talk down to Also, speak down to. Address someone with insulting condescension, patronize, as in Just because she’s editor-in-chief doesn’t give her the right to talk down to her staff, or Children hate teachers who speak down to them.
talked out Weary from speaking, as in I haven’t another thing to say; I’m all talked out. [c. 1900] Also see TALK OUT.
talk into Persuade, as in They talked me into going swimming with them. This idiom was first recorded in 1697. The antonym is talk out of, meaning “dissuade,” as in They tried to talk me out of going swimming. It is almost a century newer, first recorded in Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility (1797–1798).
talk of the town, the A subject of considerable gossip, as in Turning up drunk at the debutante ball will certainly make you the talk of the town. Already mentioned in two Latin sources, this expression surfaced in English in the mid-1600s.
talk out 1. Discuss a matter exhaustively, as in We talked out our marital problems with the therapist. [c. 1900] Also see TALKED OUT. 2. Resolve or settle by discussion, as in Karen felt she and her father should talk out their differences. [Mid-1800s]
talk out of → See under TALK INTO; also see OUT OF TURN, def. 2.
talk over 1. Discuss thoroughly, as in Let’s talk over the entire plan and see if we discover any flaws. [First half of 1700s] 2. Win someone over by persuasion, as in We talked them over to our point of view. [First half of 1800s] Also see TALK AROUND.
talk sense Speak rationally and coherently, as in Ranting and raving won’t help; it’s time we talked sense, or I wish you’d talk some sense into that son of yours. Shakespeare used this idiom in slightly different form in The Merry Wives of Windsor (2:1): “Believe it, Page, he speaks sense.”
talk shop Converse about one’s business or profession, as in Whenever John and his dad get together, they talk shop. [Mid-1800s]
talk someone’s arm off Also, talk someone’s ear or head or pants off; talk a blue streak; talk until one is blue in the face; talk the bark off a tree or the hind leg off a donkey or horse. Talk so much as to exhaust the listener, as in Whenever I run into her she talks my arm off, or Louise was so excited that she talked a blue streak, or You can talk the bark off a tree but you still won’t convince me. The first four expressions imply that one is so bored by a person’s loquacity that one’s arm (or ear or head or pants) fall off; they date from the first half of the 1900s (also see PANTS OFF). The term like a blue streak alone simply means “very quickly,” but in this idiom, first recorded in 1914, it means “continuously.” The obvious hyperboles implying talk that takes the bark off a tree, first recorded in 1831, or the hind leg off a horse, from 1808, are heard less often today. Also see under BLUE IN THE FACE.
talk the talk Speak convincingly and appropriately to create the image of knowing a great deal about a subject but with the implication that the speech actually has no substance. For example, It’s what they do that counts, not what they say when they talk the talk. This idiom was first recorded in 1906. Only a couple of decades later came the related walk the walk, meaning to behave in a manner appropriate to a certain image. The opera singer Renee Fleming, in her autobiography, noted that at one audition she could sing the role of Carmen fairly well but as for walking the walk of the Spanish gypsy, she was totally lost. Or, as the Boston Globe headlined a letter from Senator John F. Kerry, “Senate Has Walked the Walk on Medicare Reform” (April 7, 2011).
talk through one’s hat Talk nonsense; also, hold forth about something one knows very little about. For example, He was talking through his hat when he described the shipwreck, or Mother went on and on about various screwdrivers but in fact she was talking through her hat. The allusion in this idiom makes no sense either, which may be the point. [Late 1800s]
talk to Also, give a talking to. Scold, reprimand, as in The teacher said he’d have to talk to Jeff after school, or Dad gave us both a good talking to. [Colloquial; second half of 1800s] For talk to like a Dutch uncle, see DUTCH UNCLE.
talk turkey Speak plainly, get to the point, as in Don’t call me until you’re ready to talk turkey. This expression allegedly comes from a tale about an Indian and a white man who hunted together and divided the game. When the white man said, “I’ll take the turkey and you the buzzard, or you take the buzzard and I the turkey,” the Indian replied, “Talk turkey to me.” Whether or not this tale had a true basis, the term was recorded in its present meaning by about 1840.
talk up Speak in favor of, promote, as in They were talking up their candidate all over the state. [Second half of 1800s]
tall → In addition to the idioms beginning with TALL, also see WALK TALL.
tall order A goal that is hard to fulfill or achieve, as in Getting a thousand new subscribers is a tall order indeed. This expression uses tall in the sense of “impressively great” or “difficult.” [c. 1900]
tall tale A fanciful or greatly exaggerated story, as in Some youngsters love tall tales about creatures from outer space coming to earth. This idiom uses tall in the sense of “exaggerated.” [Mid-1800s]
tamper with 1. Interfere or meddle, especially in a harmful way. For example, If you tamper with that lock it’s sure to break. [c. 1600] 2. Engage in improper or secret dealings, as in He was accused of tampering with the jury. [c. 1600]
tangent → See ON A TANGENT.
tank → In addition to the idiom beginning with TANK, also see THINK TANK.
tank up 1. Fill a gas tank with fuel, as in As soon as we tank up the car we can leave. [First half of 1900s] 2. Drink to the point of intoxication. F. Scott Fitzgerald used this expression in The Great Gatsby (1926): “I think he’d tanked up a good deal at luncheon.” This expression often is put in the passive and without “up,” meaning “be or become intoxicated,” as in My roommate really got tanked last night. [Slang; c. 1900]
tan someone’s hide Also, have someone’s hide. Spank or beat someone, as in Dad said he’d tan Billy’s hide if he caught him smoking, or I’ll have your hide if you take something without paying for it. This term uses hide in the sense of “skin.” The allusion in the first expression is to a spanking that will change one’s skin just as chemicals tan animal hide (convert it into leather). [Second half of 1600s]
tap → See ON TAP.
tape → See RED TAPE.
taper off 1. Become thinner or narrower at one end, as in The road began to taper off until it was just a narrow path. [c. 1600] 2. Diminish or lessen gradually, end by degrees, as in The storm finally tapered off. [Mid-1800s]
tar → In addition to the idiom beginning with TAR, also see BEAT THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS (TAR) OUT OF.
tar and feather Criticize severely, punish, as in The traditionalists often want to tar and feather those who don’t conform. This expression alludes to a former brutal punishment in which a person was smeared with tar and covered with feathers, which then stuck. It was first used as a punishment for theft in the English navy, recorded in the Ordinance of Richard I in 1189, and by the mid-1700s had become mob practice. The figurative usage dates from the mid-1800s.
target → See ON TARGET.
tarred with the same brush Having the same faults or bad qualities, as in He may be lazy, but if you ask me his friends are all tarred with the same brush. This term is thought to come from sheep farming, where the animals’ sores were treated by brushing tar over them, and all the sheep in a flock were treated in the same way. The term was transferred to likeness in human beings in the early 1800s.
task → See TAKE TO TASK.
taste → See ACQUIRED TASTE; DOSE (TASTE) OF ONE’S OWN MEDICINE; LEAVE A BAD TASTE IN ONE’S MOUTH; NO ACCOUNTING FOR TASTES; POOR TASTE.
tat → See TIT FOR TAT.
tax → In addition to the idiom beginning with TAX, also see DEATH AND TAXES.
tax with Charge, accuse, as in He was taxed with betraying his fellows. [Mid-1600s]
tea → See CUP OF TEA; NOT FOR ALL THE TEA IN CHINA; TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT.
teach a lesson Pun
ish in order to prevent a recurrence of bad behavior. For example, Timmy set the wastebasket on fire; that should teach him a lesson about playing with matches. This term uses lesson in the sense of “a punishment or rebuke,” a usage dating from the late 1500s. Also see LEARN ONE’S LESSON.
teach an old dog new tricks Change longstanding habits or ways, especially in an old person. For example, His grandmother avoids using the microwave oven—you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. This expression, alluding to the difficulty of changing one’s ways, was first recorded in 1523 in a book of husbandry, where it was used literally. By 1546 a version of it appeared in John Heywood’s proverb collection.
teacher’s pet A person who has gained favor with authority, as in Al has managed to be teacher’s pet in any job he has held. This expression transfers the original sense of a teacher’s favorite pupil to broader use. [1920s]
team up with Form an association with, as in Our pediatrician is teaming up with specialists in such areas as orthopedics and cardiology. This expression alludes to the harnessing together of draft animals, such as oxen. [First half of 1900s]
teapot → See TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT.
tear → In addition to the idioms beginning with TEAR, also see RIP (TEAR) INTO; WEAR AND TEAR. Also see under TEARS; TORN.
tear apart 1. Upset or make distraught, as in The parents’ divorce tore apart the grandparents. [Second half of 1800s] 2. Criticize severely, as in The professor tore her paper apart. [Mid-1900s] 3. Search some place completely, as in The police tore the house apart. [Second half of 1900s] 4. Separate, especially unwillingly, as in The war tore many families apart.
tear around Move about in excited or angry haste, as in He tore around the house, looking for the dog. [Second half of 1700s]
tear at 1. Pull at or attack violently, as in Jane eagerly tore at the wrapping paper, or The dog tore at the meat. [Mid-1800s] 2. Distress, as in Their plight tore at his heart.
tear away Remove oneself unwillingly or reluctantly, as in I couldn’t tear myself away from that painting. [Late 1700s]
tear down 1. Demolish, take apart, as in They tore down the old tenements, or He loved to tear down old engines. [Early 1600s] 2. Vilify or discredit, as in He’s always tearing down someone or other. [First half of 1900s]
tear into → See RIP INTO.
tear it Ruin something, spoil one’s chances, as in She knew she’d torn it when she lost the address. It is often put as that tears it, as in He’s a whole week late—well, that tears it for the September issue. [Colloquial; early 1900s]
tear off 1. Produce hurriedly and casually, as in He tore off a poem a day for an entire month. 2. Leave in a hurry, as in She tore off to the store because it was about to close. [c. 1900]
tear one’s hair Also, tear out one’s hair. Be greatly upset or distressed, as in I’m tearing my hair over these errors. This expression alludes to literally tearing out one’s hair in a frenzy of grief or anger, a usage dating from A.D. 1000. Today it is generally hyperbolic.
tears → See BORE TO DEATH (TEARS); BURST INTO (TEARS); CROCODILE TEARS. Also see under TEAR.
tease out Lure out, obtain or extract with effort, as in We had a hard time teasing the wedding date out of him. This term alludes to the literal sense of tease, “untangle or release something with a pointed tool.” [Mid-1900s]
tee off 1. Start or begin, as in We teed off the fundraising drive with a banquet. This usage is a metaphor taken from golf, where tee off means “start play by driving a golf ball from the tee.” [Second half of 1900s] 2. Make angry or irritated, as in That rude comment teed him off, or I was teed off because it rained all weekend. [Slang; mid-1900s] Also see TICK OFF.
teeth → See ARMED TO THE TEETH; BARE ONE’S TEETH; BY THE SKIN OF ONE’S TEETH; CUT ONE’S TEETH ON; FED TO THE GILLS (TEETH); FLY IN THE FACE (TEETH) OF; GIVE ONE’S EYETEETH; GNASH ONE’S TEETH; GRIT ONE’S TEETH; IN THE TEETH OF; KICK IN THE PANTS (TEETH); LIE THROUGH ONE’S TEETH; LIKE PULLING TEETH; SCARCE AS HEN’S TEETH; SET ONE’S TEETH ON EDGE; SINK ONE’S TEETH INTO; TO THE TEETH. Also see under TOOTH.
telephone tag A round of phone calls to and from two individuals who reach only the other’s answering machine or voice mail. For example, Mary and I have been playing telephone tag all week; neither of us is home when the other calls. The “tag” here refers to the children’s game in which one youngster tries to catch the other. [Colloquial, second half of 1900s]
tell → In addition to the idioms beginning with TELL, also see DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL; DO TELL; KISS AND TELL; SHOW AND TELL; SOMETHING TELLS ME; THERE’S NO TELLING; THING OR TWO, TELL A; TIME WILL TELL; WHICH IS WHICH, TELL; YOU NEVER CAN TELL; YOU’RE TELLING ME. Also see under TOLD.
tell apart Discern or distinguish, as in It’s hard to tell the twins apart. [First half of 1900s]
tell a thing or two → See THING OR TWO.
tell it like it is Speak the truth, no matter how unpleasant. For example, We’re obligated to tell it like it is to the stockholders. [Slang; second half of 1900s]
tell it to the Marines Go fool someone else because I won’t believe that. For example, He’s a millionaire? Tell it to the Marines! This term originated among British sailors, who regarded marines as naive and gullible. [c. 1800]
tell me Also, tell me about it. I know, I agree with you, as in Since the layoffs I have been overloaded with work—Tell me! or We had a hard time finding the place.—Tell me about it! It took me all morning. Identical to a literal request to be told about something, this expression must be distinguished from it by the context and the speaker’s tone. [Colloquial; second half of 1900s]
tell off Rebuke severely, reprimand, as in It’s time someone told her off about her behavior. There is also a synonymous expression, tell someone where to get off, as in When he called back a third time, I told him where to get off. [Colloquial; early 1900s] Also see GET OFF, def. 7.
tell on Tattle on, inform on, as in Marjorie said she’d tell on him if he pulled her hair again. This seemingly modern term appeared in a 1539 translation of the Bible (I Samuel 27:11): “David saved neither man nor woman... for fear (said he) lest they should tell on us.”
tell someone where to get off → See TELL OFF.
tell tales Divulge secrets, as in Don’t trust him; he’s apt to tell tales. This expression was first recorded about 1350. A variant, tell tales out of school, first recorded in 1530, presumably alluded to schoolchildren gossiping but was soon broadened to revealing secret or private information. Both may be obsolescent.
tell time Keep track of the hours; also, know how to read a clock or watch. For example, This old clock still tells time quite accurately, or He taught his niece to tell time by using a cuckoo clock. This expression uses tell in the sense of “reckon” or “calculate,” a usage dating from about A.D. 1000.
temper → See HOLD ONE’S TEMPER; LOSE ONE’S TEMPER.
temperature → See RUN A FEVER (TEMPERATURE).
tempest in a teapot Also, tempest in a teacup. A great disturbance or uproar over a matter of little or no importance. For example, All that because a handful of the thousand invited guests didn’t show up? What a tempest in a teapot! This expression has appeared in slightly different forms for more than 300 years. Among the variations are storm in a cream bowl, tempest in a glass of water, and storm in a hand-wash basin. The British prefer storm in a teacup. The current American forms were first recorded in 1854. For a synonym, see MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.
tempt fate Also, tempt the fates. Take a severe risk, as in It’s tempting fate to start up that mountain so late in the day, or Patrice thought driving that old car was tempting the fates; it was sure to break down. This expression uses tempt in the sense of “test in a way that involves risk or danger.” Earlier idioms with a similar meaning were tempt God, dating from the 1300s, and tempt fortune, first recorded in 1603, with fate appearing about 1700.
tempus fugit → See under TIME FLIES.
ten → See COUNT TO TEN; NOT TOUCH WITH A
TEN-FOOT POLE.
tender → See LEAVE TO SOMEONE’S TENDER MERCIES.
tender age A young age, as in It’s a great advantage to learn languages at a tender age. [Early 1300s]
tender loving care Also, TLC. Solicitous and compassionate care, as in These houseplants sure have had tender loving care, or Older house for sale, needs some renovation and TLC. Originally used to describe the work of caregivers such as nurses, this term today is often used ironically or euphemistically. [Second half of 1900s]
tender mercies → See LEAVE TO SOMEONE’S TENDER MERCIES.
tend to 1. Apply one’s attention, as in We should tend to our business, which is to teach youngsters. This term uses tend in the sense of “attend.” [1300s] 2. Be disposed or inclined, as in We tend to believe whatever we are told. This term uses tend in the sense of “have a tendency.” [c. 1600]
tenterhooks → See ON TENTERHOOKS.
terms → See BRING TO TERMS; COME TO TERMS; CONTRADICTION IN TERMS; IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS; IN TERMS OF; ON GOOD TERMS; ON SPEAKING TERMS.
territory → See COME WITH THE TERRITORY; COVER THE FIELD (TERRITORY).
terror → See HOLY TERROR.
test → See ACID TEST; PUT TO THE TEST.
tether → See END OF ONE’S ROPE (TETHER).
than → See ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS; BARK IS WORSE THAN ONE’S BITE; BETTER LATE THAN NEVER; BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY; BETTER THAN; BITE OFF MORE THAN ONE CAN CHEW; BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER; EASIER SAID THAN DONE; EYES ARE BIGGER THAN ONE’S STOMACH; IN (LESS THAN) NO TIME; LESS THAN; MORE DEAD THAN ALIVE; MORE FUN THAN A BARREL OF MONKEYS; MORE IN SORROW THAN IN ANGER; MORE OFTEN THAN NOT; MORE SINNED AGAINST THAN SINNING; MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE; MORE THAN ONE BARGAINED FOR; MORE THAN ONE CAN SHAKE A STICK AT; MORE THAN ONE WAY TO SKIN A CAT; NONE OTHER THAN; NO SOONER SAID THAN DONE; OTHER THAN; QUICKER THAN YOU CAN SAY JACK ROBINSON; WEAR ANOTHER (MORE THAN ONE) HAT.
thank → In addition to the idioms beginning with THANK, also see GIVE THANKS FOR SMALL BLESSINGS.
thank God Also, thank goodness or heaven. I’m grateful, as in Thank God you arrived safely, or We didn’t, thank goodness, run out of food, or Thank heaven the book arrived on time. These ejaculations originally expressed gratitude to divine providence but today tend to be used in a more casual way. [c. 1200]
The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms Page 119
