Idioms in alphabetical order

Here're 83 idioms starting with T.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U W Y

(TO BE) MUSIC TO ONE'S EARS
smth. that is very pleasant to hear, good news
TAKE (SMTH.) BY STORM
to overwhelm someone or smth., often by becoming famous quickly (1), or by spreading very rapidly (2)
TAKE (SMTH.) IN STRIDE
to accept and adjust to bad fortune or trouble
TAKE (SMTH.) WITH A GRAIN OF SALT
to be skeptical or cautious about believing a story or an explanation
TAKE (SOMEONE) TO THE CLEANERS
to steal or cheat someone out of all of his or her money
TAKE A SHINE/FANCY TO (SOMEONE/ SMTH.)
to like someone spontaneously
TAKE FRENCH LEAVE
an unauthorized or unannounced absence or departure
TAKE IT EASY
to relax
TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT
either accept smth. without any change or refuse it
TAKE OFF
to leave quickly (1) or to do well in sales (2)
TAKE ONE'S PART
to support someone
TAKE POTLUCK
to accept whatever is available
TAKE SOMEONE FOR A RIDE
to deceive or cheat someone
TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS
to take action in a difficult or unpleasant situation
TAKE THE CAKE
to outdo; to exceed normal behavior; metaphorically, to win the prize
TAKE THE WIND OUT OF (SOMEONE'S) SAILS
to deflate someone’s ego (1) or to ruin or destroy someone’s high expectations (2)
TAKE TO SMTH. LIKE A DUCK TO WATER
to discover that you are naturally good at smth. or that you find it very easy to do
TAKE/GIVE (SOMEONE) A RAIN CHECK
to accept a different time for an appointment from the original one; to request that an appointment be rescheduled
TAKE/HAVE A KNOCK
to be damaged because of a bad experience
TAKE/LEAD SOMEONE TO ONE SIDE
to have a private talk with someone
TAKE/NEED A COLD SHOWER
used when someone needs to calm down when smth. has made them feel sexually excited
TAKE/SIGN THE PLEDGE
to make a formal promise to stop drinking alcohol
TAKES TWO TO TANGO
both people are responsible
TALK (SOMEONE'S) EAR OFF
to bore someone with one’s unending talk
TALK A BLUE STREAK
to talk fast and at length
TALK OVER HEAD
to talk about things that one cannot follow, understand, or comprehend
TALK THROUGH (ONE'S) HAT
to speak without authority on some topic; to talk nonsense
TALK TO (SOMEONE) LIKE A DUTCH UNCLE
person who talks to one like a close relative, giving advice that is sound, well-meant, and sometimes stern
TALK TURKEY
to talk seriously, usually about a business deal
TALL ORDER
smth. difficult to accomplish
TAN (SOMEONE'S) HIDE/BRITCHES
to spank a child’s bottom as punishment
TEAR ONE'S HEART OUT
to make someone very sad
TEAR/PULL ONE'S HAIR OUT
to feel extreme desperation; to be very anxious about smth.
TEAR/RIP SOMEONE/SMTH. TO SHREDS
to strongly criticize a person or smth. they do, think, or say
THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
a situation in which you can enjoy the advantages of two very different things at the same time
THE KNOCK AT/ON THE DOOR
an occasion when police or soldiers come to take you away from your home
THE NAKED EYE
to see smth. without the help of an instrument
THE ODDS/CARDS STACKED AGAINST SOMEONE
to be very unlikely to succeed because you are not in a good position
THE SANDS ARE RUNNING OUT
there is not much time left before death or the end
THIRD-RATE
of poor quality
THROUGH THICK AND THIN
in good times and bad times; steadfastly and loyally
THROW DOWN THE GAUNTLET
to challenge someone to fight or argue
THROW IN THE TOWEL
to stop trying; to quit
THROW THE BOOK AT (SOMEONE)
to give someone the harshest penalty or punishment allowed by law, or to impose any severe sentence or punishment
THROW/TOSS (ONE'S) HAT INTO THE RING
to announce one’s candidacy for elected office
TICKLE (SOMEONE'S) FANCY
to please or amuse someone in a light-hearted way
TICKLED PINK
thoroughly pleased; very happy
TIE THE KNOT
to get married
TIED TO (ONE'S) MOTHER'S APRON STRINGS
emotionally or physically attached to one’s mother beyond what is considered appropriate and normal
TIGHTEN (ONE'S) BELT
to spend less money than one did previously
TILT AT WINDMILLS
to fight against impossible odds in an attempt to do good
TIME AND TIDE WAIT FOR NO MAN
said to emphasize that people cannot stop the passing of time, and therefore should not delay doing things
TIME ON (ONE'S) HANDS, HAVE (SOME)
to have free time with nothing to do
TIME TO KILL, HAVE (SOME)
to have a period of time to pass while waiting for some future event
TIME WILL TELL
you will discover in the future what the result of a present situation is
TIP OF THE ICEBERG, JUST/ONLY THE
the smallest, evident part of smth. that is much greater but hidden from view; more to a situation than one can see at the moment
TIT FOR TAT
an action in exchange for another equal action
TO BEAT THE BAND
in an exaggerated manner; with a lot of effort or to the extreme
TO HAVE/GAIN THE UPPER HAND
to have more power than someone else, so that you're able to control a situation
TO MAKE YOUR HAIR STAND ON END
to say that smth. shocks or frightens you very much
TO THE HILT
to be fully committed to smth.; to do smth. completely
TOE THE LINE
to follow the rules; to do what is expected of one
TONGUE-IN-CHEEK
joking or sarcastic
TOO BIG FOR (ONE'S) BRITCHES
to be sassy or arrogant, or to act or speak disrespectfully or inappropriately for one’s age or position
TOO MANY COOKS SPOIL THE BROTH
excessive input can cause problems
TOO MANY IRONS IN THE FIRE
too many activities demanding one’s time
TOP DOG
the leader or most powerful person in a group
TOP OF THE LINE, THE
the best quality
TOUCH AND GO
precarious or uncertain
TRACK RECORD
a history of performance
TRAIN OF THOUGHT
a course of reasoning; a succession of connected ideas
TREAT (SOMEONE) TO (SMTH.)
to buy smth. for another person
TROUBLED WATERS
emotionally rough times or an unsettled situation
TRUE BLUE
loyal and steadfast
TURN (SMTH.) THUMBS DOWN/UP
to vote yes or no to smth.
TURN A DEAF EAR
to ignore someone
TURN OVER A NEW LEAF
to change one’s bad ways and begin to lead a better life
TURN THE OTHER CHEEK
not to retaliate; not to pay back bad behavior with more bad behavior
TURN THE TABLES {THE TABLES HAVE TURNED}
to reverse a situation
TURN UP (ONE'S) NOSE AT (SMTH./SOMEONE)
to scorn, snub, or reject smth.
TURN UP THE HEAT
to apply or increase pressure to a person or situation
TURNING POINT
a critical point
TWIDDLE YOUR THUMBS
to do nothing, usually while you are waiting for smth. to happen

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