off to clean the camp./ 2. {informal} To speak to angrily or sharply; attack with words; scold. * /Mr. Black got angry and told off the boss./ * /Bobby kept pulling Sally's hair; finally she got angry and told him where to get off./ Syn.: TELL ONE WHERE TO GET OFF. Compare: GIVE A PIECE OF ONE'S MIND, LAY DOWN THE LAW, TELL A THING OR TWO. [tell on] {v.} 1. To tire; wear out; make weak. * /The ten-mile hike told on Bill./ 2. {informal} To tell someone about another's wrong or naughty acts. - Used mainly by children. * /Andy hit a little girl and John told the teacher on Andy./ * /If you hit me, I'll tell Mother on you./ [tell tales out of school] {v. phr.} To tell something that is secret; tell others something that is not meant to be known. * /Don't tell Jane anything. She is always telling tales out of school./ Compare: LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG, SPILL THE BEANS. [tell one where to get off] or [tell one where to head in] {v. phr.}, {informal} To talk angrily to; speak to or answer with rough language; scold. * /Bob told Ted to get out of his way. Ted told Bob where to get off./ * /Mary laughed at Barbara's hairdo. Barbara told Mary where to head in./ Compare: TELL A THING OR TWO, TELL OFF. [tell time] {v. phr.} To read a clock or watch. * /Although Johnny is only three years old, he is already able to tell time./ [tell you what] See: I'LL TELL YOU WHAT. [temper] See: GOD TEMPERS THE WIND TO THE SHORN LAMB, HOLD ONE'S TEMPER or KEEP ONE'S TEMPER, LOSE ONE'S TEMPER. [temperature] See: RUN A TEMPERATURE. [tempest in a teapot] {n. phr.} Great excitement about something not important. * /Bess tore her skirt a little and made a tempest in a teapot./ [tempt fate] or [tempt the fates] {v. phr.} To take a chance; run a risk; gamble. * /You're tempting fate every time you drive that old wreck of a car./ [ten] See: DIME STORE or FIVE-AND-TEN, COUNT TO TEN. [ten-four?] {v. phr.}, {interrog.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon} Do you understand? * /Is that a ten-four?/ [ten gallon hat] {n.}, {informal} A tall felt hat with a wide, rolled brim worn by men in the western part of the U.S. * /Men from the southwest usually wear ten gallon hats./ [ten roger] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon} I acknowledge. * /That's a ten roger./ [ten to one] or [two to one] {adv.} or {adj. phr.}, {informal} Almost certainly, nearly sure to be true; very likely to happen. * /Ten to one it will rain tomorrow./ * /It is ten; to one that Bill will be late./ [term] See: BRING TO TERMS, COME TO TERMS, IN SO MANY WORDS(2) or IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS, IN TERMS OF. [terror] See: HOLY TERROR. [test] See: ROAD TEST, SCREEN TEST. [tether] See: END OF ONE'S ROPE or END OF ONE'S TETHER. [than] See: LESS THAN, LESS THAN NO TIME, MORE THAN. [thank one's lucky stars] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be thankful for good luck; think oneself lucky. * /You can thank your lucky stars you didn't fall in the hole./ [thanks to] {prep.} 1. With the help of. * /Thanks to a good teacher, John passed the examination./ * /I finally finished washing the dishes, no thanks to you./ 2. Owing to; because of. * /Thanks to a sudden rain, the children came home with wet clothes./ [that is] or [that is to say] I mean; that means; in other words. * /John is a New Yorker; that is, he lives in New York./ * /Susan is a good student; that is to say, she gets good grades in school./ [that is that] or [that's that] {informal} The matter is decided; there is nothing more to be said; it is done. * /Jim, you will go to school this morning, and that is that./ [that'll be the day] {informal} That will never happen. * /Joe wanted me to lend him money to take my girl to the movies. That'll be the day!/ * /"Wouldn't it be nice if we had to go to school only one day a week?" "That'll be the day!"/ [That makes two of us!] Informal way to say, "I am in agreement with what you arc saying or doing." * /So you voted for Senator Aldridge? So did I - that makes two of us./ [That takes care of that!] Informal way to say, "That concludes our business." * /I paid my ex-wife the last alimony check and that takes care of that!/ [That will do!] Informal expression of impatience meaning "stop," "no more." * /"That will do, Tommy," his mother cried. "I've had just about enough of your drumming on the table."/ [that's --- for you] That's the way (someone or something) is; (someone or something) is like that. * /John tried hard, but he lost the game. That's life for you./ * /Mary changed her mind about going. That's a girl for you./ [That's about the size of it!] Informal way to say, "What you said is true; the rumor or the news is true." * /"I am told you're leaving our firm for Japan," Fred said to Tom. "That's about the size of it," Tom replied with a grin./ [That's the story of my life...] Usually spoken when something goes wrong. * /I spent seven years writing a novel, but no publisher wants to accept it. That's the story of my life./ [That's the ticket!] Informal way to say, "excellent; correct." * /"First we'll go up the Sears Tower, and then we'll take a night sightseeing tour on the lake," Fran said. "That's the ticket!" Stan, an old inhabitant of Chicago, replied./ [That's the way the ball bounces] or [the cookie crumbles!] Nothing unusual about that. - Said of unpleasant things. * /"Susan left me for a heavyweight boxer, and then I got drunk and wrecked my car," Bob bitterly complained. "Well, that's the way the cookie crumbles," Pam answered philosophically./ [theater] See: LITTLE THEATER. [the business] {n.}, {slang} - Usually used with "give" or "get". 1. All that you are able to do; greatest effort. * /Johnny gave the tryouts the business but he failed to make the team./ 2. The most harm possible; the greatest damage or hurt. * /Fred got the business when Tom caught him with his bicycle./ 3. A harsh scolding. * /The teacher gave Walter the business when he came to school late again./ * /Mike thought he was the star of the team until he got the business from the coach./ Compare: THE WORKS. [The cat did it!] A humorous and convenient way to pass the blame. * /"My vase is broken!" Mother shrieked in horror. "Well," Dad smirked cynically, "I guess the cat did it!"/ [the creeps] {n.}, {informal} 1. An uncomfortable tightening of the skin caused by fear or shock. * /Reading the story of a ghost gave Joe the creeps./ * /The queer noises in the old house gave Mary the creeps./ 2. A strong feeling of fear or disgust. * /The cold, damp, lonely swamp gave John the creeps./ * /The dog was so ugly it gave Mary the creeps./ [the devil to pay] {n. phr.} A severe penalty. * /If we don't finish the work by next Monday, there will be the devil to pay./ [the edge] {n.}, {informal} The advantage. - Usually used in the phrases "get the edge on", "have the edge on". * /In the last quarter of the game, our team got the edge on the other team and kept it./ * /Mary has the edge on Jane in the beauty contest./ [the fickle finger of fate] See: ACT OF GOD. [the idea] or [the very idea] {n. phr.} - Used in exclamations to show that you do not like something. * /The idea! Thinking Mother was my sister!/ * /The very idea of Tom bringing that dirty dog into my clean house!/ [the lid] {n.}, {slang} Something that holds back or holds out of sight. * /The police blew the lid off the gambling operations./ * /John kept the lid on his plans until he was ready to run for class president./ * /The chief of police placed the lid on gambling in the town./ [the likes of] {informal} Something like or similar to; something of the same kind as. * /I have never seen the likes of John./ * /It was a chocolate sundae the likes of which Mary would never see again./ [the long and the short] or [the long and short] {n. phr.} All that needs to be said; the basic fact; point. * /The long and the short of the matter is that the man is no actor./ * /The money isn't there, and that's the long and short of it./ [the matter] {adj.} Not as it should be; wrong. - Used in questions or with negatives or "if". * /Why don't you answer me? What's the matter?/ * /John may be slow in arithmetic, but nothing's the matter with his pitching arm./ * /If anything is the matter, please tell me./ [the more --- the more ---] or [the ---er the ---er] - Used in two halves of a sentence to show that when there is more of the first, there is more of the second too. * /The more you eat. the fatter you will get./ * /Get your report in when you can; the sooner, the better./ * /The bigger they are, the harder they fall./ * /The more Bill worked on the arithmetic problem, the more confused he became./ [then] See: AND THEN SOME, EVERY NOW AND THEN, NOW AND THEN. [then again] {adv.} As an opposite possibility; another thing. * /He may be here tomorrow. Then again, he may not come until next week./ * /I thought you told me about the fire, but then again it could have been Bill./ [then and there] {adv. phr.} At that very time and place in the past; right then. * /He said he wanted his dime back then and there, so I had to give it to him./ Compare: IN ONE'S TRACKS, ON THE SPOT, HERE AND NOW. [the other day] {adv. phr.} In the recent past. * /I saw an incredible parade of elephants along Michigan Avenue the other day on my way to work./ [the other way around] {adv. phr.} See: JUST THE OTHER WAY. [the picture] {n.} The way things are or were; the facts about something; the situation; what happened or happens. * /Where does Susan come into the picture./ * /When you are looking for a job your education enters into the picture./ * /Old Mr. Brown is out of the picture now and his son runs the store./ * /After the fight on the playground, the principal talked to the boys who were watching, until he got the whole picture./ Compare: GET THE MESSAGE. [the pits] {n.}, {slang} 1. A low class, blighted and ill-maintained place, motel room or apartment. * /Max, this motel is the pits, I will not sleep here!/ 2. The end of the road, the point of no return, the point of total ruin of one's health (from the drug anticulture referring to the arm-pits as the only place that had veins for injections). * /John flunked high school this year for the third time; he will never get to college; it's the pits for him./ 3. A very depressed state of mind. * /Poor Marcy is down in the pits over her recent divorce./ [the powers that be] {n. phr.} Constituted authority; those in power. * /I have done all I can; the rest is up to the powers that be./ [there] See: ALL THERE, HERE AND THERE, NEITHER HERE NOR THERE, THEN AND THERE. [There] or [here you are!] 1. Informal way to say, "Here is what you wanted." * /The doorman politely opened the door of the taxi and said, "There you are, sir!"/ * /The clerk wrapped up the package and handed it to the customer saying, "Here you are, ma'am!"/ 2. You have found the correct answer; you are correct. * /"The reason for the violent crime rate is the all too easy availability of handguns," he said. "Yeah, there you are!" Officer Maloney replied./ [there is more than one way to get a pig to market] or [flay a fox] or [skin a cat] There are always new and different ways to accomplish a difficult task. - A proverb. * /"'How did you get Tommy to study so hard?" Eleanor asked. "I simply disconnected the television set," Tommy's mother answered. "There's more than one way to get a pig to market."/ [there is nothing to it] Informal way to say, "It is easy." * /Cooking stir-fried Chinese food is really not difficult at all; in fact, there's nothing to it./ [There you go!] 1. Informal way to say, "You are doing it already and you are doing it well." * /"Is roller skating hard?" Freddie asked. "No," Beth replied, "let me show you how to do it. There you go!"/ 2. See: THERE or HERE YOU ARE(2). [the ropes] {n. plural}, {informal} Thorough or special knowledge of a job; how to do something; the ways of people or the world. * /On a newspaper a cub reporter learns his job from an older reporter who knows the ropes./ * /When you go to a new school it takes a while to learn the ropes./ * /Betty showed Jane the ropes when she was learning to make a dress./ * /Mr. Jones was an orphan and he had to learn the ropes when he was young to make his way in the world./ Compare: BE AROUND, INS AND OUTS, TRICK OF THE TRADE. [the score] {n.}, {slang} The truth; the real story or information; what is really happening; the way people and the world really are. * /Very few people know the score in politics./ * /You are too young to know the score yet./ * /What's the score anyhow? When will the program begin?/ Compare: KNOW ONE'S STUFF, KNOW ONE'S WAY AROUND, THE ROPES. [these] See: ONE OF THESE DAYS or SOME OF THESE DAYS. [the three R's] {n. phr.} (W)riting, reading, and (a)rithmetic, the three basic skills of an elementary education. * /Barry has completed the three R's, but otherwise he has had little formal education./ [the ticket] {n.} Exactly what is needed. - Often used with "just". * /This airtight locker is just the ticket for storing your winter clothes./ [the tracks] {n.} The line between the rich or fashionable part of town and the poor or unfashionable part of town. * /The poor children knew they would not be welcome on the other side of the tracks./ * /Mary's mother did not want her to date Jack, because he came from across the tracks./ - Often used in the expression "the wrong side of the tracks". * /The mayor was born on the wrong side of the tracks, but he worked hard and became successful./ [the whole way] See: ALL THE WAY. [the wiser] {adj.} Knowing about something which might be embarrassing of knowing. - Usually used with "nobody" or "no one". * /Mary took the teacher's book home by mistake, but early the next morning she returned it with nobody the wiser./ [the works] {n. plural}, {slang} 1. Everything that can be had or that you have; everything of this kind, all that goes with it. * /When the tramp found $100, he went into a fine restaurant and ordered the works with a steak dinner./ 1b. See: SHOOT THE WORKS. 2. Rough handling or treatment; a bad beating or scolding; killing; murder. - Usually used with "get" or "give". * /The boy said that Joe was going to get the works if he ever came back to that neighborhood again./ * /The newspaper gave the police department the works when they let the burglars get away./ * /The gangster told his friend he would give him the works if he double-crossed him./ Compare: THE BUSINESS. [they] See: LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY. [thick] See: BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER, LAY IT ON or LAY IT ON THICK, THROUGH THICK AND THIN. [thicker] See: BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER. [thin] See: INTO THIN AIR, OUT OF THIN AIR, SIT ON THIN ICE, SPREAD ONESELF TOO THIN, THROUGH THICK AND THIN, WEAR THIN. [thing] See: A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS A DANGEROUS