English Idioms & Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List - T
(Idioms T, page 9 : all thumbs →
time after time)
| all thumbs | If you are all
(finger and) thumbs, you are awkward
and clumsy and do things incorrectly. Would you mind wrapping this for me? I'm all (fingers and) thumbs. |
| tick the right boxes | If something
ticks all the right boxes, it is
perfect for you because it meets all your
criteria. We're in luck! We visited an apartment today that ticks all the right boxes! |
| 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 can. |
| tickled pink | If you are
tickled pink, you are very pleased
about something. My dad was tickled pink when he was asked to announce the winner. |
| tide has turned | When a trend has
changed from one thing to another, the
tide has turned. Before, people wanted to live in residential suburbs; now the tide has turned and warehouses are being converted into fashionable loft apartments. |
| tide over | If you tide
someone over, you support 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
totally confused or confuse others when
trying to explain something. Sandy tied herself up in knots trying to explain the rules of the game. |
| tied to 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. |
| tighten your belt | If you need to
tighten your belt, you must spend your
money carefully because there is less
available. Another bill? I'll have to tighten my belt this month! |
| walk a tightrope | If a person is
walking a tightrope, they are in a
difficult situation where they must act
carefully. The management is walking a tightrope in their efforts both to keep the costs down and satisfy the trade unions. |
| 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 after time | If you do something
time after time, you do it
repeatedly or on many occasions. The was surprised when the teacher punished him although he had been warned time after time. |
| ...back next... | |
alphabetical lists T ...
| T1 | T2 | T3 | T4 | T5 | T6 | T7 | T8 | T9 | T10 | T11 | T12 | T13 | T14 | T15 |
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X-Y-Z |