English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms T, page 4
Idioms T, page 4: from: 'take like a duck to water' to: 'in tatters'
- 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."
- If you take to something like a duck to water, you do
it naturally and easily, without fear or hesitation.
- take the words out of someone'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."
- If you say exactly what someone else was going to say, you
take the words out of their mouth.
- (it) takes two to tango
- You say this when you think that a difficult situation or
argument cannot be the fault of one person alone.
"Okay, I've heard Fred's side of the story - but it takes two to tango!"
- You say this when you think that a difficult situation or
argument cannot be the fault of one person alone.
- take unawares
- If something takes you unawares, it surprises you
because you were not expecting it.
"His angry reaction took me unawares."
- If something takes you unawares, it surprises you
because you were not expecting it.
- take (someone) under your wing
- If you offer guidance and protection to someone younger
or less experienced, you take them under your wing.
"I owe a lot to Tom who took me under his wing when I first arrived."
- If you offer guidance and protection to someone younger
or less experienced, you take them under your wing.
- take the wind out of someone's sails
- If someone or something takes the wind out of your sails,
they make you feel less confident by doing or saying something that you do not expect.
"The manager's rejection of our marketing strategy really took the wind out of our sails."
- If someone or something takes the wind out of your sails,
they make you feel less confident by doing or saying something that you do not expect.
- talk the hind leg 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!"
- This expression is used to describe a very talkative person.
- 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."
- If someone talks nineteen to the dozen, they speak
very quickly.
- 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."
- 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.
- tall story
- A tall story is a story or statement which is difficult to
believe because it sounds unlikely.
"What he said about a stolen invention sounds like a tall story to me."
- A tall story is a story or statement which is difficult to
believe because it sounds unlikely.
- on tap
- If something is on tap, it is easily obtained or
available for immediate use, like water from a tap.
"You can find a multitude of useful resources on tap on the internet."
- If something is on tap, it is easily obtained or
available for immediate use, like water from a tap.
- tar baby
- This term refers to a sticky situation or problem for which it
is virtually impossible to find a solution.
"He was advised not to get involved in the controversy which was considered a tar-baby issue."
- This term refers to a sticky situation or problem for which it
is virtually impossible to find a solution.
- tar with the same brush
- When a person istarred with the same brush, they
are regarded as having the same faults or bad qualities as those they associate with.
"Don't hang around with those guys or you'll be tarred with the same brush."
- When a person istarred with the same brush, they
are regarded as having the same faults or bad qualities as those they associate with.
- 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."
- If you give someone a taste of their own medicine, you
treat them in the same unpleasant way that they have treated you.
- in tatters
- Something that is badly torn, in very poor condition or
damaged beyond repair is in tatters.
"His reputation is in tatters after the latest scandal."
- Something that is badly torn, in very poor condition or
damaged beyond repair is in tatters.
previous page... next page ...
More Idioms:
alphabetical lists T ...
more alphabetical lists...
Please note that British English spelling is used on this website.