|
Idiom |
Meaning |
|
|
Teeth |
|
Grit your teeth |
When you are determined to do something in spite
of the difficulties
involved, you grit your teeth.
"To reach safety I had to wade through the mud, so I just had to grit
my teeth." |
|
Lie through your teeth. |
If you lie through your teeth, you lie openly and brazenly,
knowing that what you are saying is completely false.
"I saw him breaking the window. If he denies it, he's lying through
his teeth." |
| Like pulling
teeth |
Something that is like pulling teeth is extremely difficult to
obtain, especially if trying to extract
information from someone.
"Getting him to talk about his job was
like pulling teeth!" |
|
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. |
Sink
your teeth into
something
|
If you sink your teeth into something, you do it with a lot of energy
and enthusiasm.
"When Julie got promoted, she immediately sank her teeth into her
new job." |
| Teething problems |
The difficulties encountered during the initial stages of an activity or
project are called teething problems.
We had some teething problems when we first opened the bookshop,
but now everything is OK. |
|
Tongue |
|
Bite your tongue |
If you bite your tongue, you try not to say what you really
think or
feel.
"It was difficult for me not to react; I had to bite my tongue." |
Get your tongue round/around
something |
If you are able to pronounce a difficult word or phrase, you
get
your tongue round it.
"She's from the village of Llanfairpwllgwyngyll.
Try getting your tongue
round that!" |
Give the (rough) edge of one's
tongue |
If you give the (rough) edge of your tongue,
you scold someone
severely or speak to them very aggressively or rudely.
"My boss was so angry that I really got the rough edge of his tongue." |
| Give
someone a 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." |
|
Hold your tongue |
If you hold your tongue, you stay silent and say nothing.
"The party was supposed to be a surprise but unfortunately
the little boy couldn't hold his tongue." |
|
Keep a civil tongue |
People who keep a civil tongue express themselves in
polite terms.
"Don't speak so rudely! You must learn to keep a civil tongue in all
circumstances." |
|
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." |
|
Slip of the tongue |
A slip of the tongue refers to a small spoken error or mistake.
Did I say "blow down"? Sorry, I meant "slow down" - that was a
slip of the tongue! |
|
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!" |
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