[tax trap] {n.},  {informal}  Predicament  in  which  taxpayers  in
middle-income brackets are required to pay steeply  progressive  rates
of taxation as their earnings rise with inflation but  their  personal
exemptions remain fixed,  resulting  in  a  loss  of  real  disposable
income. * /Everybody in my neighborhood  has  been  caught  in  a  tax
trap./

   [T-bone steak] {n.} A steak with a bone in it which  looks  like  a
"T". * /On Jim's birthday we had T-bone steak for supper./

   [tea] See: CUP OF TEA also DISH OF TEA.

   [teach a lesson] {v.  phr.}  To  show  that  bad  behavior  can  be
harmful. * /When Johnny pulled Mary's hair, she taught him a lesson by
breaking his toy boat./ * /The  burns  Tommy  got  from  playing  with
matches taught him a lesson./

   [teach the ropes] See: THE ROPES.

   [team up with] {v. phr.} To join  with;  enter  into  companionship
with. * /My brother prefers to do business by himself rather  than  to
team up with anybody else./

   [teapot] See: TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT.

   [tear around] {v. phr.} To be constantly on the go; dash around.  *
/No one can understand how she manages to tear around from one  social
event to another and yet be a good mother to her children./

   [tear down] {v.} 1. To take all down in  pieces;  destroy.  *  /The
workmen tore down the old house and built a new house in  its  place./
2. To take to pieces or parts. * /The mechanics had to tear  down  the
engine, and fix it, and put it together again./ 3. To say  bad  things
about; criticize. * /"Why do you always tear people  down?  Why  don't
you try to say nice things  about  them?"/  *  /Dorothy  doesn't  like
Sandra, and at the class meeting  she  tore  down  every  idea  Sandra
suggested./

   [tear into] {v. phr.} To attack vigorously, physically or verbally.
* /The anxious buyers tore into the  wedding  gowns  on  sale  at  the
famous department store./ See: RIP INTO.

   [tearjerker] {n.} A sentimental novel or movie that makes one  cry.
* /Love Story, both in its novel form and as a  movie,  was  a  famous
tearjerker./

   [tear oneself away] {v. phr.} To  force  oneself  to  leave;  leave
reluctantly. * /The beaches in Hawaii are so lovely that I had to tear
myself away from them in order to get back to my job in Chicago./

   [tear one's hair] {v. phr.} To show sorrow,  anger,  or  defeat.  *
/Ben tore his hair when he saw the wrecked car./ * /The  teacher  tore
his hair at the boy's stupid answer./ * /It was time to go  to  class,
but Mary had not finished the report she had to give,  and  she  began
tearing her hair./

   [tears] See: BORE TO TEARS, CROCODILE TEARS.

   [tear up] {v.} 1. To dig a hole in; remove the surface  of;  remove
from the surface. * /The city tore up the street to lay  a  new  water
pipe./ * /Mother tore up the carpeting in the living room  and  had  a
new rug put in./ 2. To tear into pieces.  *  /Mary  tore  up  the  old
sheets and made costumes for the play out of the pieces./ * /John tore
up his test paper so that his mother wouldn't see his low grade./

   [tee off] {v.} 1. To hit the golf ball from a small wooden  peg  or
tee to begin play for each hole. * /We got to the golf course just  in
time to see  the  champion  tee  off./  2.  {slang}  To  hit  a  ball,
especially a baseball very hard or far. * /He teed off  on  the  first
pitch./ 3. {slang} To attack vigorously. * /The governor teed  off  on
his  opponent's  speech./  4.  {slang}  To  make  (someone)  angry  or
disgusted. * /It teed me off when Billy stole my candy./  *  /Joe  was
teed off because he had to wait so long./

   [teeth] See: TOOTH.

   [tee up] {v.} To set the golf ball on the tee  in  preparation  for
hitting it toward the green. * /Arnold Palmer teed the ball up for the
final hole./

   [telepathy] See: MENTAL TELEPATHY.

   [tell] See: DO TELL, I'LL SAY or I TELL YOU, I'LL  TELL  YOU  WHAT,
I'M TELLING YOU, YOU'RE TELLING ME, YOU TELL 'EM.

   [tell apart] {v. phr.} To see the difference between; know each of.
* /The teacher could not tell the twins apart./

   [tell a thing or two] {v. phr.}, {informal} To  tell  in  plain  or
angry words; scold. * /When John complained about the hard  work,  his
father told him a thing or two./ * /If Bert thinks he  would  like  to
join the army, I'll tell him a thing or two that will make him  change
his mind./ Compare: BAWL OUT, GIVE A PIECE OF ONE'S  MIND,  TELL  OFF,
THING OR TWO.

   [tell it like it is] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To  be  honest,
sincere; to tell the truth. * /Joe is the leader of  our  commune;  he
tells it like it is./

   [tell it to the marines] or [tell it to
Sweeney]  {slang}  I  don't
believe you; Stop trying to fool me. * /John said,  "My  father  knows
the President of the United States." Dick answered, "Tell  it  to  the
marines."/

   [tell off] {v.} 1. To name or  count  one  by  one  and  give  some
special duty to; give a share to. * /Five boy scouts were told off  to
clean the camp./ 2. {informal} To speak to angrily or sharply;  attack
with words; scold. * /Mr. Black got angry and told off  the  boss./  *
/Bobby kept pulling Sally's hair; finally she got angry and  told  him
where to get off./ Syn.: TELL ONE WHERE TO GET OFF.  Compare:  GIVE  A
PIECE OF ONE'S MIND, LAY DOWN THE LAW, TELL A THING OR TWO.

   [tell on] {v.} 1. To tire; wear out; make  weak.  *  /The  ten-mile
hike told on Bill./ 2. {informal}  To  tell  someone  about  another's
wrong or naughty acts. - Used mainly by children. * /Andy hit a little
girl and John told the teacher on Andy./ * /If you hit me,  I'll  tell
Mother on you./

   [tell tales out of school] {v. phr.}  To  tell  something  that  is
secret; tell others something that is not meant to be known. *  /Don't
tell Jane anything. She  is  always  telling  tales  out  of  school./
Compare: LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG, SPILL THE BEANS.

   [tell one where to get off] or [tell one  where  to  head  in]  {v.
phr.}, {informal} To talk angrily to; speak to or  answer  with  rough
language; scold. * /Bob told Ted to get out of his way. Ted  told  Bob
where to get off./ * /Mary laughed at Barbara's hairdo.  Barbara  told
Mary where to head in./ Compare: TELL A THING OR TWO, TELL OFF.

   [tell time] {v. phr.} To read a clock or watch. * /Although  Johnny
is only three years old, he is already able to tell time./

   [tell you what] See: I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

   [temper] See: GOD TEMPERS THE WIND TO THE SHORN  LAMB,  HOLD  ONE'S
TEMPER or KEEP ONE'S TEMPER, LOSE ONE'S TEMPER.

   [temperature] See: RUN A TEMPERATURE.

   [tempest in a teapot] {n. phr.} Great  excitement  about  something
not important. * /Bess tore her skirt a little and made a tempest in a
teapot./

   [tempt fate] or [tempt the fates] {v. phr.} To take a chance; run a
risk; gamble. * /You're tempting fate every time you  drive  that  old
wreck of a car./

   [ten] See: DIME STORE or FIVE-AND-TEN, COUNT TO TEN.

   [ten-four?] {v. phr.}, {interrog.}, {slang}, {citizen's band  radio
jargon} Do you understand? * /Is that a ten-four?/

   [ten gallon hat] {n.}, {informal} A tall  felt  hat  with  a  wide,
rolled brim worn by men in the western part of the U.S.  *  /Men  from
the southwest usually wear ten gallon hats./

   [ten roger] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {citizen's  band  radio  jargon}  I
acknowledge. * /That's a ten roger./

   [ten to one] or [two to one]  {adv.}  or  {adj.  phr.},  {informal}
Almost certainly, nearly sure to be true; very  likely  to  happen.  *
/Ten to one it will rain tomorrow./ * /It is ten;  to  one  that  Bill
will be late./

   [term] See: BRING TO TERMS, COME TO TERMS, IN SO MANY  WORDS(2)  or
IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS, IN TERMS OF.

   [terror] See: HOLY TERROR.

   [test] See: ROAD TEST, SCREEN TEST.

   [tether] See: END OF ONE'S ROPE or END OF ONE'S TETHER.

   [than] See: LESS THAN, LESS THAN NO TIME, MORE THAN.

   [thank one's lucky stars] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be thankful  for
good luck; think oneself lucky. * /You can thank your lucky stars  you
didn't fall in the hole./

   [thanks to] {prep.} 1. With the  help  of.  *  /Thanks  to  a  good
teacher, John passed the examination./ * /I finally  finished  washing
the dishes, no thanks to you./ 2. Owing to; because of. * /Thanks to a
sudden rain, the children came home with wet clothes./

   [that is] or [that is to say] I mean; that means; in other words. *
/John is a New Yorker; that is, he lives in New York./ * /Susan  is  a
good student; that is to say, she gets good grades in school./

   [that is that] or [that's that] {informal} The matter  is  decided;
there is nothing more to be said; it is done. * /Jim, you will  go  to
school this morning, and that is that./

   [that'll be the day] {informal} That  will  never  happen.  *  /Joe
wanted me to lend him money to take my girl to the movies. That'll  be
the day!/ * /"Wouldn't it be nice if we had to go to school  only  one
day a week?" "That'll be the day!"/

   [That makes two of us!] Informal way to say,  "I  am  in  agreement
with what you arc saying or  doing."  *  /So  you  voted  for  Senator
Aldridge? So did I - that makes two of us./

   [That takes care of that!] Informal way to say, "That concludes our
business." * /I paid my ex-wife the last alimony check and that  takes
care of that!/

   [That will do!] Informal expression of impatience  meaning  "stop,"
"no more." * /"That will do, Tommy," his mother cried. "I've had  just
about enough of your drumming on the table."/

   [that's --- for you] That's the  way  (someone  or  something)  is;
(someone or something) is like that. * /John tried hard, but  he  lost
the game. That's life for you./ * /Mary changed her mind about  going.
That's a girl for you./

   [That's about the size of it!] Informal way to say, "What you  said
is true; the rumor or the news is true." * /"I am told you're  leaving
our firm for Japan," Fred said to Tom. "That's about the size of  it,"
Tom replied with a grin./

   [That's the story of my life...] Usually spoken when something goes
wrong. * /I spent seven years writing a novel, but no publisher  wants
to accept it. That's the story of my life./

   [That's the ticket!] Informal way to say, "excellent;  correct."  *
/"First we'll go up the Sears Tower,  and  then  we'll  take  a  night
sightseeing tour on the lake," Fran said. "That's the  ticket!"  Stan,
an old inhabitant of Chicago, replied./

   [That's the way the ball bounces] or [the cookie crumbles!] Nothing
unusual about that. - Said of unpleasant things. * /"Susan left me for
a heavyweight boxer, and then I got drunk and  wrecked  my  car,"  Bob
bitterly complained. "Well, that's the way the cookie  crumbles,"  Pam
answered philosophically./

   [theater] See: LITTLE THEATER.

   [the business] {n.}, {slang} - Usually used with "give"  or  "get".
1. All that you are able to do; greatest effort. *  /Johnny  gave  the
tryouts the business but he failed to make the team./ 2. The most harm
possible; the greatest damage or hurt. * /Fred got the  business  when
Tom caught him with his bicycle./ 3. A harsh scolding. * /The  teacher
gave Walter the business when he came to school late again./  *  /Mike
thought he was the star of the team until he got the business from the
coach./ Compare: THE WORKS.

   [The cat did it!] A humorous and convenient way to pass the  blame.
* /"My vase is broken!" Mother shrieked in horror. "Well," Dad smirked
cynically, "I guess the cat did it!"/

   [the creeps] {n.}, {informal} 1. An uncomfortable tightening of the
skin caused by fear or shock. * /Reading the story of a ghost gave Joe
the creeps./ * /The queer noises  in  the  old  house  gave  Mary  the
creeps./ 2. A strong feeling of fear or disgust. *  /The  cold,  damp,
lonely swamp gave John the creeps./ * /The dog was  so  ugly  it  gave
Mary the creeps./

   [the devil to pay] {n. phr.} A  severe  penalty.  *  /If  we  don't
finish the work by next Monday, there will be the devil to pay./

   [the edge] {n.}, {informal} The advantage. - Usually  used  in  the
phrases "get the edge on", "have the edge on". * /In the last  quarter
of the game, our team got the edge on the other team and kept  it./  *
/Mary has the edge on Jane in the beauty contest./

   [the fickle finger of fate] See: ACT OF GOD.

   [the idea] or [the very idea] {n. phr.} - Used in  exclamations  to
show that you do not like something. * /The idea! Thinking Mother  was
my sister!/ * /The very idea of Tom bringing that dirty  dog  into  my
clean house!/

   [the lid] {n.}, {slang} Something that holds back or holds  out  of
sight. * /The police blew the lid  off  the  gambling  operations./  *
/John kept the lid on his plans until he was ready to  run  for  class
president./ * /The chief of police placed the lid on gambling  in  the
town./

   [the likes of] {informal} Something like or similar  to;  something
of the same kind as. * /I have never seen the likes of  John./  *  /It
was a chocolate sundae the likes of which Mary would never see again./

   [the long and the short] or [the long and short] {n. phr.} All that
needs to be said; the basic fact; point. * /The long and the short  of
the matter is that the man is no actor./ * /The money isn't there, and
that's the long and short of it./

   [the matter] {adj.} Not as it should be; wrong. - Used in questions
or with negatives or "if". * /Why don't  you  answer  me?  What's  the
matter?/ * /John may be slow in arithmetic, but nothing's  the  matter
with his pitching arm./ * /If anything is the matter, please tell me./

   [the more --- the more ---] or [the ---er the ---er] - Used in  two
halves of a sentence to show that when there is  more  of  the  first,
there is more of the second too. * /The more you eat. the  fatter  you
will get./ * /Get your  report  in  when  you  can;  the  sooner,  the
better./ * /The bigger they are, the harder they fall./  *  /The  more
Bill worked on the arithmetic problem, the more confused he became./

   [then] See: AND THEN SOME, EVERY NOW AND THEN, NOW AND THEN.

   [then again] {adv.} As an opposite possibility;  another  thing.  *
/He may be here tomorrow. Then again,  he  may  not  come  until  next
week./ * /I thought you told me about the  fire,  but  then  again  it
could have been Bill./

   [then and there] {adv. phr.} At that very time  and  place  in  the
past; right then. * /He said he wanted his dime back then  and  there,
so I had to give it to him./ Compare: IN ONE'S TRACKS,  ON  THE  SPOT,
HERE AND NOW.

   [the other day] {adv. phr.}  In  the  recent  past.  *  /I  saw  an
incredible parade of elephants along Michigan Avenue the other day  on
my way to work./

   [the other way around] {adv. phr.} See: JUST THE OTHER WAY.

   [the picture] {n.} The way things are  or  were;  the  facts  about
something; the situation; what happened  or  happens.  *  /Where  does
Susan come into the picture./ * /When you are looking for a  job  your
education enters into the picture./ * /Old Mr. Brown  is  out  of  the
picture now and his son runs the store./ * /After  the  fight  on  the
playground, the principal talked to the boys who were watching,  until
he got the whole picture./ Compare: GET THE MESSAGE.

   [the  pits]  {n.},  {slang}  1.   A   low   class,   blighted   and
ill-maintained place, motel room or apartment. * /Max, this  motel  is
the pits, I will not sleep here!/ 2. The end of the road, the point of
no return, the point of total ruin of  one's  health  (from  the  drug
anticulture referring to the arm-pits as the only place that had veins
for injections). * /John flunked high school this year for  the  third
time; he will never get to college; it's the pits for him./ 3. A  very
depressed state of mind. * /Poor Marcy is down in the  pits  over  her
recent divorce./

   [the powers that be] {n.  phr.}  Constituted  authority;  those  in
power. * /I have done all I can; the rest is up  to  the  powers  that
be./

   [there] See: ALL THERE, HERE AND THERE,  NEITHER  HERE  NOR  THERE,
THEN AND THERE.

   [There] or [here you are!] 1. Informal way to say,  "Here  is  what
you wanted." * /The doorman politely opened the door of the  taxi  and
said, "There you are, sir!"/ * /The clerk wrapped up the  package  and
handed it to the customer saying, "Here you are, ma'am!"/ 2. You  have
found the correct answer; you are correct.  *  /"The  reason  for  the
violent crime rate is the all too easy availability of  handguns,"  he
said. "Yeah, there you are!" Officer Maloney replied./

   [there is more than one way to get a pig to market] or [flay a fox]
or [skin a cat] There are always new and different ways to  accomplish
a difficult task. - A proverb. * /"'How did you get Tommy to study  so
hard?" Eleanor asked. "I  simply  disconnected  the  television  set,"
Tommy's mother answered. "There's more than one way to get  a  pig  to
market."/

   [there is nothing to it] Informal way  to  say,  "It  is  easy."  *
/Cooking stir-fried Chinese food is really not difficult  at  all;  in
fact, there's nothing to it./

   [There you go!] 1. Informal way to say, "You are doing  it  already
and you are doing it well."  *  /"Is  roller  skating  hard?"  Freddie
asked. "No," Beth replied, "let me show you how to do  it.  There  you
go!"/ 2. See: THERE or HERE YOU ARE(2).

   [the ropes] {n. plural}, {informal} Thorough or  special  knowledge
of a job; how to do something; the ways of people or the world. *  /On
a newspaper a cub reporter learns his job from an older  reporter  who
knows the ropes./ * /When you go to a new school it takes a  while  to
learn the ropes./ * /Betty showed Jane the ropes when she was learning
to make a dress./ * /Mr. Jones was an orphan and he had to  learn  the
ropes when he was young to make his way in  the  world./  Compare:  BE
AROUND, INS AND OUTS, TRICK OF THE TRADE.

   [the score] {n.}, {slang} The truth; the real story or information;
what is really happening; the way people and the world really  are.  *
/Very few people know the score in politics./ * /You are too young  to
know the score yet./ * /What's the score anyhow? When will the program
begin?/ Compare: KNOW ONE'S STUFF, KNOW ONE'S WAY AROUND, THE ROPES.

   [these] See: ONE OF THESE DAYS or SOME OF THESE DAYS.

   [the three R's] {n. phr.} (W)riting, reading, and (a)rithmetic, the
three basic skills of an elementary education. * /Barry has  completed
the three R's, but otherwise he has had little formal education./

   [the ticket] {n.} Exactly what is needed. - Often used with "just".
* /This airtight locker is just the ticket  for  storing  your  winter
clothes./

   [the tracks] {n.} The line between the rich or fashionable part  of
town and the poor or unfashionable part of town. * /The poor  children
knew they would not be welcome on the other side  of  the  tracks./  *
/Mary's mother did not want her to date Jack,  because  he  came  from
across the tracks./ - Often used in the expression "the wrong side  of
the tracks". * /The mayor was born on the wrong side  of  the  tracks,
but he worked hard and became successful./

   [the whole way] See: ALL THE WAY.

   [the  wiser]  {adj.}  Knowing  about  something  which   might   be
embarrassing of knowing. - Usually used with "nobody" or "no  one".  *
/Mary took the teacher's book home by  mistake,  but  early  the  next
morning she returned it with nobody the wiser./

   [the works] {n. plural}, {slang} 1. Everything that can be  had  or
that you have; everything of this kind, all that goes with it. * /When
the tramp found $100, he went into a fine restaurant and  ordered  the
works with a steak  dinner./  1b.  See:  SHOOT  THE  WORKS.  2.  Rough
handling or treatment; a bad beating or scolding; killing;  murder.  -
Usually used with "get" or "give". * /The boy said that Joe was  going
to get the works if he ever came back to that neighborhood  again./  *
/The newspaper gave the police department the works when they let  the
burglars get away./ * /The gangster told his friend he would give  him
the works if he double-crossed him./ Compare: THE BUSINESS.

   [they] See: LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY.

   [thick] See: BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER, LAY IT ON or  LAY  IT  ON
THICK, THROUGH THICK AND THIN.

   [thicker] See: BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER.

   [thin] See: INTO THIN AIR, OUT OF THIN AIR, SIT ON THIN ICE, SPREAD
ONESELF TOO THIN, THROUGH THICK AND THIN, WEAR THIN.

   [thing] See: A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS  A  DANGEROUS  THING,  DO  ONE'S
THING or DO ONE'S OWN THING, FIRST THINGS COME FIRST, FOR  ONE  THING,
SEE THINGS, SURE THING, TAKE IT EASY or TAKE THINGS EASY, TELL A THING
OR TWO.

   [thing or two] {n. phr.}, {informal} 1. Facts not generally  known,
or  not  known  to  the  hearer  or  reader;  unusual   or   important
information. * /Mary told Joan a  thing  or  two  about  Betty's  real
feelings./ 2. A lot; much. * /Bob knows a thing or two about sailing./
Compare: TELL A THING OR TWO.

   [Things are looking up!] Informal way to say  that  conditions  are
improving. * /Things are looking up at our university as the  governor
promised a 5% salary raise./

   [think] See: COME TO THINK OF IT.

   [think a great deal of] or [think a lot of] also  [think  much  of]
{v. phr.} To consider to be very worthy, valuable,  or  important;  to
esteem highly. * /Mary thinks a great deal of  Tim./  *  /The  teacher
thought a lot of Joe's project./ -  The  phrase  "think  much  of"  is
usually used in negative sentences. * /Father  didn't  think  much  of
Paul's idea of buying a goat to save  lawn  mowing./  Contrast:  THINK
LITTLE OF.

   [think a lot of] See: THINK A GREAT DEAL OF.

   [think aloud] or  [think  out  loud]  {v.}  To  say  what  you  are
thinking. * /"I wish I had more money for Christmas presents,"  Father
thought aloud. "What did you say?" said Mother. Father answered,  "I'm
sorry. I wasn't talking to you. I was thinking out loud."/

   [think better of] {v.} To change your mind about; to consider again
and make a better decision about. * /John told his mother he wanted to
leave school, but later he thought  better  of  it./  Compare:  SECOND
THOUGHT, THINK TWICE.

   [Think big!] {v. phr.}, {informal} To  believe  in  one's  ability,
purpose, or power to perform or succeed. * /Be confident; be positive;
tell yourself you are the greatest; above all, think big!/

   [think fit] See: FIT.

   [thinking cap] See: PUT ON ONE'S THINKING CAP.

   [think little of] {v. phr.} Think that (something  or  someone)  is
not important or valuable. * /John thought little of  Ted's  plan  for
the party./ * /Joan thought little of walking two  miles  to  school./
Contrast: THINK A GREAT DEAL OF.

   [think much of] See: THINK A GREAT DEAL OF.

   [think nothing of] {v. phr.} To think or consider easy, simple,  or
usual. * /Jim thinks nothing of hiking ten miles in one day./

   [think nothing of it] {v. phr.}, {informal}  Used  as  a  courteous
phrase in replying to thanks. /"Thank you very much  for  your  help."
"Think nothing of it."/ Compare: YOU'RE WELCOME.

   [think on one's feet] {v. phr.} To think  quickly;  answer  or  act
without waiting; know what  to  do  or  say  right  away.  *  /A  good
basketball player can think on his feet./ * /Our teacher can think  on
his feet; he always has an answer ready when we ask him questions./

   [think out] {v.} 1. To find out or discover by thinking; study  and
understand. * /Andy thought out a way of climbing to the  top  of  the
pole./ Compare FIGURE OUT, WORK OUT. 2. To think through to  the  end;
to understand what would come at last. * /Bill wanted to quit  school,
but he thought out the matter and decided not to./

   [think out loud] See: THINK ALOUD.

   [think over] {v.} To think  carefully  about;  consider;  study.  *
/When Charles asked Betty to marry him, she  asked  him  for  time  to
think it over./ * /Think over what we studied in history this year and
write a lesson on the thing that interested you most./  Compare:  MAKE
UP ONE'S MIND, SEE ABOUT.

   [think piece] {n.}, {slang} 1. The human brain. *  /Lou's  got  one
powerful think piece, man./ 2. Any provocative essay or article  that,
by stating a strong opinion, arouses the reader to think about it  and
react to it by agreeing or disagreeing. *  /That  article  by  Charles
Fenyvesi on Vietnamese refugees in the  Washington  Post  sure  was  a
think piece!/

   [think tank] {n.} A company of researchers  who  spend  their  time
developing ideas and concepts. * /The government hired a think tank to
study the country's need for coins, and was  advised  to  stop  making
pennies./

   [think twice] {v.} To think again carefully; reconsider;  hesitate.
* /The teacher advised Lou to think  twice  before  deciding  to  quit
school./ Compare: THINK BETTER OF.

   [think up] {v.} To invent or discover by thinking; have a new  idea
of. * /Mary thought up a funny game for the children to play./

   [third base] {n.} The base to be touched third in baseball.  *  /He
reached third base standing up on a long triple./

   [third class] {n.} 1. The third best or highest  group;  the  class
next after the second class. * /Mary won the pie-making contest in the
third class, for the youngest girls./ 2. Mail that is  printed,  other
than magazines  and  newspapers  that  are  published  regularly,  and
packages that are not sealed and weigh  less  than  a  pound.  *  /The
company uses third class to mail free samples of soap./ 3.  The  least
expensive class of travel. * /I couldn't afford anything  better  than
the third class on the ship coming home from France./  Compare:  FIRST
CLASS, SECOND CLASS.

   [third-class(1)] {adj.} Belonging to the third class; of the  third
highest or best class. * /Much  advertising  is  sent  by  third-class
mall./ * /I bought a third-class airline ticket to Hawaii./

   [third-class(2)] {adv.} By third class. * /How  did  you  send  the
package? Third class./ * /We traveled third-class on the train./

   [third degree] {n. phr.}  A  method  of  severe  grilling  used  to
extract information from an arrested suspect.  *  /"Why  give  me  the
third degree?" he asked indignantly. "All I did  was  come  home  late
because I had a drink with my friends."/

   [third  sex]  {n.},  {euphemism},  {slang},  {informal}  Homosexual
individuals who are either men or women. * /Billy is rumored to belong
to the third sex./

   [third world] {n.} 1. The countries not  aligned  with  either  the
former  U.S.S.R.-dominated  Communist  bloc  or  the  U.S.A.-dominated
capitalist countries. * /New Zealand made a move toward third  country
status when it disallowed American nuclear submarines in its harbors./
2. The developing nations of the world where the industrial revolution
has not yet been completed. * /Africa and the rest of the third  world
must be freed from starvation and illiteracy./

   [this] See: OUT OF THIS WORLD.

   [this and that] also [this, that, and the other] {n. phr.}  Various
things; different  things;  miscellaneous  things.  *  /When  the  old
friends met they would talk about this and that./  *  /The  quilt  was
made of this, that, and the other./

   [this, that, and the other] See: THIS AND THAT.

   [this is how  the  cookie  crumbles]  or  [that's  how  the  cookie
crumbles] {v. phr.}, {informal} That's how things are; that's life.  *
/It's too bad about John and Mary getting divorced,  but  then  that's
how the cookie crumbles./

   [thither] See: HITHER AND THITHER.

   [thorn in the flesh] or [thorn in one's side] {n.  phr.}  Something
that causes stubborn trouble; a constant bother; a  vexation.  *  /The
new voter organization soon became the biggest thorn in the  senator's
side./ * /The  guerrilla  band  was  a  thorn  in  the  flesh  of  the
invaders./

   [though] See: AS IF or AS THOUGH.

   [thought] See: FOOD FOR THOUGHT, PENNY FOR ONE'S  THOUGHTS,  PERISH
THE THOUGHT, SECOND THOUGHT.

   [thousand] See: BY THE DOZEN or BY THE THOUSAND.

   [thrash out] {v. phr.} To discuss  fully;  confer  about  something
until a  decision  is  reached.  *  /They  met  to  thrash  out  their
differences concerning how to run the office./

   [thread] See: HANG BY A THREAD.

   [threat] See: TRIPLE THREAT.

   [three-ring circus] {n.} A scene of much confusion or  activity.  *
/The street was a  three-ring  circus  of  cars,  people,  noise,  and
lights./ * /It is a three-ring circus to watch that silly dog play./

   [three sheets in the wind] or [three  sheets  to  the  wind]  {adj.
phr.}, {informal} Unsteady from too much liquor; drunk. * /The  sailor
came down the street, three sheets in the wind./

   [thrill one to death] or [pieces] See: TICKLE PINK.

   [throat] See: CUT ONE'S THROAT, FLY  AT  ONE'S  THROAT,  JUMP  DOWN
ONE'S THROAT, LUMP IN ONE'S THROAT, RAM DOWN ONE'S  THROAT  and  SHOVE
DOWN ONE'S THROAT.

   [through a hoop] See: JUMP THROUGH A HOOP.

   [through and through] {adv.} Completely; entirely; whole-heartedly.
* /Bob was a ball player  through  and  through./  *  /Mary  was  hurt
through and through by Betty's remarks./ Compare: OUT-AND-OUT.

   [through hell and high water] See: HELL AND HIGH WATER.

   [through one's hat] See: TALK THROUGH ONE'S HAT.

   [through one's head] See: GET THROUGH ONE'S HEAD.

   [through one's mind] See: CROSS ONE'S MIND or  PASS  THROUGH  ONE'S
MIND.

   [through one's paces] See: PUT THROUGH ONE'S PACES.

   [through street] {n.} 1. A street on which cars  can  move  without
stopping at intersections, but cars on streets  crossing  it  have  to
stop at the  intersection.  *  /You  have  to  be  especially  careful
crossing a through street./ * /Mr. Jones stopped his car when he  came
to the through street. He waited until there were no cars on  it,  and
drove across it./ Contrast: STOP STREET. 2. A street that is  open  to
other streets at both ends; a street that has a passage through it, so
that it is not necessary to come back to get out of it. * /We  thought
we could get through to Main St. by going up a side street  but  there
was a sign that said "Not a through street."/

   [through the mill] {adv. phr.} 1. Experienced. *  /You  could  tell
immediately that the new employee  had  been  through  the  mill./  2.
Through real experience of the difficulties of a certain way of  life.
* /Poor Jerry has had three operations in one year, and now he's  back
in the hospital. He's realty  gone  through  the  mill./  Compare:  GO
THROUGH HELL AND HIGH WATER, COME HELL OR HIGH WATER.

   [through the motions] See: GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS.

   [through the nose] See: PAY THROUGH THE NOSE.

   [through thick and thin] {adv. phr.} Through all  difficulties  and
troubles; through good times  and  bad  times.  *  /The  friends  were
faithful through thick and thin./ * /George stayed in college  through
thick and thin, because he wanted an education./

   [through train] {n. phr.} A direct train that  doesn't  necessitate
any changes. * /We'll take the through train from Chicago to New  York
because it's the most convenient./

   [throw] See: FREE THROW, PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT
THROW STONES.

   [throw a curve] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal}  1.  To  mislead  or
deceive someone; to lie. * /John threw me a curve about  the  hiring./
2. To take someone by surprise in an unpleasant way. *  /Mr.  Weiner's
announcement threw the whole company a curve./

   [throw a fit] See: HAVE A FIT.

   [throw a monkey wrench] or [throw a wrench] {v.  phr.},  {informal}
To cause something that is going smoothly to stop.  *  /The  game  was
going smoothly until you threw a  monkey  wrench  into  the  works  by
fussing about the rules./ * /The Michigan tacklers threw a wrench into
the Wisconsin team's offense./ * /He hoped to see the class plan  fail
and looked for a chance to throw a wrench in the machinery./

   [throw a party] {v. phr.}, {informal}  To  hold  a  party;  have  a
party. * /The club is throwing a party in the high school gym Saturday
night./ * /The Seniors threw a masquerade party on Halloween./

   [throw a punch] {v. phr.} To strike at someone with your fist; hit;
punch. * /Bob became so mad at Fred that he threw a punch at  him./  *
/The bell rang and the boxers started throwing punches./ Compare: TAKE
A PUNCH AT.

   [throw away] {v.} 1. To get rid of as unwanted or not needed; junk.
* /Before they moved they threw away everything they  didn't  want  to
take with them./ * /I never save those  coupons;  I  just  throw  them
away./ Syn.: THROW OUT. 2. To waste. *  /The  senator  criticized  the
government for throwing away billions on the  space  program./  3.  To
fail to make use of. * /She threw away a  good  chance  for  a  better
job./

   [throw a wet blanket] See: WET BLANKET.

   [throw caution to the winds] also [throw discretion to  the  winds]
{v. phr.} To be daring; make a bold or risky  move.  *  /Hearing  that
Apaches were planning to start a war,  the  whites  decided  to  throw
caution to the winds and attack the Apaches first./

   [throw cold water on] also [dash cold water on] or [pour cold water
on] {v. phr.} To discourage; say or do something to discourage. *  /We
had high hopes of victory but our opponents soon threw cold  water  on
them./ * /Henry's father threw cold  water  on  his  plans  to  go  to
college by saying he could not afford it./

   [throw a loop] See: KNOCK FOR A LOOP.

   [throw down the gauntlet] {v. phr.} To challenge, especially  to  a
fight. * /Another candidate for the presidency  has  thrown  down  the
gauntlet./

   [throw for a loss] {v. phr.} 1. To tackle a member of the  opposing
football team behind the place where his team  had  the  ball  at  the
beginning of the play; push the other team  back  so  that  they  lose
yardage in football. * /The Blues' quarterback ran back and  tried  to
pass, but before he could, the  Reds'  end  threw  him  for  a  loss./
Compare: LOSE GROUND. 2. {informal} To surprise  or  shock  (someone);
upset; make worry greatly; cause trouble. * /It threw Jim for  a  loss
when he failed the test./ * /Mr. Simpson was thrown for a loss when he
lost his job./ Compare: KNOCK FOR A LOOP, SET BACK ON ONE'S HEELS.

   [throw in] {v.} 1. To give or put in as an addition; to give to  or
with something else. * /John threw in a couple of tires when  he  sold
Bill his bicycle./ * /Mary and Tess were talking about the  prom,  and
Joan threw in that  she  was  going  with  Fred./  Compare:  FOR  GOOD
MEASURE. 2. To push into operating position. * /Mr. Jones threw in the
clutch and shifted the gears./

   [throw light on] See: CAST LIGHT ON, SHED LIGHT ON.

   [throw something in one's face] or [throw something in one's teeth]
{v. phr.} To blame a person for (something wrong); not  allow  someone
to forget (a mistake or failure). - Often used  with  "back".  *  /Bob
came home late for dinner last week, and his mother keeps throwing  it
back in his face./ * /I made a mistake in the ball game and  the  boys
keep throwing it back in my teeth./ Compare: IN ONE'S FACE.

   [throw in one's lot with] or {literary} [cast in  one's  lot  with]
{v. phr.} To decide to share or take part in anything that happens to;
join. * /The thief decided to throw in his lot with the gang  when  he
heard their plans./ * /Washington was rich, but he decided to cast  in
his lot with the colonies against  Britain./  *  /When  Carl  was  old
enough to vote, he threw in his lot with the  Democrats./  Syn.:  JOIN
FORCES.

   [throw in the sponge] or [throw up the sponge]  or  [throw  in  the
towel] {v. phr.}, {informal} To admit defeat; accept  loss.  *  /After
taking a beating for five rounds, the fighter's seconds threw  in  the
sponge./ * /When Harold saw his arguments were not being accepted,  he
threw in the towel and left./ Syn.: GIVE UP.

   [throw off] {v.} 1. To get free from. * /He was healthy  enough  to
throw off his cold easily./ Compare: RID OF. 2. To  mislead;  confuse;
fool. * /They went by a different route to throw the  hostile  bandits
off their track./ 3. To produce easily or as if without effort. * /She
could throw off a dozen poems in a night./

   [throw off the scent] {v. phr.} To mislead; confuse. * /The robbers
went different ways hoping to throw the sheriff's men off the  scent./
Syn.: THROW OFF(2).

   [throw off the track] {v. phr.} To divert; mislead; confuse. * /The
clever criminals threw the detective off the track by  changing  their
names and faces./ Contrast: OFF THE BEATEN TRACK.

   [throw oneself at someone's  feet]  {v.  phr.}  To  make  a  public
display of serving, loving, or worshipping  someone.  *  /When  Arthur
became king, almost all of the nobles threw themselves at his feet and
promised to obey and serve him./ * /When the new girl entered  school,
several boys threw themselves at her feet./

   [throw oneself at someone's head] or [fling  oneself  at  someone's
head] {v. phr.}, {informal} To try hard and openly to  make  a  person
love you. * /She threw herself at his head, but he was  interested  in
another girl./ Compare: AT ONE'S FEET.

   [throw one's hat in the ring] or [toss one's hat in the  ring]  {v.
phr.}, {informal} To announce that you are going to try to be  elected
to an official position; become a candidate for office. * /Bill tossed
his hat in the ring for class president./ * /The senator threw his hat
in the ring for re-election./

   [throw one's weight around] {v.  phr.},  {informal}  To  use  one's
influence or position in a showy or noisy manner. * /John was the star
of the class play, and he was throwing his weight around  telling  the
director how the scene should be played./ * /Bob was stronger than the
other boys, and he threw his weight around./ Compare: PULL RANK.

   [throw open] 1. To open wide with a sudden or  strong  movement.  *
/He dashed in and threw open the windows./ 2. To remove limits from. *
/The Homestead Act threw open the West./ * /When a hurricane and flood
left many people  homeless,  public  buildings  were  thrown  open  to
shelter them./

   [throw] or [feed one to the wolves] {v. phr.} 1.  To  turn  someone
into a scapegoat. * /In order to explain the situation to  the  media,
the governor blamed the mayor and threw him to the wolves./ 2. To send
into danger without protection. * /Mary was very shy. Her friends  did
not come to speak before the club in her place. They threw her to  the
wolves./ * /The boys on the football team were so small that when they
played a good team they were thrown to the wolves./

   [throw out] or [toss out] {v.} 1. To put somewhere to be  destroyed
because not wanted. * /He didn't need the brush anymore so he threw it
out./ Syn.: THROW AWAY(1). 2. To refuse to accept.  *  /The  inspector
tossed out all the parts that didn't work./  3.  To  force  to  leave;
dismiss. * /When the employees complained too loudly, the owner  threw
them out./ Syn.: KICK OUT, TURN OUT(1). 4.  To  cause  to  be  out  in
baseball by throwing the ball. *  /The  shortstop  tossed  the  runner
out./

   [throw out of gear] {v. phr.} 1. To separate the gears of (a car or
some other machine) when you want to stop it. * /When John  wanted  to
stop, he threw the car out of gear and braked sharply./ 2. To stop  or
bother (what someone is doing or planning);  confuse;  upset.  *  /The
whole country was thrown out of  gear  by  the  assassination  of  the
President./ * /My mother's illness threw my plans for the  summer  out
of gear./

   [throw over] {v.} To give up for another;  break  your  loyalty  or
attachment to. * /Bob threw Mary over for a new  girlfriend./  *  /Tom
threw over those who helped him run for class president after  he  was
elected./

   [throw the baby out with the bath (bathwater)] {v. phr.} To  reject
all of something because part is faulty. * /God knows that  there  are
weaknesses in the program, but if they act too hastily they may  cause
the baby to be thrown out with the bathwater./

   [throw the book at] {v. phr.}, {informal} To give the  most  severe
penalty to (someone) for breaking the law or rules. * /Because it  was
the third time he had been caught speeding that month, the judge threw
the book at him./

   [throw together] {v.} 1. also [slap together] To make  in  a  hurry
and without care. * /Bill and Bob threw together a cabin  out  of  old
lumber./ * /The party was planned suddenly, and Mary threw together  a
meal out of leftovers./ 2. To put in with other people  by  chance.  *
/The group of strangers was thrown together  when  the  storm  trapped
them on the highway./ * /Bill and Tom became friends  when  they  were
thrown together in the same cabin at camp./

   [throw up] {v.} 1. {informal} or {slang} [heave up].  To  vomit.  *
/The heat made him feel sick and he thought he would throw up./ *  /He
took the medicine but threw it up a minute later./  2.  {informal}  To
quit; leave; let go; give up. * /When she broke  their  engagement  he
threw up