Letter T

T. & A.

—   T. & A. (see “T. AND A.”)

TAB

**   tab (colloq.): bill (esp. for food or drink)  >Who’s going to pick up the bar tab?

TABLE

—   drink [s/one] under the table (see DRINK)

 *    under the table (colloq.): in secret, clandestinely (esp. regarding business deals) (cf. “UNDER-THE-TABLE”)  >We’ll have to work this under the table to keep the tax people out of our way.

TABLE-HOP

—   table-hop (vi) (colloq.): go from table to table socializing with different people  >She table-hopped all night and talked to almost everyone in the bar.

TABS

 *    keep tabs (on) (colloq.): check (on), maintain a record (concerning), keep observing  >Keep tabs on Bromwell—I want to know his every move.  >I don’t know how many boxes we’ve moved. Aren’t you keeping tabs?

TACH

—   tach (tak) (colloq.): tachometer  >The tach showed the engine was turning at four thousand R.P.M.

TACK

—   (as) sharp as a tack (see SHARP)

TACKY

**   tacky (tak´ē) (colloq.): tasteless, crude, gaudy  >I think his trying to do business at a wedding reception is pretty tacky.  >Why is he wearing that tacky tie with a picture of a naked woman on it?

TAD

 *    a tad (.. tad) (colloq.): a small amount, a bit  >Move it a tad to the right.  >I’ll have a tad more wine, please.

TAGS

 *    tags (colloq.): vehicle license plates  >This truck’s got to have commercial tags.

TAIL

 *    tail1 (colloq.): buttocks, rump  >She slipped on the ice and fell on her tail.

—   tail2 (sl.): person who follows and observes (s/one)  >The cops put a tail on me, but I lost him.

—   tail3 (vulg.): sexual intercourse (with a woman) (freq. used with some or any)  >That horny kid will do anything for some tail.  >He asked me if I’d gotten any tail lately.

—   tail4 (vulg., pej.): woman or women (see as sex object[s])  >He kept talkin’ about all the nice tail he saw on campus.

 *    tail5 (vt) (sl.): follow and observe  >I think that blue pickup’s been tailin’ us.

—   cannot make head(s) or tail(s) (out) of (see HEAD)

—   get off [one’s] tail (sl.): stop being lazy, start moving or working  >I’m gonna get off my tail and mow the lawn.

 *    off [s/one’s] tail (sl.): no longer putting pressure on [s/one], no longer being critical of [s/one] (cf. “on [s/one’s] TAIL2”)  >I’d work a lot better if the boss would just get off my tail.

 *    on [s/one’s] tail1 (sl.): following and observing [s/one]   >Slow down! Ya got a highway patrolman on your tail.  >She put some private detective on his tail to see if he was meetin’ another woman.

—   on [s/one’s] tail2 (sl.): putting pressure on [s/one], being critical of [s/one] (cf. “off [s/one’s] TAIL”)  >I got my supervisor on my tail to boost production.

—   piece of tail (see PIECE)

—   [one’s] tail (sl.): [one]self, [one] (esp. when seen as troublesome or contemptible)  >When the motorcycle gang showed up he got his tail outta there quick.

 *    ... [one’s] tail off (sl.): ... with maximum effort or sacrifice, ... to the utmost  >Rose works her tail off at that job.  >Jimmy ran his tail off but still lost the race.

—   turn tail (see TURN)

TAILGATE

**   tailgate (vt) (colloq.): follow (a vehicle) dangerously closely (in another vehicle)  >I hate it when those big trucks tailgate me.

TAKE

 *    take1 (colloq.): amount of money taken in or obtained  >This restaurant’s take was almost $10,000 last night.  >What was the take in the robbery?

 *    take2 (vt) (colloq.): defeat, conquer  >He’s pretty good—think you can take him?

—   [s/one’s] take (on) (colloq.): [s/one’s] analysis or opinion (of)  >What’s your take on the governor’s proposal?

*     can take [s/thing] or leave [it] (colloq.): have no special liking for [s/thing], be indifferent toward [s/thing]  >Greek food? I can take it or leave it.  >As far as horror films go, she can take them or leave them.

—   (go) take a flying leap! (see FLYING)

—   on the take (sl.): taking bribes  >If the cop is on the take, you can forget about him makin’ a report.

—   take (a/the/[one’s]) ... (see entry under ... noun)

—   rip/take/tear apart (see APART)

—   take/tear apart (see APART)

—   take/knock [s/one] down a peg (or two) (colloq.): reduce [s/one’s] arrogance or presumptuousness, deflate [s/one] somewhat  >It took Williams down a peg when he got beat at his own game.  >Someone ought to knock that clown down a peg or two.

—   take five (see FIVE)

 *    take [s/one] (for) (colloq.): swindle [s/one] (out of an amount), get (an amount) out of [s/one]  >The con artist took him for over a thousand bucks.  >How much did they take you for in Las Vegas?

—   take [s/one] for a ride (see RIDE)

**   take it (colloq.): endure or tolerate (a stressful or unpleasant situation)  >I got to find a new job—I just can’t take it here anymore.  >What’s the matter, tough guy? Can’t you take it?

—   take it away! (colloq.): begin! (a performance)  >OK, maestro, take it away!

—   take it easy (see EASY)

—   take it easy! (see EASY)

—   take it from (colloq.): accept the expert opinion of, learn from the experience of (used esp. as a command)  >Take it from me, having a tooth pulled is no fun!

—   take it in the shorts (see SHORTS)

—   take it on the chin (see CHIN)

—   take [s/thing] lying down (see LYING)

**   take off1 (vi) (colloq.): leave, depart, flee  >It’s late—I got to take off.  >They took off when they saw the guard.

 *    take off2 (vi) (colloq.): grow fast, increase suddenly  >My roses just took off after I fertilized them.  >Sales really took off in May.

 *    take on (vt) (colloq.): accept the challenge of, engage (a competitor)  >You ain’t so tough—I’ll take you on.  >He’ll take on all challengers.

—   take out (vt) (sl.): destroy, eliminate, murder  >He took out a tank with a rocket launcher.  >They took out the guard and broke in.

**   take [s/thing] out on [s/one] (colloq.): make [s/one] suffer because of (one’s own) suffering, vent (one’s) frustration on [s/one] because of [s/thing]  >He takes out all his humiliation on his wife by yelling at her.  >So what if you’re mad at him? Don’t take it out on me!

—   take some doing (see DOING)

 *    take [one’s] (sweet) time (colloq., sarc.): take too much time, be unconcerned about promptness  >That project should have been finished last week. You’re sure taking your sweet time on it.

—   take things easy (see EASY)

—   take [s/one] to the cleaners (see CLEANERS)

 *    take [s/one] up on (colloq.): accept [s/one’s] offer or proposal regarding  >If they offer you the position, take them up on it.

—   take up with (colloq.): start keeping company with, become friends with (esp. s/one undesirable)  >Johnny’s taken up with a couple of no-good bums.  >My son took up with some awful woman who ruined him.

—   (tell [s/one] to take [his/her s/thing] and) shove/stick it (see SHOVE)

—   (tell [s/one] to take [his/her s/thing] and) shove/stick it up [his/her] ass (see SHOVE)

TAKEOFF

 *    takeoff (colloq.): humorous parody, satirical imitation  >He did a hilarious takeoff on that sports announcer.

TAKEOUT

 *    takeout (colloq.): food ordered to be taken out  >This place has great Chinese takeout.

TAKES

 *    it takes two to tango (colloq.): at least two are required to have a conflict  >It can’t be all her fault—it takes two to tango, you know.

—   what it takes (see WHAT)

TALK

—   talk a blue streak (see BLUE STREAK)

**   talk back (vi) (colloq.): respond disrespectfully, speak impudently (cf. “BACK TALK”)  >If he talks back to his mom she really gets mad.

 *    talk big (colloq.): speak boastfully, exaggerate pretentiously, brag (cf. “BIG TALK”)  >He talks big, but he’s strictly a small-time operator.

 *    talk [s/one’s] ear off (colloq.): talk excessively to [s/one], bore [s/one] with excessive talk  >Make an excuse to leave, or Ted’ll talk your ear off.

—   talk shop (see SHOP)

—   talk through [one’s] hat (colloq.): say nonsense, speak out of ignorance  >He’s talking through his hat if he says they’ll fix your car for free.

—   talk trash (sl.): speak insultingly or disrespectfully, attempt to humiliate (s/one) verbally (cf. “TRASH-TALK”)  >Their players were talkin’ trash to our team, but we just ignored ‘em.

—   talk turkey (see TURKEY)

TALKING

 *    be talking (vt) (colloq.): be referring to, mean  >Don’t laugh at this deal—I’m talking big bucks here.  >If it was premeditated, we’re talking first-degree murder.

—   look who’s talking! (see LOOK)

—   now you’re talking! (see NOW)

TALKING HEAD

—   talking head (sl.): person whose head (and shoulders) is seen on television and who is talking (esp. while discussing s/thing), television commentator  >The talkin’ heads were on TV last night analyzin’ the election.

TALKING-TO

 *    talking-to (colloq.): scolding, admonishing lecture  >I’m going to give that lazy girl a good talking-to.

TALL ORDER

 *    tall order (colloq.): request that is difficult to fulfill  >Finding somebody with all those qualifications is a tall order, but I’ll see what I can do.

TAN

—   tan [s/one’s] hide (sl.): spank [s/one], thrash [s/one] (as punishment)  >Your dad’s gonna tan your hide if ya don’t behave.

T. AND A.

—   T. and A. (= “tits and ass”) (sl.): exhibition of women’s breasts and buttocks, soft pornography (also adj.)  >They rated the movie “R” ‘cause it’s got a lot of T. and A.  >She stars in some T. and A. show.

TANGLE

—   tangle1 (colloq.): fight, conflict, quarrel  >Zane’s all depressed because him and his wife got into a bad tangle last night.

—   tangle2 (vi) (colloq.): fight, enter into conflict, quarrel  >They’re really mad at each other—I think they’re going to tangle.  >I tangled with him once over who was responsible for those reports.

TANGO

—   it takes two to tango (see TAKES)

TANK

—   tank (vi) (sl.): become ruined, suffer serious loss  >His company went bankrupt when the economy tanked.

—   the tank (sl.): large jail cell (esp. for drunks)  >They threw him in the tank to sober up.

TANKED

—   tanked (up) (sl.): drunk  >He got tanked up in some bar and started a fight.  >Pete’s so tanked he can’t walk.

TAP

 *    tap1 (colloq.): wiretap  >The F.B.I. has a tap on his phone.

 *    tap2 (vt) (colloq.): wiretap  >The detectives tapped the phone and waited for the info they wanted.

 *    on tap (colloq.): readily available  >We got extra funds on tap if they’re needed.

 *    tap into (colloq.): gain a source for, get access to  >He’s a good reporter because he knows how to tap into the right people.

TAPPED

—   tapped out (sl.): broke, having spent or lost all (one’s) money  >Can you buy the drinks? I’m all tapped out.

TAR

—   beat/knock the tar out of (colloq.): beat severely, beat up  >That big dude’ll knock the tar out of Chas.

TARNATION

—   tarnation! (tär nā´shәn) (colloq.): (interj. to express anger, surprise, or irritation)  >Tarnation! Where’d I put my glasses?

—   what/who/[etc.] in tarnation ...? (colloq.): (intens. to express impatience, anger, or surprise)  >What in tarnation are you doing here?

TASTE

—   so much/bad I can taste it (see SO)

TATER

—   tater (tā´tәr) (colloq.): potato  >She served roast beef and taters.

T-BONE

—   T-bone (tē´bōn´) (vt) (sl.): (for a vehicle to) crash forcefully into the side of (another vehicle)  >The jerk totaled my car when he ran a red light and T-boned me.

TEACH

—   teach (voc.) (colloq.): teacher  >Can I be excused, teach?

 *    that’ll teach [s/one] (to [do s/thing]) (colloq.): that will serve [s/one] as punishment (for [doing s/thing]), that will convince [s/one] (not to [do s/thing] again)  >I slapped him—that’ll teach him to get fresh with me.  >Jack broke his arm fighting. That’ll teach him.

TEAM

—   (a team of) wild horses couldn’t (see WILD)

TEAR

—   rip/tear [s/one] a new asshole (see RIP)

—   rip/tear [s/one] a new one (see RIP)

—   rip/take/tear apart (see APART)

—   take/tear apart (see APART)

—   tear [one’s] hair out (târ) (colloq.): become very upset or desperate, express great frustration  >Jimmy’s mother was tearing her hair out trying to get her son to take his studies seriously.

 *    tear into1 (târ ...) (sl.): assail, attack (physically or verbally)  >The boss tore into Kingsley for screwin’ up the contract.  >They tore into the guy and beat him up bad.

 *    tear into2 (târ ...) (sl.): begin to consume with gusto, attack enthusiastically  >They’ll really tear into this great cherry cobbler.  >The kids tore into their Christmas presents.

TEARJERKER

 *    tearjerker (tēr´jûr´kәr) (sl.): very pathetic or melodramatically sad story or situation (also adj.)  >The story of that poor gal’s life is a real tearjerker.  >Greta loves those sappy tearjerker movies.

 *    tear up1 (târ ...) (vt) (colloq.): cause great grief or sadness in  >Their divorce just tore his mother up.

—   tear up2 (târ ...) (vt) (colloq.): play very well in/on (a sport’s venue)  >The halfback tore up the field that season.  >He rallied and started tearing up the court.

TECH

 *    tech (tek) (colloq.): technology  >Doris’s taking a computer tech class.  >This machine’s real high tech.

**   Tech (colloq.): Technological (in institution names)  >He got his degree at Cal Tech.

TECHIE

 *    techie (te´kē) (sl.): technician, technical expert (esp. in information technology)  >Let the techies have a look to see if they can figure it out.

TEE

 *    tee off (vt) (sl.): make angry, irritate  >Pearl got teed off when they laughed at her.  >It really tees Reggie off when they call him Reginald.

TEEN

**   teen (tēn) (colloq.): teenager, adolescent (also adj.)  >It’s a dance for teens.  >He joined a teen club at the Y.

TEENIE-WEENIE

—   teenie-weenie (see “TEENY-WEENY”)

TEENSY-WEENSY

—   teensy-weensy (tēn´sē wēn´sē) (colloq.): tiny, very small  >Some teensy-weensy bug bit me and left this huge welt.

TEENYBOPPER

—   teenybopper (tē´nē bop´әr) (sl.): young teenager (esp. a girl who follows fads) (also adj.)  >The teenyboppers go crazy over that rock star.  >He’s a teenybopper idol, real popular with junior high girls.

TEENY-WEENY

—   teeny-weeny (tēn´ē wēn´ē) (colloq.): tiny, very small  >Can you see that teeny-weeny speck there?

TEEPEE

—   teepee (see “T.P.”)

TEETH

—   (about) drop [one’s] teeth (see DROP)

—   by the skin of [one’s] teeth (see SKIN)

—   kick in the teeth (see KICK)

—   lie through [one’s] teeth (see LIE)

—   sink [one’s] teeth into (see SINK)

TELL

—   I hope to tell you! (see HOPE)

 *    I tell you (colloq.): I emphasize (that), I am convinced (that), I find (s/thing) obvious  >I tell you it just won’t work.  >She’s one great friend, I tell you.

 *    (I’ll) tell you what (colloq.): listen to this proposal, here’s an idea  >Tell you what—buy three of them, and I’ll knock ten dollars off the total.

—   not know/can’t tell [one’s] ass from a hole in the ground (see KNOW)

—   not know/can’t tell [s/thing] from a hole in the ground (see KNOW)

 *    tell it like it is (colloq.): speak truthfully, be candid and forthright  >When you testify in court, you’d better tell it like it is.

 *    tell me about it! (sl.): I know just what you mean! you don’t have to explain it to me!  >Tell me about it! That happened to me just last year.

 *    tell off (vt) (colloq.): reprimand or rebuke  >Delores was being snotty, so I told her off in front of everybody.

**   tell on (colloq.): tattle on, inform on  >I’ll tell on you if you steal it.

—   (tell [s/one] to take [his/her s/thing] and) shove/stick it (see SHOVE)

—   (tell [s/one] to take [his/her s/thing] and) shove/stick it up [his/her] ass (see SHOVE)

—   tell [s/one] where to get off (see WHERE)

—   tell [s/one] where to put/stick [s/thing] (see WHERE)

TELLING

 *    I’m telling you (colloq.): I emphasize (that), I am convinced (that), I find (s/thing) obvious  >I’m telling you, that kid needs professional counseling.  >It’s not going to rain, I’m telling you.

 *    you’re telling me! (colloq.): I agree completely! I’m well aware (of that)!  >You’re telling me it’s hot! Just look at me sweat.

TELLS

—   something tells me (see SOMETHING)

TEN

 *    ten (colloq.): highest rating, very high evaluation  >I’d give him a ten on the neat bookshelf he built.  >I don’t agree with the ten you gave that movie.

 *    a ten (colloq.): an excellent or unsurpassable thing or person  >His performance was good, but not a ten.  >He’s gorgeous, definitely a ten.

TEN-FOOT

—   wouldn’t touch [s/thing, s/one] with a ten-foot pole (see TOUCH)

TENNIES

 *    tennies (ten´ēz) (colloq.): tennis shoes, athletic shoes  >Wear your tennies—they’re better for walking.

TEN-SPOT

—   ten-spot (sl.): ten-dollar bill  >He laid two ten-spots on the bar and said, “Keep ‘em comin’!”

TERRIBLE

 *    something terrible (colloq.): terribly, very badly  >I don’t know what I ate, but my stomach’s been hurting something terrible.

TERRIBLY

 *    terribly (colloq.): very, extremely  >He’s terribly excited about the game next week.

TERRITORY

 *    come/go with the territory (colloq.): be a natural neg. accompanying factor (in some endeavor)  >If you want to be a writer, you got to put up with mean critics—they come with the territory.

TERROR

—   (holy) terror (colloq.): very contentious or mischievous person, very troublesome person  >Why don’t they control that brat? He’s a holy terror.  >The boss’s son is a terror around the office.

TEX-MEX

 *    Tex-Mex (teks´meks´) (colloq.): combining Texan and Mexican cultures  >I love Tex-Mex food.  >Some Tex-Mex band was playing a corrido.

T.G.I.F.

 *    T.G.I.F. (= “thank God it’s Friday”) (sl.): (expression referring to Friday celebrations of the end of the work week and the start of the weekend)  >What a week this has been! Let’s have a little T.G.I.F. party this afternoon down at Sullivan’s.

THANK

 *    thank [one’s] lucky stars (colloq.): thank God, appreciate [one’s] good fortune  >I thank my lucky stars I didn’t go ahead and marry that bum.

THANKS

—   thanks a million! (see MILLION)

THATAWAY

—   thataway (ðat´ә wā´) (colloq.): in that direction, in that manner, that way  >He took off running thataway.  >You can’t do it thataway—let me show you how.

THAT’LL

 *    that’ll be the day! (colloq.): that will never happen!  >My lazy son, help with the dishes? That’ll be the day!

—   that’ll teach [s/one] (to do [s/thing]) (see TEACH)

THAT’S

—   that’s (about) the size of it (see SIZE)

—   that’s all she wrote! (see ALL)

 *    that’s ... for you (colloq.): that’s characteristic of ...  >That’s Lynn for you—she waits till the last minute, but she always comes through.

 *    that’s more like it (colloq.): that’s better, that’s how I prefer it  >That’s more like it! You’re showing me some respect now.  >Yeah, lobster for dinner instead of hamburgers! That’s more like it.

 *    that’s my boy! (colloq.): I’m proud of you! congratulations! (said to a male)  >That’s my boy! I knew you could do it!

 *    that’s my girl! (colloq.): I’m proud of you! congratulations! (said to a female)  >First prize? That’s my girl!

—   that’s rich! (see RICH)

 *    that’s that (colloq.): there is nothing more to be said or done, that’s final  >Well, that’s that. He was our last hope.  >I won’t agree to it, and that’s that.

—   that’s the way the ball bounces (see BALL)

—   that’s the way the cookie crumbles (see COOKIE)

THEIRSELVES

—   theirselves (colloq.): themselves  >They just sat down and helped theirselves to everything on the table.

THEM

 *    them (colloq.): those  >Hey, get them kids away from there!

—   how do you like them apples? (them stressed) (sl.): look at this and be envious! notice and admire!  >I got first prize! How do you like them apples?  >I’m datin’ Miss Miami Beach. How do you like them apples?

THERE

—   [neg.] be all there (see ALL)

 *    have been there (colloq.): have suffered the same experience  >I know it’s tough to quit smoking—I’ve been there.

—   in there pitching (see PITCHING)

—   put it there! (see PUT)

—   (right) up there (see UP)

—   somebody/someone up there (see SOMEBODY)

 *    there you go (sl.): that’s right, you’re correct  >There you go—that’s exactly why it happened.

 *    there you go/are (colloq.): here/there you have it, witness (what was expected)  >There you are—ham and eggs with wheat toast.  >Well, there you go. You fooled around and broke it.

THERE’S

—   like there’s no tomorrow (colloq.): wildly, extravagantly, without moderation  >They were drinking and partying like there was no tomorrow.  >She’s been buying new clothes like there’s no tomorrow.

 *    there’s ... and (then) there’s ... (colloq.): there are different types of ..., not all ... is/are the same  >There’s steaks and then there’s steaks. You want a T-bone, a sirloin, or what?  >There’s jewelry and there’s jewelry. Just what were they selling?

—   there’s no two ways about it (see TWO)              

THICK

—   thick (colloq.): slow-witted, stupid  >He’s kind of thick. You’d better go over it with him again.

 *    in the thick of it/things (colloq.): in the middle or most active part of (a situation), fully involved in (an activity)  >Whenever anyone talks about politics, you’ll find Jensen in the thick of it.  >The phone always rings when I’m in the thick of things.

—   lay it on (thick) (see LAY)

THIN

—   one/a thin dime (see DIME)

THING

 *    thing (sl.): special strong feeling or mental quirk (regarding)  >She’s got a real thing for oak antiques.  >What’s with this thing Jones has against jazz musicians?  >I don’t understand his thing for chubby blondes.

 *    a thing or two (colloq.): a substantial amount (esp. of knowledge)  >He knows a thing or two about diesel engines.  >I want to tell you a thing or two about what’s wrong with the way you run this office.

 *    do [one’s] thing (colloq.): do what [one] is talented or adept at, do what [one] enjoys, live [one’s] preferred lifestyle  >OK, you’re the mechanic—do your thing.  >He couldn’t take small-town life, so now he’s doing his thing in Frisco.

—   have a good thing going (see GOOD)

—   have another thing/think coming (see ANOTHER)

 *    [one’s] (own) thing (sl.): [one’s] special lifestyle or favorite activity  >Whatever ya wanna do is fine with us—just do your own thing.  >His thing is listenin’ to jazz.  >She likes sports, but I’m into my own thing.

—   sure thing (see SURE)

THINGAMABOB

—   thingamabob (thing´ә mә bob´) (colloq.): thing, gadget, object (for which one does not know the name)  >I lost that round thingamabob off my fishing reel.

THINGAMAJIG

—   thingamajig (thing´ә mә jig´) (colloq.): thing, gadget, object (for which one does not know the name)  >What do you call that thingamajig that’s connected to the fuel pump?

THINGS

 *    be seeing/hearing things (colloq.): see/hear imaginary things, have hallucinations  >What flying saucer? You’re seeing things.  >Am I hearing things, or is someone in the house?

—   take things easy (see EASY)

THINGY

—   thingy (thing´ē) (colloq.): thing, gadget, object (for which one does not know the name)  >You’d better lift up that thingy on top of the radiator cap first.

THINK

—   have another thing/think coming (see ANOTHER)

—   think [one] is God’s gift to (see GOD’S GIFT)

—   think [one] is hot shit (see HOT SHIT)

—   think [s/one] is hot shit (see HOT SHIT)

—   think outside the box (colloq.): think innovatively, use creative thinking  >We got to think outside the box on this one; the old solutions just won’t work.

THIRD DEGREE

 *    the third degree (colloq.): intensive questioning (to get information)  >He got the third degree from the cops, but he didn’t tell them anything.  >My parents give me the third degree about every girl I meet.

THIS

**   this (colloq.): a certain, some, a  >Then this big guy comes out of nowhere, pulls out this knife, and starts threatening me.

 *    it’s like this: (colloq.): the situation is the following:, this is my explanation:  >Why am I late? It’s like this: my wife usually sets the alarm clock, see, and last night ...

 *    this is it! (colloq.): this is the critical moment!  >This is it, Dale! It’s our turn.

THOU

—   thou (thou) (sl.): thousand (dollars)  >That model sells for around fifty thou.

THOUSAND

—   bat a thousand (see BAT)

THREADS

—   threads (sl.): clothes  >Nice threads, man! Ya look great.

THREE

—   three sheets to/in the wind (... wind) (sl.): drunk  >Hell, no, he can’t drive—he’s three sheets to the wind.

—   three squares (colloq.): three substantial or nourishing meals (per day)  >They give you a room and three squares for thirty bucks a day.

THREE-RING CIRCUS

—   three-ring circus (colloq.): disorderly or noisy place or event, spectacular and confused happening  >They had this huge, fancy wedding—a real three-ring circus.

THROAT

 *    at each other’s throat(s) (colloq.): (for two or more people to be) attacking or fighting each other (esp. verbally, esp. viciously)  >I don’t see how they stay married—they’re always at each other’s throats.

—   cut [one’s] own throat (see CUT)

—   jump down [s/one’s] throat (see JUMP)

—   shove/ram [s/thing] down [s/one’s] throat (see SHOVE)

THRONE

—   the throne (sl., hum.): the toilet  >He was sitting on the throne when some lady walked in on him.

THROUGH

—   through the mill (see MILL)

—   through the wringer (see WRINGER)

THROW

**   throw1 (vt) (colloq.): give (a party), host (a celebration)  >She loves to throw parties for any occasion.  >They threw us a big bash for our anniversary.

 *    throw2 (vt) (colloq.): mislead, fool, confuse  >Leonard really threw me there for a minute. I thought he was serious.

—   throw3 (vt) (colloq.): lose (a sports competition) on purpose  >If you ask me, that boxer threw the fight.

—   a throw (sl.): apiece, each  >His training sessions cost a hundred bucks a throw.

—   throw [s/one] a curve (colloq.): do (s/thing) unexpected to [s/one], mislead [s/one], take [s/one] by surprise  >Corky really threw me a curve when he took out the girl he knew I liked.

—   throw/have a fit (see FIT)

—   throw a monkey wrench into (colloq.): create an obstacle for, spoil, be an impediment to  >Ruth’s unexpected visit threw a monkey wrench into our plans for the weekend.

 *    throw [oneself] at (colloq.): openly flirt with, clearly show [oneself] to be interested in (esp. romantically)  >Just look how she’s throwing herself at Linda’s boyfriend!

—   toss/throw back (see TOSS)

 *    throw/knock [s/one] for a loop (colloq.): greatly surprise or shock [s/one], overwhelm [s/one]  >It threw me for a loop when I read he’d been arrested.  >That huge bill knocked me for a loop.

 *    throw in (vt) (colloq.): add for free, give as an extra  >Buy three at the regular price and I’ll throw in a fourth one at no extra cost.

 *    throw in the towel (colloq.): surrender, concede defeat  >There’s just no way to do it. I’m ready to throw in the towel.

—   throw money at (colloq.): attempt to solve or remedy with money only (esp. a complex situation)  >You’re not going to reform education just by throwing money at it.

—   throw [s/thing] out the window (colloq.): waste [s/thing], fail to take advantage of [s/thing] (esp. an opportunity)  >He had a chance at a good promotion, but he threw it out the window by demanding too much.

 *    throw the book at (sl.): bring all possible charges against, give the maximum sentence to  >He’d been arrested four times before, so the judge threw the book at him.

 *    throw/slap together (vt) (colloq.): make or elaborate hurriedly or carelessly  >We can throw together a dinner party for next Saturday, can’t we?  >Looks like they just slapped that house together.

—   throw [s/one] under the bus (sl.): sacrifice [s/one], scapegoat or blame [s/one] (esp. in a betraying way)  >The manager threw his assistant under the bus, blamin’ the whole fiasco on her.

**   throw up (vi, vt) (colloq.): vomit  >I feel sick—I’m going to throw up.  >He threw up all that pizza he ate.

 *    throw [one’s] weight around (colloq.): use [one’s] power or influence (esp. in a showy or arrogant way)  >The mayor’s wife offends a lot of people when she tries to throw her weight around at meetings.

THROW-UP

 *    throw-up (colloq.): vomit  >I stepped in some throw-up on the bathroom floor.

THUMB

 *    thumb (vt) (colloq.): hitchhike (one’s way)  >I’ll see if I can thumb a ride to town.  >Our car broke down and we had to thumb it to Fargo.  >She thumbed her way across the country.

—   sit there with [one’s] thumb up [one’s] ass (see SIT)

—   stick out like a sore thumb (see STICK)

THUMBS

 *    be all thumbs (colloq.): have poor dexterity or coordination, be clumsy or awkward  >I’m all thumbs today—I just can’t seem to work these pliers right.

—   twiddle [one’s] thumbs (see TWIDDLE)

THUMBS-DOWN

 *    thumbs-down (colloq.): show of disapproval or denial, neg. response (cf. “THUMBS-UP”)  >They’ll get a thumbs-down on that dumb idea.

THUMBS-UP

 *    thumbs-up (colloq.): show of approval or assent, positive response (cf. “THUMBS-DOWN”)  >We’re ready to go as soon as we get the thumbs-up.

TICK

 *    tick (off) (vt) (sl.): make angry, infuriate  >That jerk really ticks me off.  >Boy, was he ever ticked! His face was red as a beet.  >No need to get ticked off about something so minor.

 *    what makes [s/one] tick (sl.): the motives behind [s/one’s] behavior, an analysis of [s/one’s] character  >I wanna know what makes that strange character tick.

TICKER

—   ticker (sl.): heart  >Doc says my ticker’s just fine.

TICKET

 *    the ticket (colloq.): exactly what is needed, the most advisable action, the best solution  >A big glass of iced tea! That’s the ticket on a hot day like this.

TICKLE

—   tickle (vt) (colloq.): please, delight or thrill  >This wonderful news will tickle him to death.

TICKLED

 *    tickled (pink) (colloq.): (very much) pleased, delighted or thrilled  >Betty was tickled pink with her remodeled kitchen.  >We’re tickled you could come.

TICKY-TACKY

—   ticky-tacky (tik´ē tak´ē) (colloq.): cheap and uncreative, mass-produced and conventional (esp. housing)  >The only thing they could afford was one of those ticky-tacky tract homes built in the fifties.

TIE

—   tie one on (sl.): get drunk  >Gracie tied one on at the party last night, so I drove her home.

 *    tie the knot (colloq.): get married  >They tied the knot just two months after they met.

 *    tie up (vt) (colloq.): occupy the time and energy of, make busy  >Getting this report ready will tie me up all afternoon.  >Give me a call when you’re not tied up.

TIED

—   fit to be tied (see FIT)

—   tied to [s/one’s] apron strings (colloq.): psychologically dependent on or controlled by [s/one] (referring esp. to a man, by his mother or wife)  >Herbie’s really tied to his mother’s apron strings—he doesn’t make a move without asking her.

—   with one hand tied behind [one]/[one’s] back (see HAND)

TIGHT

—   tight (sl.): drunk  >Walt got pretty tight after downin’ those six scotches.

—   hang tight (see HANG)

—   sit tight (see SIT)

 *    tight spot (colloq.): awkward or difficult situation  >They’ll be in a tight spot if their driver is late.

 *    tight (with) (sl.): on very friendly or confidential terms (with)  >Havens says he’s tight with the important people in this town.  >Jimmy and his partner are real tight.

—   up tight (see “UPTIGHT”)

TIGHTEN

—   tighten [one’s] belt (colloq.): become frugal, cut back on expenses, endure financial hardships (cf. “BELT-TIGHTENING”)  >If business doesn’t pick up soon, we’re going to have to tighten our belts.

TIGHTWAD

 *    tightwad (colloq.): very stingy person, miser  >You think that tightwad will pay fifty bucks for a ticket?

TIMBUKTU

 *    Timbuktu (tim´buk tū´) (colloq.): a faraway or isolated place  >He lives way out in Timbuktu.

TIME

 *    time (colloq.): term of required service or imprisonment  >She put in her time on the assembly line before getting promoted.  >Stubby did time for holding up convenience stores.

—   buy time (see BUY)

—   every time [s/one] turns around (see EVERY)

—   give [s/one] a bad time (see BAD)

 *    have a time with (colloq.): have frequent trouble with, suffer because of  >Stan and Betty have really had a time with that lousy car they bought.  >They’re having a time with that obnoxious son of theirs.

—   in less than no time (see LESS)

 *    in no time (flat) (colloq.): in a very short time, very quickly  >At this speed we’ll be there in no time flat.  >I finished that easy lesson in no time. 

—   it’s about time! (see ABOUT) 

—   long time no see (see LONG)

**   make (good) time (colloq.): travel at a (very) satisfactory speed  >We’ll make good time now that the truck’s unloaded.

—   make time with (sl.): be sexually or romantically involved with  >He don’t even know the dude’s makin’ time with his old lady.

—   me time (see ME)

—   take [one’s] (sweet) time (see TAKE)

 *    the time of [one’s] life (colloq.): great fun or a very enjoyable experience for [one]  >I had the time of my life on that Caribbean cruise.

—   ...-time loser (see LOSER)

—   time out! (sl.): let me interrupt that lie! correct that before continuing!  >Time out! I did not say I’d loan ya the money.

 *    won’t (even) give [s/one] the time of day (colloq.): be very snobbish toward [s/one], ignore [s/one], snub [s/one] contemptuously  >We used to be good friends, but ever since he inherited all that money he won’t even give me the time of day.

TINKLE

—   tinkle (ting´kәl) (vi) (colloq.): urinate (used esp. with small children)  >Mommy, I got to tinkle.

TINSELTOWN

—   Tinseltown (tin´sәl toun´) (colloq.): Hollywood, the motion-picture community in and around Hollywood  >The talk of Tinseltown this week is a certain superstar’s going into rehab.

TIP

**   tip1 (colloq.): helpful hint, suggestion  >Old Herb gave me some tips on fly fishing.

 *    tip2 (colloq.): piece of secret or privileged information  >The cops got a tip on his whereabouts.

 *    on the tip of [one’s] tongue (colloq.): almost remembered, barely escaping recollection  >His name was on the tip of my tongue, but I just couldn’t come up with it.

—   tip a few (sl.): have a few drinks (esp. beers)  >I tipped a few with the guys after work.

—   tip [one’s] hand (colloq.): reveal [one’s] intentions or plans (esp. inadvertently)  >She tipped her hand about her trip when she asked about travel insurance.

 *    tip off (vt) (colloq.): give secret or privileged information to, reveal (information) to, warn  >They were tipped off by an anonymous caller.  >Someone tipped them off about the police raid.

—   tip the scales at (colloq.): weigh  >I bet that fatso tips the scales at over three hundred pounds.

TIP-OFF

 *    tip-off (colloq.): revealed information, warning  >The way he was acting all nervous was the tip-off that something was wrong.  >A guy working for the government gave Brown the tip-off about the investigation they were going to do on him.

TIPPYTOE

—   tippytoe (tip´ē tō´) (vi) (colloq.): tiptoe  >I tried tippytoeing to my room in the dark, but I knocked over a lamp.

TIPSTER

—   tipster (tip´stәr) (colloq.): person who provides secret or privileged information  >He’s got a tipster that feeds him inside information.

TIPTOP

 *    tiptop (colloq.): excellent, in the highest degree, first-rate  >After four weeks of exercising, Andy’s in tiptop shape.  >You’ve been doing tiptop work lately.

TIRED

—   sick and tired (of) (see SICK)

TIT

**   tit (tit) (vulg.): (woman’s) breast  >She thinks her tits are too small.

TITS

—   freeze [one’s] tits off (see FREEZE)

TITS AND ASS

 *    tits and ass (tits ...) (vulg.): exhibition of women’s breasts and buttocks, soft pornography (also adj.)  >My grandmother gets real upset over the tits and ass ya see in a lot of movies today.  >They went to some tits and ass show.

TITTY

—   titty (tit´ē) (vulg.): (woman’s) breast or nipple  >Her titties are about to fall out of that low-cut dress.  >It was cold, and her titties were hard.

—   tough titty! (see TOUGH)

TIZZY

—   in a tizzy (... tiz´ē) (sl.): very nervous or excited, agitated  >Bowers was all in a tizzy because his ex-wife was threatenin’ to sue him for more alimony.

T.J.

—   T.J. (colloq.): Tijuana, Baja California Norte, Mexico  >They bought some souvenirs in T.J.

T.L.C.

 *    T.L.C. (sl.): tender loving care  >Billy will heal up just fine with a little T.L.C.

TO

—   to go (see GO)

TOAST

—  be toast (sl.): be doomed, be unable to avoid ruin or harm  >If you screw up this contract you’re toast in this company!  >Rod’s toast if he picks a fight with that big guy.

TO-DO

 *    to-do (colloq.): commotion, fuss, stir  >There was some to-do in the manager’s office this morning. You should have heard it.  >They made a big to-do over her coming home.

TOE

—   toe the line (colloq.): conform to the rules, behave in an uncriticizable manner  >You guys got to toe the line because we’re going to be reviewed next month.

TOE JAM

—   toe jam (sl., freq. vulg.): filth that collects under the toenails and/or between the toes  >You’d think he’d clean that toe jam out if he’s gonna wear sandals.

TOES

 *    on [one’s] toes (colloq.): alert, prepared to act  >A good investigator’s always on his toes.

—   step on [s/one’s] toes (see STEP)

TOGETHER

 *    together (sl.): very healthy mentally and emotionally  >Travis is a real together guy.

—   get/have [one’s] act together (see ACT)

—   get/have [one’s] head together (see HEAD)

 *    get/have it together (sl.): find/have emotional stability, get/have (one’s) life in order, resolve/have resolved personal problems  >Ozzie never really got it together after his girl left him.  >I was in bad shape before, but I have it together now.

—   get/have [one’s] shit together (see SHIT)

 *    go together (colloq.): date regularly, be sweethearts  >My brother and her are going together.

—   hang together (see HANG)

—   run around (together) (with) (see RUN)

—   throw/slap together (see THROW) 

TOGS

—   togs (togz) (sl.): clothes >Nice togs! Gotta date? 

TOILET

—   (go) in(to)/down the toilet (sl.): (become) wasted or ruined, (be) lost or squandered  >Our vacation plans went right into the toilet when Bobby got sick.  >Well, I’d say the dough ya invested in that scheme is down the toilet.

TOKE

—   toke (tōk) (sl.): puff of a marijuana cigarette  >He lit a joint and everybody took a couple of tokes.

TOM

—   every Tom, Dick, and Harry (see EVERY)

TOMATO

—   tomato (sl., dtd.): attractive young woman  >Who was that tomato I saw Tommy with at the dance?

TOMCAT

—   tomcat (around) (vi) (sl.): pursue women to make sexual conquests  >Willy really liked to tomcat around when he was young.  >I guess Percy’s out tomcattin’ again tonight.

TOMMY GUN

—   Tommy gun (tom´ē ...) (colloq., dtd.): Thompson submachine gun  >The gangsters shot the place up with Tommy guns.

TOMORROW

—   like there’s no tomorrow (see THERE’S)

TON

—   a ton (of …) (sl.): much (...), many (...)  >There’s a ton of people waiting to get into the show.  >If ya need any more two by fours, they’ve gotta ton on sale at the lumberyard.

—   like a ton of bricks (colloq.): very heavy (also adv.)  >What’ve you got in this suitcase? It feels like a ton of bricks.  >He was runnin' full speed, and he hit me like a ton of bricks.

TONGUE

—   on the tip of [one’s] tongue (see TIP)

—   [for] the cat [to] have [s/one’s] tongue (see CAT)

TONGUE-LASHING

—   tongue-lashing (colloq.): severe scolding, verbal reprimand  >Ivan got a good tongue-lashing from his mom for trampling her flowers.

TONS

**   tons (of ...) (sl.): much (...), many (...)  >I got tons of things to do today.  >Help yourself to some more salad—there’s tons left.

TOO

—   have one too many (see ONE)

—   ... too! (stressed) (colloq.): ... indeed! (used to assertively deny s/one’s neg. statement) (cf. “[neg.] ... EITHER!”)  >You liar! I did too pay my share!  >Don’t say he’s not a good player! He is too!

—   too big for [one’s] britches (see BIG)

 *    too much (colloq.): extraordinary, impressive  >That crazy friend of yours is too much.  >You got arrested for littering? Too much!

—   too rich for [s/one’s] blood (see RICH)

TOOL

—   tool1 (vulg.): penis  >Ya wouldn’t have believed the tool on the dude in that porno movie!

—   tool2 (vi) (colloq.): travel in a vehicle (esp. at a fast and steady pace)  >We were tooling down the road doing about seventy when a cop pulled us over.

TOOT

—   toot (sl.): cocaine  >They say he always does a little toot before he performs.

—   blow/toot [one’s] own horn (see BLOW)

TOOTING

—   you’re darn tooting ...! (... därn ...; freq.: yûr dûrn tū´tәn ) (sl.): ... is the truth! absolutely ...! have no doubt that ...!  >You’re darn tootin’ I’m gonna demand a refund!

TOO-TOO

—   too-too (colloq.): overly affected, pretentious, excessively elaborate  >His fancy house is just too-too, if you ask me.

TOOTS

—   toots (tŭts) (voc.) (sl., freq. pej., dtd.): girl, lady (used esp. in a presumptuously affectionate way)  >Hey, toots, come and sit with me a minute.

TOOTSIE

—   tootsie (tŭt´sē) (sl., freq. pej., dtd.): young woman, (female) sweetheart (esp. an attractive one) (also voc.)  >He showed up with some tootsie he met at a bar.  >He’s got a couple of tootsies in Louisville.  >Hey, tootsie, wanna drink?

TOOTSY

—   tootsy1 (see “TOOTSIE”)

—   tootsy2 (tŭt´sē) (sl., freq. hum.): foot  >These wool socks should keep your little tootsies warm.  >He’s got a blister on his tootsy where his shoe rubbed.

TOP

**   top (vt) (colloq.): surpass, provide s/thing better than  >I bet you can’t top this story.  >He offered me the whole package for six hundred bucks. If you can top that, you got a deal.

—   blow [one’s] top (see BLOW)

 *    come out on top (colloq.): win, prevail, gain the advantage  >Simpson wasn’t a favorite in the tournament, but he managed to come out on top.

 *    from the top (colloq.): from the beginning (esp. of s/thing being rehearsed or repeated)  >OK, people, try it again, from the top.  >Let’s hear your version of what happened, from the top.

 *    off the top (colloq.): before any is spent or distributed  >As soon as you get the dough, I want my share off the top.

**   off the top of [one’s] head (colloq.): extemporaneously, without deliberating, impromptu  >Off the top of my head, I’d say it would cost around twenty thousand.

 *    on top of1 (colloq.): in addition to, besides  >Then I got a headache on top of all my other problems.  >He makes good money in commissions on top of his base salary.

 *    on top of2 (colloq.): fully informed of, having the latest information about  >Sam’s a real baseball fan—he’s on top of everything going on in the majors.

 *    on top of3 (colloq.): in control of, prepared to deal effectively with  >There’s a problem in the number two generator, but Kingsley’s on top of it.

 *    on top of4 (colloq.): very close to  >The little apartment where they had the party was really crowded—people were on top of each other.  >We were on top of the campsite before we recognized it.

—   over the top (colloq.): beyond generally accepted standards, extreme, offensive  >His vulgar language was a little over the top for that senior citizens’ meeting.

—   sleep like a top (see SLEEP)

—   the (top) brass (see BRASS)

 *    top banana (sl.): chief person, leader, highest person in a hierarchy (cf. “SECOND banana”)  >A decision this big has to come from the top banana.

—   top dog (colloq.): person in the highest position of power or authority (esp. in a highly competitive situation)  >Whitley’s been top dog around here ever since the big merger a year ago.

 *    top dollar (colloq.): the highest possible payment  >I’ll give you top dollar for those stamps if they’re in mint condition.

—   top of the heap (sl.): superior position of power or authority (esp. in a very competitive situation)  >He ain’t aggressive enough to get to the top of the heap.

TOP-DRAWER

—   top-drawer (colloq.): of the highest quality or prestige  >Her sculptures are top-drawer stuff.

TOP-NOTCH

 *    top-notch (colloq.): excellent, of highest quality, first-rate  >I want only top-notch experts working on this.

TOPS

 *    (the) tops (colloq.): the best, the most impressive or outstanding  >We’ve seen some good plays, but this one was the tops.  >She’s tops in her field.

 *    ... tops (colloq.): ... maximum, at the most ...  >He makes sixty thousand a year tops in that position.

TORCH

—   torch1 (sl.): arsonist (esp. one who sets fires for money)  >He hired some torch to burn his store down so he could collect on the insurance.

—   torch2 (vt) (sl.): set fire to, commit arson on  >The hood threatened to torch my house.

—   carry a torch for (see CARRY)

TORCH SONG

—   torch song (colloq.): popular song that laments failed or unrequited love  >She sat around listening to nothing but torch songs for weeks after their breakup.

TORPEDO

—   torpedo (vt) (colloq.): destroy, undermine, sabotage  >Somebody on the review committee torpedoed my proposal.

TOSS

 *    toss1 (vt) (colloq.): flip a coin with (s/one) (to determine s/thing)  >I’ll toss you for the last piece of pie.  >They tossed us to see who’d go first.

 *    toss2 (vt) (colloq.): throw away, discard  >Why don’t you toss that rusty old lamp?

—   toss3 (vt) (sl.): thoroughly search (a place), esp. in a messy or destructive way  >The cops tossed his apartment looking for evidence.

 *    toss around (vt) (colloq.): discuss, air  >We tossed around a few ideas for the event.  >Let’s toss it around awhile before we decide.

—   toss/throw back (vt) (sl.): drink or eat (esp. enthusiastically)  >Hey, wanna toss back a few beers over at Danny’s?  >I threw back some bacon and eggs and took off.

—   toss [one’s] cookies (sl.): vomit  >Suzie got carsick and tossed her cookies out the window.

—   toss [one’s] lunch (sl.): vomit  >I felt so sick I thought I was gonna toss my lunch right then and there.

—   toss off (vt) (colloq.): ignore (criticism or an insult), not let (s/thing) bother (one)  >He called me a liar, but I just tossed it off.  >It’s hard to just toss off an insult like that.

TOSSUP

**   tossup (colloq.): even chance, choice between equals  >The championship this year is pretty much a tossup between our team and theirs.  >For me it’s a tossup between cherry pie and chocolate cake for dessert.

TOTAL

**   total (vt) (sl.): wreck completely (esp. an automobile)  >Art totaled his new Jaguar last weekend, but he didn’t get hurt.

TOTALLY

 *    totally (sl.): very, extraordinarily  >The concert was, like, totally awesome, man.  >She’s a totally gorgeous babe.

TOTEM POLE

—   low/bottom man on the totem pole (see LOW)

TOUCH

—   cannot touch (vt) (colloq.): is/are not at all competitive with, is/are not nearly of the quality of  >Our competitors can’t touch us on customer service.  >No one can touch my lawyer when it comes to convincing juries.

—   put the touch on (sl.): try to get or borrow money from  >Why don’t ya put the touch on your old man for the fifty bucks ya need?

 *    touch all bases (colloq.): be thorough, make every contact necessary  >The detectives touched all bases in their investigation.

 *    touch base(s) (with) (colloq.): make contact (with), communicate (with) (esp. to confer)  >We’ll touch bases again before a final decision is made.  >You should touch base with Jean before you mention that to anyone.

 *    wouldn’t touch [s/thing, s/one] with a ten-foot pole (sl.): want nothing to do with [s/thing, s/one], be very wary of [s/thing, s/one]  >I wouldn’t touch that floozy with a ten-foot pole.  >That whole situation’s a big mess—they wouldn’t touch it with a ten-foot pole.

TOUCHIE-FEELIE

—   touchie-feelie (tuch´ē´ fē´lē´) (sl., sarc.): overly concerned with human sensitivity  >She belongs to one of those touchie-feelie groups where everyone dumps their problems on everyone else, and then they go around huggin’ each other.

TOUGH

**   tough1 (colloq., freq. sarc.): unfortunate, difficult  >I’ve had some tough breaks lately.  >Aw, that’s tough. Her Rolls Royce got a little scratch.  >Tough luck! I win and you lose.

—   tough2 (sl., dtd.): excellent, attractive  >Wow, what a tough new bike!  >He’s goin’ out with a really tough chick.

—   hang tough (see HANG)

—   tough nut (see NUT)

—   hard/tough nut to crack (see NUT)

 *    tough out (vt) (colloq.): persevere through, endure, continue struggling against  >Some bad times are coming, and we’re going to have to tough them out.  >Hang in there, Spike! Tough it out, man.

 *    tough shit! (... shit) (vulg., sarc.): that’s (s/one’s) bad luck!  >Tough shit, dummy! You’re the one that screwed it up.

—   tough titty! (... tit´ē) (vulg., sarc.): that’s (s/one’s) bad luck!  >Your team lost? Tough titty, man! What do ya want me to do about it?

TOUGHIE

—   toughie (tuf´ē) (colloq.): strong and aggressive person, bully  >Would you believe Reverend Canton used to be the school toughie?

TOURISTA

—   the tourista(s) (see “the TURISTA[s]”)

TOURIST TRAP

 *    tourist trap (colloq.): establishment that exploits tourists (esp. by charging high prices for low quality)  >Don’t eat at the places that guide recommends—they’re all tourist traps.

TOWEL

—   throw in the towel (see THROW)

TOWN

—   go to town (on) (colloq.): do (s/thing) fast and well, do (s/thing) energetically or enthusiastically  >She went to town on that crossword puzzle and finished it in ten minutes.  >Jerome’s really hungry—set those ribs down in front of him and watch him go to town.

 *    on the town (colloq.): enjoying a city’s entertainment and pleasures (esp. its nightlife)  >The sailors really enjoy their first night out on the town when they come into port.

—   paint the town (red) (see PAINT)

—   skip town (see SKIP)

T.P.

—   T.P.1 (colloq.): toilet paper  >Hey, we need a new roll of T.P. in here.

—   T.P.2 (vt) (sl.): cover (a house and/or surrounding trees and shrubs) with streamers of toilet paper (as a prank)  >Some high school kids T.P.ed Suzie’s house last night.

TRACK

 *    the track (colloq.): a racetrack (esp. for horses)  >He blows all his money betting at the track.

TRACKS

—   tracks (sl.): needle marks from habitual injection of drugs  >Sure he’s a junkie. Didn’t ya see the tracks on his arm?

 *    in [one’s] tracks (colloq.): right where [one] is/was (at a given moment)  >They spotted him and shot him in his tracks.  >I stopped in my tracks when I heard the scream.

—   make tracks (sl.): take off, leave quickly, go fast  >We made tracks when he pulled a knife.

—   the right side of the tracks (see RIGHT)

—   the wrong side of the tracks (see WRONG)

TRADE

—   trick of the trade (see TRICK)

TRAFFIC

—   stop traffic (see STOP)

TRAIL

—   hit the trail (see HIT)

TRAIN WRECK

—   train wreck (colloq.): disaster, terrible result  >Everything went wrong with that project—it was a complete train wreck.

TRAIPSE

—   traipse (trāps) (vi) (colloq.): move or walk aimlessly (s/where), go around without reaching an objective  >They were traipsing through the woods, holding hands.  >I traipsed all over trying to find the right size curtains.

TRAMP

 *    tramp (colloq.): sexually promiscuous or unscrupulous woman  >He left his wife for some tramp that works at his office.

TRAP

 *    trap (sl.): mouth (esp. seen as the instrument of undesirable talk)  >Now, don’t open your trap about what we saw.

—   shut [one’s] trap (see SHUT)

TRASH

 *    trash1 (vt) (sl.): destroy, heavily damage, vandalize  >Give ‘em their money back or they’re gonna trash the theatre.

—   trash2 (vt) (sl.): severely criticize, give a very negative review or evaluation of  >Why is that reporter trashin’ the councilman?  >The critics trashed his movie.

—   talk trash (see TALK)

TRASH-TALK

—  trash-talk (sl.): insulting or disrespectful speech, humiliating comments (cf. “TALK trash”)  >The two boxers engaged in a lot of trash-talk before the fight.

TRASHY

 *    trashy (colloq.): obscene, vulgar  >He keeps buying those trashy girlie magazines.  >What trashy language she uses!

TRAVEL

—   travel (vi) (colloq.): move fast  >That car was traveling! It passed me like I was standing still.

TREAT

 *    treat [s/one] like dirt (colloq.): treat [s/one] unjustly or with contempt, mistreat [s/one]  >I don’t know why Amy puts up with him—he treats her like dirt.

TREE

—   barking up the wrong tree (see BARKING)

—   out of [one’s] tree (sl.): crazy, very irrational  >The guy’s outta his tree to flirt with his boss’s wife.

—   up a tree (colloq.): in a difficult situation, in a predicament or dilemma  >Betsy’s up a tree. The auditors just arrived and she can’t find the records she needs.

TRENCHES

—   in the trenches (colloq.): in the basic and difficult circumstances of a job or profession  >Rollins put in eight years in the trenches before being promoted.

TRENDY

—   trendy1 (tren´dē) (colloq.): person who follows the latest trends, person who always seeks to be in fashion  >All the trendies shop at that exclusive store.

 *    trendy2 (colloq.): following the last trends, in fashion  >She buys trendy clothes because she wants to be in style.

TRIBE

—   tribe (colloq.): large family or group of relatives, kinfolk  >Mom still has the whole tribe over for dinner on Sundays.

TRICK

 *    trick1 (sl.): prostitute’s sexual transaction  >Some call girls get five hundred bucks a trick.

—   trick2 (sl.): prostitute’s customer  >Her trick beat her up and left without payin’.

 *    do the trick1 (colloq.): bring about the desired result  >Move the antenna a little—that should do the trick.

—   do the trick2 (vulg.): readily have sex, grant sexual favors (said of a woman)  >He says she did the trick for him on their first date.

—   every trick in the book (see EVERY)

—   not miss a trick (see MISS)

—   the oldest trick in the book (see OLDEST)

 *    trick of the trade (colloq.): special skill or restricted knowledge (to help one succeed in a given profession or activity)  >Knowing how to handle reporters is an important trick of the trade.  >Sawyer’s an old pro—he knows all the tricks of the trade.

—   turn a trick (sl.): engage in an act of prostitution  >He wanted her to turn a trick right then and there.  >She turns tricks in that motel.

TRICKED-OUT

—   tricked-out (sl.): extravagantly decorated or equipped  >He cruised by showin’ off his new tricked-out pickup truck. 

TRICKS

—   how’s tricks? (see HOW’S)

TRIG

 *    trig (trig) (colloq.): trigonometry (esp. as a course of study)  >She got a B in music and an A in trig.

TRIGGER

—   quick on the draw/trigger (see QUICK)

TRIGGER-HAPPY

—   trigger-happy (colloq.): tending to fire a firearm with little reason or provocation  >He says the police in that town are real trigger-happy.

TRIGGERMAN

—   triggerman (sl.): person who shoots s/one (esp. when hired to do it)  >Who was the triggerman on the O’Reilly murder?

TRIKE

—   trike (trīk) (colloq.): tricycle  >Dad just backed the car over Willy’s trike.

TRIP

 *    trip1 (sl.): drug-induced psychedelic experience, drug intoxication  >You can have a real bad trip on L.S.D., man.

—   trip2 (sl.): extraordinary person or thing, exciting or emotional experience  >Your friend with all the problems is a real trip.  >Goin’ over those rapids was a trip!

—   trip3 (sl.): lifestyle, absorbing interest  >His trip is makin’ all the money he can.  >The exercise trip just isn’t for me, so go joggin’ by yourself.

—   trip (out)1 (vt) (sl.): have a drug-induced psychedelic experience, become intoxicated by drugs  >He was really trippin’ after he smoked a little crack.  >Some tripped-out kid walked right out in front of the bus.

—   trip (out)2 (vi) (sl.): enjoy (s/thing) very much, experience great pleasure or excitement  >Everyone was trippin’ out at the concert.  >The fans tripped out when their team won the championship.

TRIPE

—   tripe (sl.): nonsense, worthless opinion(s)  >Do ya really believe that tripe she was givin’ us about government conspiracies?

TRIPLE

—   double/triple whammy (see WHAMMY) 

TROLL

—   troll (vi, vt) (sl.): make offensive or annoying comments (about s/one) online  >He resents a bunch of people, so he spends a lot of time on his laptop trolling.  >They troll the unpopular kids at school. 

TROMP

 *    tromp (tromp) (vt) (sl.): defeat decisively, beat up  >They thought they were the best, but they got tromped.  >That huge guy’ll tromp ya.

TROPHY WIFE

—   trophy wife (colloq.): young, attractive wife (seen as a status symbol) (esp. the second or later wife of an older, affluent man)  >After he made it big in business he dumped his wife of thirty years and now has now hisself a blonde trophy wife.

TROT

—   hot to trot (see HOT)

—   trot out (vt) (colloq., sarc.): bring out for display, present (esp. pointlessly or routinely)  >He trotted out half the company’s executives to support his case.  >I hope Burt doesn’t trot out more of his travel photos.

TROTS

—   the trots (sl.): diarrhea  >I got the trots after eatin’ in that cheap joint.

TROUBLE

—   in trouble (colloq.): pregnant (when unmarried)  >I heard she left town because her boyfriend got her in trouble.

TRUCKING

 *    keep on trucking (sl.): carry on, keep at it, not give up  >There’s gonna be good times and bad—ya gotta just keep on truckin’.

TRUST

—   trust [s/one] (about) as far as [one] can throw [him/her] (sl.): not trust [s/one] at all  >I’d better get a receipt from that clown—I trust him about as far as I can throw him.

TRY

**   try (vt) (colloq.): attempt to get in touch with (esp. by telephone)  >If there’s no answer at my house, try me at the office.

TUB

—   tub of lard (colloq., pej.): very fat person  >I’m afraid that tub of lard’s going to break the chair.

TUBBY

—   tubby (tub´ē) (colloq.): short and fat (also voc.; pej. when voc.)  >Why doesn’t she put that tubby kid of hers on a diet?  >Don’t break the scales, tubby.

TUBE

 *    (go) down the tube(s) (sl.): (become) wasted or ruined, (be) lost or squandered  >All our plans went down the tube ‘cause the boss made me work that weekend.  >All that money she bet at the track is down the tubes.

**   the tube (sl.): television  >Anything good on the tube tonight?

TUCK

—   tuck away (vt) (colloq.): eat or drink  >We tucked away a few burritos and beers before we left.

TUCKER

—   tucker out (vt) (colloq.): tire, fatigue  >That hike tuckered her out.  >I’m tuckered out after eight hours in that madhouse where I work.

TUFF

—   tuff (see “TOUGH2”)

TUMMY

**   tummy (tum´ē) (colloq.): stomach, belly (used esp. with children)  >Mommy, my tummy hurts.

TUMMY TUCK

—   tummy tuck (tum´ē ...) (colloq.): plastic surgery to remove excess fat and skin around the stomach, abdominoplasty  >She didn’t lose that on a diet—I bet she had a tummy tuck.

TUNE

—   change [one’s] tune (see CHANGE)

 *    to the tune of (colloq.): in the amount of (esp. when considered substantial)  >He’ll be making house payments to the tune of three thousand a month.

 *    tune in (vt) (sl.): pay attention to, heed (cf. “TUNE out”)  >I just can’t get my teenage son to tune me in.

 *    tune out (vt) (sl.): pay no attention to, not heed (cf. “TUNE in”)  >Stephanie can’t get anything across to him—he just tunes her out.

TURD

 *    turd1 (tûrd) (vulg.): piece of excrement  >Watch out for those dog turds on the sidewalk there.

 *    turd2 (vulg.): contemptible or reprehensible person  >I don’t want that turd anywhere near me.

TURF

 *    [one’s] turf (sl.): [one’s] area of authority or domination, [one’s] territory  >That gang don’t let nobody from outside on their turf.  >This’s my turf, where I grew up.

TURISTA

—   the turista(s) (... tŭ´rē stә[z]) (sl.): diarrhea affecting travelers (esp. abroad)  >I got the turistas real bad in North Africa.

TURKEY

 *    turkey1 (sl.): stupid person, foolish and contemptible person  >Willis talked some turkey into puttin’ up the dough for his scheme.

—   turkey2 (sl.): inferior and unsuccessful production or venture  >She starred in some turkey that got trashed by the critics.  >How’d I get involved in this project? It’s a turkey.

—   talk turkey (colloq.): speak frankly and substantively, discuss the essentials  >Enough pleasantries—let’s talk turkey.

TURN

—   every time [s/one] turns around (see EVERY)

—   turn a trick (see TRICK)

**   turn down (vt) (colloq.): reject, refuse  >Grady’s all depressed because he was turned down for the job.  >He offered me a hundred dollars, but I turned it down.

 *    turn in (vi) (colloq.): go to bed, retire for the evening  >We’d better turn in—we got to get up early in the morning.

**   turn off1 (vt) (sl.): disgust, make (s/one) lose interest  >He’s OK, but his bad breath turns me off.  >Jack gets turned off by pushy salesmen.

—   turn off2 (vi) (sl.): stop paying attention, become uninterested  >He just turns off when ya try to talk to him about his problems.

**   turn on (vt) (sl.): stimulate, create desire or excitement in, arouse  >She really got turned on by that archeological dig she helped with.  >They say kinky sex is what turns him on.

—   stop/turn on a dime (see DIME)

—   (turn on) the waterworks (see WATERWORKS)

 *    turn on (to) (vt) (sl.): create desire or excitement in (for), stimulate to use or enjoy (s/thing)  >Alfie didn’t take drugs till Joanna turned him on to pot.  >He got turned on to collectin’ baseball cards when he was a kid.

 *    turn out (vi) (colloq.): attend (a gathering or event)  >I hope enough people turn out so we don’t lose any money.

 *    turn (over)/spin in [one’s] grave (colloq.): be scandalized or outraged (said of the dead)  >Bach must turn over in his grave whenever they play rock versions of his music.  >Grandma would be spinning in her grave if she heard you use such trashy language.

—   turn tail (colloq.): turn and run, flee, retreat  >They turned tail when he pulled out a gun.

—   turn yellow (see YELLOW)

TURNOFF

 *    turnoff (sl.): thing or person that makes (s/one) lose interest or become disgusted (cf. “TURNON”)  >His bony legs are a complete turnoff.  >The guy’s a turnoff with all those gruntin’ noises he makes.

TURNON

 *    turnon (sl.): thing or person that stimulates or arouses, thing or person that creates desire or excitement (in s/one) (cf. “TURNOFF”)  >The way that dress clings to her is a turnon.  >The waves were perfect—a real turnon for the surfers.

TURNOUT

 *    turnout (colloq.): attendance (at a gathering or event)  >They had a good turnout at the company picnic.

TUSH

 *    tush (tŭsh) (sl.): rump, buttocks  >She thinks he’s got a cute tush.

TUX

**   tux (tuks) (colloq.): tuxedo  >He looks great in a tux.

TWAT

—   twat1 (twät) (vulg.): vagina  >He said the picture showed her twat.

—   twat2 (vulg., pej.): woman  >That sexist jerk called her a dumb twat.

—   twat3 (vulg., pej.): woman or women (seen as sex object[s])  >He says there’s a lot of good-lookin’ twat in that town.

TWENTY-FOUR/SEVEN

—  twenty-four/seven (twenty-four hours per day, seven days a week) (colloq.): every day and around the clock, constantly  >Our company provides customer service by phone twenty-four/seven.

24/7

—  24/7 (see “TWENTY-FOUR/SEVEN”)

TWERP

—   twerp (twûrp) (sl.): contemptibly insignificant person (esp. an offensive young or small one)  >If that little twerp mouths off once more, I’m gonna let him have it.

TWIDDLE

 *    twiddle [one’s] thumbs (twid´l ...) (colloq.): be idle, take no action  >We can’t have our staff just sitting around twiddling their thumbs.

TWIRP

—   twirp (see “TWERP”)

TWIST

 *    twist [s/one’s] arm (colloq.): coerce [s/one], force [s/one] (to do s/thing)  >I didn’t have to twist his arm to take a second helping of stew.

—   wrap/twist [s/one] around [one’s] little finger (see WRAP)

TWISTER

 *    twister (colloq.): tornado  >The twister took the roof right off the house.

TWIT

—   twit (twit) (colloq.): foolish and bothersome person  >I don’t want that twit getting in my way.  >Not that way, you twit!

TWO

—   a thing or two (see THING)

 *    (already) have two strikes against [one] (colloq.): be in a very disadvantageous situation, have much working against [one]  >With his prison record and lack of experience he’s already got two strikes against him when he applies for a job.

—   have two left feet (see LEFT)

—   it takes two to tango (see TAKES)

 *    put two and two together (colloq.): make a deduction, draw a conclusion based on the facts, finally realize (s/thing)  >I finally put two and two together—it was Jim she was talking about, not his brother.

—   stand on [one’s] (own) two feet (see STAND)

—   there’s no two ways about it (colloq.): there is no other option, (the situation) allows only one interpretation or solution  >You’re going to have to pay the late fee—there’s no two ways about it.

TWO-BIT

 *    two-bit (sl.): inferior, contemptibly insignificant  >He’s some two-bit actor that can’t remember his lines.  >I don’t wanna play for no two-bit team like theirs.

TWO-BY-FOUR

—   two-by-four (colloq.): cramped, unspacious  >How can you stand to live in this crummy little two-by-four apartment?

TWO CENTS

 *    put in [one’s] two cents (worth) (colloq.): state [one’s] opinion, have [one’s] say (esp. when unsolicited)  >He just had to put in his two cents worth at the meeting.

TWOFER

—   twofer (= “two-for”) (tū´fәr) (colloq.): two-for-one arrangement, situation in which two things are obtained or accomplished with just one expense or effort, double advantage  >It was a twofer for the cops, since they nabbed a wanted arsonist who was hanging out with the murder suspect they went to arrest.

TWO-FER

—   two-fer (see “TWOFER”)

TWO-TIME

 *    two-time (vt) (sl.): be unfaithful to, betray  >Mark thinks she’s an angel, but she’s two-timin’ him with one of his buddies.  >I don’t know why she stays married to that two-timin’ husband of hers.

TWO-WAY STREET

 *    two-way street (colloq.): situation involving responsibilities on the part of two parties (and not just one), reciprocal situation  >Being friends is a two-way street—don’t expect me to give in all the time.

TYPE

 *    ... type (colloq.): individual who typifies (a) ... (situation or occupation)  >Some big criminal type threatened to beat him up.  >She don’t care for them intellectual types.

**   [one’s] type (colloq.): type of person [one] would be romantically interested in  >Roger’s nice, but he’s not her type.

TYPO

**   typo (tī´pō) (colloq.): typographical error  >I can’t send this letter out—it’s full of typos.