Commonly used english part 90 doc

teach one's grandmother to suck eggs- to try to tell someone with more knowledge than yourself how to do something Showing the computer expert how to solve the computer problem was like

taper off

- to come to an end little by little, to become smaller toward the end

The rain began to taper off early in the afternoon

tar and feather (someone)

- to punish someone severely

The teacher said that she would tar and feather anyone who did not do their

homework

tarred with the same brush

- to have the same good or bad points (usually used for bad points) as someone else The boy was tarred with the same brush because his friends were some of the worst students in the school

a taste of (something)

- an experience of something, an example of something

I was able to get a taste of playing tennis while I was on my holiday

a taste of things to come

- a sample of the events that are to occur in the future

The tax increase was a taste of things to come with the new government

tax-and-spend

- spending freely and taxing heavily

The government has a tax-and-spend attitude that many people do not like

teach one's grandmother to suck eggs

- to try to tell someone with more knowledge than yourself how to do something

Showing the computer expert how to solve the computer problem was like teaching

my grandmother to suck eggs

teach (someone) a lesson

- to get even with someone for their bad behavior

I plan to teach my friend a lesson for not telephoning me to cancel our appointment

teacher's pet

- the teacher's favorite student

My sister was always the teacher's pet when she was in school

team up with (someone)

- to join with someone

I teamed up with a good friend to try and raise money for the concert series

tear down (someone)

- to say bad things about someone, to criticize someone

The audience tore down the speaker after he finished his lecture

tear down (something)

- to take something down, to destroy something

The city decided to tear down the building because it was unsafe

tear into (someone or something)

- to criticize and scold someone, to attack someone or something

The supervisor tore into the employee for being late

tear off

- to leave or depart in a great hurry

The boy suddenly decided to tear off when school was over

tear one's hair out

- to be anxious/frustrated/angry

The family members are tearing their hair out as they wait for news of their lost son

tear up (someone)

- to cause someone much grief

The criminal activities of her son are tearing up the mother

tear up (something)

- to tear something up into small pieces

The child tore up the new telephone book

teething problems/troubles

- difficulties and problems experienced in the early stages of a project/activity

Our new business is having many teething problems that we are trying to solve

tell Idioms

tell apart (two things or people)

- to distinguish between two things or people

It is hard to tell the two sisters apart

tell it like it is

- to be honest/sincere, to tell the truth

Our boss decided to tell it like it is when he began to talk about the future of the company

tell it to the marines/Sweeney

- I do not believe you, stop trying to fool me

My friend said that she was going to start her own business but I told her to tell it to the marines as I did not believe her

tell on (someone)

- to reveal the activities or wrongdoings of someone by telling others

The girl told on her brother for eating the cake

tell (someone) a thing or two

- to scold someone, to express one's anger to someone

The woman became angry and decided to tell her neighbor a thing or two

tell (someone) off

- to speak angrily or complain to someone

We told our neighbors off after their music was too loud last night

tell (someone) to his or her face

- to tell something to someone directly

I plan to tell my friend to his face about the problems that he has caused

tell (someone) where to get off

- to scold someone, to express one's anger to someone

I told the man where to get off when he complained about our noise for no reason

tell time

- to report the correct time, to be able to read time from a clock or watch

The child is only now learning to tell time

.

a tempest in a teapot

- great excitement about something that is not very important

The problem was a tempest in a teapot and after a few days everyone forgot about it

ten-four

- I understand you

"Ten-four," the man said when his friend asked him if he understood the plan

tenterhooks

- to be in a state of suspense or strain because of uncertainty

We have been on tenterhooks all week while we wait for the decision from the court

thank one's lucky stars

- to be thankful for one's good luck

I thanked my lucky stars that I was not hurt in the car accident

thankful for small blessings

- to be grateful for any small benefits or advantages that one has

I am always thankful for small blessings when I think of the health of my friends and family

thanks to (someone or something)

- owing to someone or something

Thanks to my friend I will not have to do as much work as I had thought

That's all she wrote.

- that is all

"That's all she wrote," I said when I told my friend about the instructions from our boss

that will be the day

- something will probably never happen

"That will be the day when you are in charge of managing the restaurant."

then and there

- right at that time and place

Our teacher told us then and there that she would not permit our behavior

- to be dumb, to be unreasonable

My colleague is a little thick and never understands what I want to say

thick-skinned

- to be not easily upset or hurt, to be insensitive

The salesman is thick-skinned and is never bothered when he loses a sale or receives criticism

thin on top

- to be balding

The manager of our apartment building is a little thin on top

thin-skinned

- to be easily upset or hurt, to be too sensitive

My friend is very thin-skinned and is easily bothered by what other people say

think Idioms

think a lot/great deal/highly/much of (someone or something)

- to like or think well of someone or something

My grandmother thinks a lot of her grandchildren

think back on (someone or something)

- to remember and think about someone or something in one's past

When I think back on my school days I always remember my favorite teacher

think better of (doing something)

- to think about something again and make a better decision regarding it

I would think better of going to Europe in the winter if I ever go there again

think inside the box

- to think in a traditional way using old ideas/rules/practices

Most people in our company think inside the box and there are few new ideas

think little of (someone or something)

- to think that someone or something is not important or valuable

The woman is not very happy and she seems to think little of the people she works with

think nothing of (something)

- to not worry or be concerned about something

When my friend goes out he thinks nothing of spending most of his money at one time

think on one's feet

- to think/reason/plan while one is talking

My boss can think on her feet and she can easily handle most problems

think out loud

- to say out loud what one is thinking

"I am sorry I was thinking out loud."

think out (something)

- to think something through to the end

I have not thought out where I will put my new sofa

think outside the box

- to think freely not using old ideas/rules/practices

The consultant told us to think outside the box if we wanted to rebuild our company

think over (something)

- to consider something carefully

I carefully thought over my plans before talking to my supervisor

think (someone or something) fit for (something)

- to believe that someone or something is suitable for something

Everybody thinks that the man is fit for the job that he has been assigned to do

think the world of (someone or something)

- to be very fond of someone or something

The woman thinks the world of the little girl who lives next door

think twice about (something)

- to think very carefully about something

"You should think twice before you quit your job."

think up (an excuse/idea)

- to invent or create an excuse or idea

Our boss has thought up many interesting ideas for our company

(the) third degree

- detailed questioning

The boy's mother gave him the third degree when he came home late last night

thirst/thirsty for (something)

- a craving or desire for something

The woman thirsts for the life that she was previously living

The young boy is thirsty for knowledge

a thorn in (someone's) side

- a constant bother or annoyance to someone

The reporter is a thorn in the politician's side

thrash (something) out

- to discuss something thoroughly and solve any problems

We spent most of the meeting thrashing the new plan out

thread (one's way) through (something)

- to make a path for oneself through a crowded area

The shopping mall was crowded but we were able to thread our way through the many people

three sheets to the wind

- to be unsteady from drinking too much alcohol, to be drunk

I saw my neighbor walking down the street last night but he seemed to have three sheets to the wind