English Idioms - Alphabetical list -T

	Idiom	Meaning
T	On somebody's tail	If you are on somebody's tail, you follow them closely. "The suspect hasn't been arrested yet, but the police are on his tail."
	The tail wagging the dog	This expression is used to refer to a situation where there is a reversal of roles, with a small or minor element of something having a controlling influence on the most important element. "If you let your children decide on everything, it will be a case of the tail wagging the dog."
	Take a back seat	If you take a back seat, you choose to have a less important function and become less involved in something. "He decided it was time to take a back seat and let someone younger run the club."
	Take the bull by the horns	To take the bull by the horns means that a person decides to act decisively in order to deal with a difficult situation or problem. "When a number of children complained of bullying at school, Sally took the bull by the horns and called the headmaster.
	Take a fancy	If you take a fancy to someone or something, you develop a fondness or begin to like them. "I think John has taken a fancy to the new intern!"
	Take the floor	When someone takes the floor, they rise to make a speech or presentation. "When I take the floor, my speech will be short." he said.
	Take the law into one's own hands	If, instead of calling the police, you act personally against someone who has done something wrong, you take the law into your own hands. "Instead of calling the police, he took the law into his own hands and confronted the youth who had stolen his son's scooter."
	Take leave of one's senses	To say to someone 'have you taken leave of your senses?' means that you think their behaviour is crazy! "You're going skiing in this blizzard? Have you taken leave of your senses?"
	Take one's life in one's hands	To say that someone is taking their life in their hands means that they are taking the risk of being killed. "If you drive home on this icy road, you'll be taking your life in your hands."
	Take a load/weight off somebody's mind	If something takes a load or weight off somebody's mind, it brings great relief because a problem has been solved. "When the company closed down, finding a new job took a load off Tom's mind."
	Take it upon yourself	If you take something upon yourself, you do it without asking for permission or agreement. "My colleague took it upon herself to redecorate the office during my absence."
	Take matters into your own hands	If you take matters into your own hands, you take action yourself rather than waiting for others to act. "When Susan saw the lack of progress, she decided to take matters into her own hands."
	Take a nosedive	If something takes a nosedive, it drops or decreases in value very rapidly. "The stock market took a nosedive when the property market began to weaken."
	Take a rain check	To say that you will take a rain check means that you cannot accept an invitation or offer now, but you will be happy to accept it at a later date. "Do you mind if I take a rain check on that lunch invitation? I'm going to be away all week."
	Take the rough with the smooth	If you take the rough with the smooth, you accept what is unpleasant or difficult as well as what is pleasant or easy. "Life isn't always easy; you have to learn to take the rough with the smooth."
	Take (someone) down a peg	To take someone down a peg means to make that person realize that they are not as important as they think they are. "He was too proud. Somebody had to take him down a peg."
	Take somebody for a ride	If you are taken for a ride, you are deceived or cheated by someone. "When my father was persuaded to invest in the new casino, he was really taken for a ride."
	Take something in good part	A person who takes something in good part reacts to in a good- humoured way, without taking offence. "He got a lot of teasing about his promotion but he took it in good part."
	Take something in your stride	When in a difficult situation, you take it in your stride, you deal with the situation calmly and without any special effort. "When the take-over was announced, Tom stayed calm and took it in his stride."
	Take to something like a duck to water	If you take to something like a duck to water, you do it naturally and easily, without fear or hesitation. "When Sophie first tried skiing, she took to it like a duck to water"
	Take something lying down	If you take something lying down, you suffer as the result of an offensive act without reacting or protesting. "Jack won't take the accusation lying down - he'll fight to defend his reputation."
	Take something offline	If you suggest that a subject be taken offline, (during a meeting for example), you consider that it is a separate issue and should be discussed at another time. "Peter, you're confusing things, so let's take that offline shall we?"
	Take the sting out of something	If you take the sting out of something, you manage to reduce the severity or unpleasantness of something. "A comforting voice and sympathetic attitude can take the sting out of bad news."
	Take stock of a situation	If you take stock of a situation, you assess all the aspects in order to form an opinion. "He took time to take stock of the situation before making a suggestion."
	Take the words out of somebody's mouth	If you say exactly what someone else was going to say, you take the words out of their mouth. "I entirely agree with you. You took the words out of my mouth."
	Taken to the cleaners	If somebody is taken to the cleaners, they lose a lot of money in an unfair way, usually by being robbed or cheated. "When the company Tom had invested in went bankrupt, he realized he'd been taken to the cleaners."
	Talk shop	If you talk shop, you talk about your work or business in a social situation with someone you work with, and make the conversation boring for the others present. "I never go out with my colleagues because we inevitably end up talking shop."
	Talk the hind leg(s) off a donkey	This expression is used to describe a very talkative person. "It's difficult to end a conversation with Betty. She could talk the hind leg off a donkey!"
	Talk nineteen to the dozen	If someone talks nineteen to the dozen, they speak very quickly. "He was talking nineteen to the dozen so I didn't catch the whole story!"
	A tall story	A tall story is a statement or story which is difficult to believe because it sounds unlikely. "What he said about a stolen invention sounds like a tall story to me."
	A taste of one's own medicine	If you give someone a taste of their own medicine, you treat them in the same unpleasant way that they have treated you. "People who always arrive late should be given a taste of their own medicine."
	Not for all the tea in China	To say that you would not do something for all the tea in China means that you would not do it under any conditions. "I wouldn't live there for all the tea in China."
	Tear a strip off someone	If you tear a strip off someone, you reprimand them severely for doing something wrong. "The teacher tore a strip off Charlie for being late again."
	Tech savvy	People who are tech savvy have sufficient technical knowledge and skills to be comfortable using computers and other electronic devices and gadgets. "Many students are more tech-savvy than their teachers."
	By the skin of your teeth	To do something by the skin of your teeth means that you just manage to do it, but that you almost fail.
	Teeth chattering	If your teeth are chattering, you are extremely cold. "Was I cold? My teeth were chattering!"
	On tenterhooks	A person who is on tenterhooks is in a state of anxious suspense or excitement.
	Text-walking	This term refers to a recently-developed and somewhat dangerous habit of walking while texting a message on a mobile phone, completely unaware of what's happening around you. "In recent months there has been an increase in the number of serious injuries involving text-walkers."
	Thank one's lucky stars	When someone says they can thank their lucky stars, they are expressing heartfelt gratitude or feeling particularly fortunate. "I can thank my lucky stars I wasn't on the train that crashed."
	That figures!	This expression is used to say that something seems logical or is as expected. "We'll have to get a bigger car when the baby arrives." "That figures."
	That makes my blood boil!	If something makes your blood boil, it makes you really angry. "His condescending attitude made my blood boil!"
	That's going too far!	If you go too far, you do something that is considered extreme or unacceptable. "Stealing is bad, but stealing from a poor person is really going too far!"
	That makes two of us!	This expression is used to indicate agreement with what the other speaker has just said. "I found his speech rather boring." "That makes two of us "
	That's the last straw!	To say 'that's the last straw' expresses exasperation at the last in a series of unpleasant events which makes the situation intolerable. "After a harassing day of negotiating, the traffic jam was the last straw!"
	That takes the biscuit!	This expression refers to something very irritating or annoying. "After waiting for an hour, we were told that there were no seats left. That really took the biscuit!"
	There for the taking	If something is there for the taking, it is easy to obtain. "When our main competitor went out of business, the market was there for the taking."
	There wasn't a soul	To say that there wasn't a soul means that there was nobody. "We thought the museum would be crowded but there wasn't a soul."
	There's no accounting for taste	This expression is used to indicate surprise at another person's likes or dislikes. "She fell in love with a guy who's short, fat, bald and poor ... well, there's no accounting for taste!"
	As thick as thieves	If two people are as thick as thieves, it means that they are very good friends.
	Thin end of the wedge	To refer to an event or action as the thin end of the wedge means that it is thought to be the beginning of something that will become more serious "According to the media, today's outsourcing is just the thin end of the wedge."
	A thin line/ fine line	When there is a thin line between feelings or situations, there is a point where it is difficult to distinguish between them. "There's a thin line between showing concern and being indiscreet, so don't overdo it!"
	Thin on the top	If someone, usually a man, is said to be thin on the top, they are losing their hair or going bald. "Dad's gone a bit thin on the top in the last few years."
	A thing of the past	This expression refers to something which no longer exists or is rarely used today. "Few people use video cassettes today - they're becoming a thing of the past."
	Think again	If you tell someone to think again, you advise them to reconsider the situation and perhaps change their decision. "Your apartment is so well located; you should think again before selling it."
	Think outside the box/out of the box	People who think outside the box try to find innovative ideas or solutions. "Our competitors are more creative than us - they really think outside the box.
	Think the world of someone	If you think the world of someone, you like or admire them very much. "She's a wonderful grandmother - the children think the world of her."
	Thinly veiled	If something such as a feeling or reaction is thinly veiled, it is barely hidden. "His disappointment was thinly veiled when he saw what he had won."
	A thorn in your side	If you say someone is a thorn in your side, you mean that they continually irritate or annoy you.
	A thorny issue	If you are faced with a thorny issue, you have to deal with a difficult or unpleasant problem. "Copyright and content duplication are thorny issues these days."
	Thrilled to bits	If someone is thrilled to bits, they are extremely pleased about something. "Julie was thrilled to bits when her project was selected."
	Through thick and thin	If you support someone through thick and thin, you remain loyal to them in good times and in bad times, whatever the difficulties may be. "The two friends swore that they stick together through thick and thin."
	Throw good money after bad	Someone who spends additional money on something that was already considered a bad investment is said to throw good money after bad. "Buying a second-hand computer and then spending money to have it repaired is throwing good money after bad!"
	Throw it over the wall	If someone throws something over the wall, they deal with part of a problem or project, then pass responsibility to another person or department without any communication or coordination. "You can't just manufacture a product and then throw it over the wall to the sales department."
	Throw someone a bone	If you throw someone a bone, you say something kind or reward them in some way to make them feel good. "The old man can't help very much but Bill throws him a bone now and then to keep him happy."
	Throw money at something	If you throw money at something, you try to solve a problem by spending money on it, without using any other methods. "The refugee problem cannot be solved just by throwing money at it."
	Throw pearls to the pigs (cast pearls before swine)	This expression means that it is a waste to offer something valuable or useful to someone who does not understand or appreciate it. "She had a beautifully trained voice but the audience didn't listen - talk about throwing pearls to pigs!"
	Throw something together	If you throw something together, you make or produce something quickly and without effort. "Why don't you stay for dinner - I'll throw something together!"
	Throw a tantrum	If a person, especially a child, throws a tantrum, they become very angry and behave in an unreasonable way. "My sister's little boy is always throwing tantrums - no wonder they don't have many visitors!"
	Throw in the towel	If you throw in the towel, you admit that you cannot succeed in doing something or that you are defeated. "After unsuccessfully competing in several championships, she decided to throw in the towel and go back to college."
	At each other's throats	Two people who are at each other's throats are always fighting or arguing. "The two candidates are constantly at each other's throats."
	Ram something down someone's throat	This means to force someone to accept something against their will.
	Through the grapevine	If you hear of something through the grapevine, you learn about it informally, for example through friends, colleagues or acquaintances. "How did you hear that? Oh, through the grapevine as usual!"
	Throw caution to the wind	If you throw caution to the wind, you start taking risks and stop worrying about the danger involved. "I decided to throw caution to the wind and invest in my best friend's new company."
	Throw dust in somebody's eyes	If you throw dust in somebody's eyes, you prevent them from seeing the truth by misleading them. "He threw dust in the old lady's eyes by pretending to be a police officer, then stole her jewellery."
	Tickle the ivories	This is a humorous way of talking about playing the piano. "My grandfather loves playing the piano; he tickles the ivories whenever he gets the chance."
	Tide (someone) over	If you tide someone over, you support or sustain them through a difficult period for a certain length of time. "With this weather it's impossible to get to the shops, but we have enough food to tide us over until next week."
	Tie the knot	When two people tie the knot, they get married. "Guess what! Tom and Sarah are finally going to tie the knot!"
	Tie yourself (up) in knots	If you tie yourself up in knots, you become totalled confused or confuse others when trying to explain something. "She tied herself up in knots when she tried to explain the rules of the game."
	Tied to somebody's apron strings	If one person is tied to another's apron strings, they remain dependent at an age when they should be independent. "All his decisions are influenced by his mother. He's still tied to her apron strings."
	Tight squeeze	If you are in a tight squeeze, you are in a cramped or crowded situation. "We managed to get on the bus but it was a tight squeeze."
	Tight spot	Someone who is in a tight spot is in a very difficult situation. "The recent strike has put the airline company in a tight spot."
	Till the cows come home	If you say till the cows come home you mean for a long time or forever. "You can ask till the cows come home but I'm not buying you a scooter!"
	Time on your hands.	If you have time on your hands, you have a lot of free time, usually more than you need or want. "Since he retired, Bill has too much time on his hands. He should take up a hobby!"
	Time of your life	If you have the time of your life, you enjoy yourself very much. "The kids had the time of their lives at Disneyland."
	Time is ripe	If the time is ripe for something, it is the right moment to do it. "He sold his business when the time was ripe."
	Time on your side	If you have time on your side, you can afford to wait before doing or achieving something. "He didn't succeed this time, but he's young enough to try again. He's got time on his side. "
	In one's own sweet time	If you do something in your own sweet time, you take as long as you please to do it, in spite of the orders or wishes of others. "OK, I'll do it - but in my own sweet time!"
	Tip of the iceberg	The tip of the iceberg is the part that is known of a problem or situation which is thought to be much more serious. "Journalists say that the report on corruption only examines the tip of the iceberg."
	Tit for tat	This expression refers to an injury or insult given in return for one received. "He kicked me, so I kicked him - it was tit for tat!"
	Keep someone on their toes	If you keep someone on their toes, you make them stay alert and ready for action at any time.
	By the same token	If you apply the same rule to different situations, you judge them by the same token, or in a similar way. "Teenagers should be less rebellious, but by the same token, parents should be more understanding.
	Tomorrow's another day	This expression means that even if everything is not satisfactory at present, there will be opportunity for things to improve. "For the moment you need some rest; tomorrow's another day!"
	Bite your tongue.	To "bite your tongue" means that you do not say what you really want to say.
	Tongue-lashing	When you scold someone severely, you give them a tongue- lashing. "The teacher gave Jeremy a tongue-lashing when he arrived late for school."
	Tongue-tied	If you are tongue-tied, you have difficulty in expressing yourself because you are nervous or embarrassed. "At the start of the interview I was completely tongue-tied, but little by little I relaxed."
	On the tip of your tongue	To say that a word or an answer is on the tip of your tongue means that you're sure you know it but have difficulty finding it. "What's that actor's name? Wait ... I know it - it's on the tip of my tongue!"
	Tongue in cheek	If you describe a remark as tongue in cheek, you mean that it is not meant to be taken seriously; it is meant to be funny or ironic. "Peter's remark was taken more seriously than intended. It was supposed to be tongue in cheek."
	Tongues are wagging	When tongues are wagging, people are beginning to gossip or spread rumours about someone's private life. "The photograph of the couple that appeared in a magazine really set tongues wagging!"
	Toot (or blow) your own horn	If you toot your own horn, you like to boast about your abilities and achievements "Jack is very discreet about his success. He doesn't go round tooting his own horn."
	Top dog	To say that a person, group or country is top dog means that they are better or more powerful than others. "She's top dog in cosmetics today."
	Top notch	To say that something is top notch means that it is of the highest possible quality or standard. "The hotel was wonderful and the service was top notch."
	Toss-up	When there are two options or possibilities to chose from, and both are equally good, the choice between the two is referred to as a toss-up (like tossing a coin). "Both boxers are in excellent condition. It's a toss-up which of them will win the match."
	Touch base	If you touch base with someone, you make contact or renew communication with them. "I'll try to touch base with you next week in London.
	Touch wood/knock on wood	This humorous expression, based on superstition, is used to avoid bad luck, often while touching something made of wood. "The order will be confirmed shortly - touch wood!"
	Not touch something with a ten-foot pole	If you decide not to touch something with a ten-foot pole, you refuse to get involved with something or somebody. "I wouldn't touch politics with a ten-foot pole!"
	Touch-and-go	If something is touch-and-go, the outcome or result is uncertain. "Dave's life is out of danger now, but it was touch-and-go after the operation."
	Tough cookie	A person who is a tough cookie is one who is self-confident and ambitious and will do what is necessary to achieve what they want. "I'm not worried about Jason's future. He's a tough cookie!"
	Train of thought	A sequence of connected ideas is called a train of thought. "I was considering the different options when the noise outside broke my train of thought."
	Travel light	When you travel light, you travel with as little luggage as possible. "If you intend to go trekking, you'd better travel light."
	Tricks of the trade	This expression refers to a clever or expert way of doing things, especially in a job. "He's a tough negotiator; he knows all the tricks of the trade."
	Tried and tested	If a method has been tried and tested, it can be trusted because it has been used successfully in the past and is known to work.
	Trilemma	This term is used for a situation which is even more difficult than a dilemma, because a choice must be made between three options that seem equally undesirable
	Truth will out	This expression means that despite efforts to conceal the facts, the truth cannot be hidden forever. "I don't know if the police gave the full details, but inevitably ' truth will out'."
	Tug at the heartstrings	To say that something or someone tugs at the heartstrings means that they cause others to feel a great deal of pity or sadness. "The hospital's plea for donors tugged at the heartstrings of millions of viewers."
	Tunnel vision	If a person has tunnel vision, they focus on only one aspect of something, or they are unable to see more than one way of doing things. "Our manager has tunnel vision. He sees no reason to change anything."
	Like turkeys voting for Christmas	This expression is used to say that a particular option is unlikely to be chosen because it would not be in the interest of the people concerned. (In many countries people eat turkey at Christmas.) "Expecting them to accept a decrease in salary would be like turkeys voting for Christmas!"
	Turn on/up the heat	If you turn on/up the heat on a person or organization, you put pressure on them in order to obtain what you want. "If the goods are not delivered this week, we'll have to turn on the heat."
	Turn a deaf ear	If you turn a deaf ear to something, you refuse to listen. "Sandy turned a deaf ear to the guide's advice and got lost in the mountains."
	Not turn a hair	If someone does not turn a hair, they show no emotion in circumstances when a reaction is expected. "When the police came to arrest him, he didn't turn a hair."
	Take a turn for the worse	If a person who is ill takes a turn for the worse, their illness becomes more serious.
	Turn over a new leaf	If a person decides to turn over a new leaf, they decide to change their behaviour and lead a better life. "When Charlie left prison, he was determined to turn over a new leaf."
	Turn the tables	If you turn the tables on a person or organization, you reverse the situation so as to be in a position of superiority. "The success of our new product has turned the tables on our competitors."
	Turn on the waterworks	If someone turns on the waterworks, they start to cry, especially to obtain something. "If he doesn't get what he wants, the child immediately turns on the waterworks."
	Twiddle one's thumbs	A person who twiddles their thumbs is someone who has nothing to do, or is doing nothing useful.
	In the twinkling of an eye	This expression means 'very fast' or 'instantaneously'. "Public opinion can change in the twinkling of an eye."
	Twist somebody's arm	If you twist somebody's arm, you force or persuade them to do something, without using physical force. "He didn't have to twist my arm to get me to go out for dinner - I was happy to accept!"
	Two can play at that game.	This expression is used to tell someone that you can behave towards them in the same unpleasant way that they have been behaving towards you.
	Two left feet	If you have two left feet, you are clumsy or awkward in your movements.
	Two shakes (of a lamb's tail)	To do something in two shakes (of a lamb's tail) means to do it very quickly or in a moment. "It'll be ready in two shakes (of a lamb's tail)."
	Two's company ... (three's a crowd)	This is said of two people, particularly lovers, who would prefer to be alone together than to have someone else with them. "Would you like to come to the cinema with us?" "I'd rather not, thanks. Two's company..."
	Put two and two together.	To "put two and two together" means to reach the correct conclusion based on the information that you have.
	Two-faced	Someone who is two-faced is deceitful or insincere; they will say one thing to your face and another when you're not there "I don't trust Jack. I find him two-faced."
	In two minds	If you are in two minds about something, you have difficulty deciding what to do. "I'm in two minds about whether or not to accept the offer."