English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - T, page 8
from: 'thorn in your side'
to: 'throw a tantrum'
- a thorn in your side
- A thorn in your side is something that is a constant or persistent
cause of annoyance, frustration or trouble, or makes life difficult for you.
"The electrical problem was a thorn in our side for a long time until we finally found a solution."
- A thorn in your side is something that is a constant or persistent
cause of annoyance, frustration or trouble, or makes life difficult for you.
- thorny issue
- If you are faced with a thorny issue,
you encounter a complicated or unpleasant problem, or one that is difficult to deal with.
"Copyright and content duplication are thorny issues these days."
- If you are faced with a thorny issue,
you encounter a complicated or unpleasant problem, or one that is difficult to deal with.
- thrilled to bits
- Someone who is thrilled to bits is extremely pleased about something.
"Sophie was thrilled to bits when her project was selected."
- Someone who is thrilled to bits is extremely pleased about something.
- at each other's throats
- Two people who areat each other's throats are always fighting or arguing.
"The two candidates for the election are constantly at each other's throats."
- Two people who areat each other's throats are always fighting or arguing.
- through thick and thin
- If someone does something through thick and thin, they do it in spite of all the difficulties and problems.
"Bob is famous today, but Tom is still his best friend, the one who supported him through thick and thin."
- If someone does something through thick and thin, they do it in spite of all the difficulties and problems.
- throw 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."
- If you throw someone a bone, you say something kind or reward them in some way to make them feel good.
- 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."
- If you throw caution to the wind, you start taking risks and stop worrying about the danger involved.
- throw dust in someone's eyes
- If you throw dust in someone's eyes, you mislead or fool someone by getting them to believe
something that is not true.
"He threw dust in the old lady's eyes by pretending to be a police officer, then stole all her jewellery."
- If you throw dust in someone's eyes, you mislead or fool someone by getting them to believe
something that is not true.
- 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! "
- Someone who spends additional money on something that was already considered a bad investment is said to throw good money after bad.
- 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!"
- If you throw money at something, you try to solve a problem by spending money on it, without using any other methods.
- throw your hat into the ring
- If you throw or toss your hat in the ring, you announce
that you are going to enter a competition or take up a challenge.
"He finally threw his hat in the ring and announced that he was going to stand for election."
- If you throw or toss your hat in the ring, you announce
that you are going to enter a competition or take up a challenge.
- throw pearls to pigs
- This expression means that it is wasteful to offer something valuable or useful to someone
who does not understand or appreciate it.
"The singer had a beautifully trained voice but the audience didn't listen - talk about throwing pearls to pigs!"
- This expression means that it is wasteful to offer something valuable or useful to someone
who does not understand or appreciate it.
- throw a sprat to catch a mackerel
- If you throw a sprat to catch a mackerel, you sacrifice something of little value,
or make a small expenditure, in the hope that it will bring you greater rewards.
"The store’s free contest is a sprat to catch a mackerel. The amount customers spend largely outweighs the cost of the prizes.”
- If you throw a sprat to catch a mackerel, you sacrifice something of little value,
or make a small expenditure, in the hope that it will bring you greater rewards.
- throw (someone) a bone
- If you throw someone a bone, you say something kind, reward someone in some way to make them feel better,
or offer them something of little value to stop them from complaining.
"The old man can't help very much, but Bill throws him a bone now and then to keep him happy."
- If you throw someone a bone, you say something kind, reward someone in some way to make them feel better,
or offer them something of little value to stop them from complaining.
- throw (someone) under the bus
- If you throw someone under the bus, you blame someone else
or do something harmful in order to save yourself or gain an advantage.
"He never hesitates to throw a colleague under the bus when something goes wrong in the office."
- If you throw someone under the bus, you blame someone else
or do something harmful in order to save yourself or gain an advantage.
- throw (something) over the wall
- If someone throws something over the wall, they deal with part of a problem or project,
then pass the responsibility to another person or department without any communication or coordination.
"You can't just manufacture a product then throw it over the wall to the sales department!"
- If someone throws something over the wall, they deal with part of a problem or project,
then pass the responsibility to another person or department without any communication or coordination.
- throw something together
- If you throw something together you make, assemble or arrange something quickly,
without prior planning, for example a meal, an outfit, a trip, etc., usually due to lack of time.
"Why don't you stay for dinner - I'll throw something together!"
- If you throw something together you make, assemble or arrange something quickly,
without prior planning, for example a meal, an outfit, a trip, etc., usually due to lack of time.
- throw a spanner in the works
- If someone or something throws a spanner (or a wrench) in the works,
they do something that causes problems and prevents the success of a plan or event.
"The two companies were keen to sign the agreement before anything happened to throw a spanner in the works."
- If someone or something throws a spanner (or a wrench) in the works,
they do something that causes problems and prevents the success of a plan or event.
- throw a tantrum
- If a person, especially a child, throws a tantrum,they become angry and behave in an unreasonable way.
"My sister's little boy is always throwing tantrums - he's thoroughly spoilt!"
- If a person, especially a child, throws a tantrum,they become angry and behave in an unreasonable way.
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