Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)
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[time out] <n. phr.> Time during which a game, a lecture, a discussion or other activity is stopped for a while for some extra questions or informal discussion, or some other reason. * /He took a time out from studying to go to a movie./ * /The player called time out so he could tie his shoe./ * /"Time out!" - The students said, "Could you explain that again?"/
[tin ear] <n. phr.> 1. A lack of sensitivity to noise. * /The construction noise doesn't bother Fred; he's got a tin ear./ 2. A lack of musical ability; state of being tone deaf. * /People with a tin ear make poor choir members./
[tingle] See: SPINE-TINGLING.
[tinker's damn] See: NOT WORTH A TINKER'S DAMN.
[Tin Pan Alley] <n. phr.> The pop music industry. * /What kind of music will Tin Pan Alley come up with this year?/
[tip] See: AT THE TIP OF ONE'S TONGUE, FROM TIP TO TIP.
[tip off] <v.>, <informal> To tell something not generally known; tell secret facts to; warn. * /The class president tipped off the class that it was the superintendent's birthday./ * /The thieves did not rob the bank as planned because someone tipped them off that it was being watched by the police./ Compare: PUT WISE.
[tip the balance] See: TIP THE SCALES(2).
[tip the scales] <v. phr.>, <informal> 1. To weigh. * /Martin tips the scales at 180 pounds./ 2. or [tip the balance] To have important or decisive influence; make a decision go for or against you; decide. * /John's vote tipped the scales in our favor, and we won the election./ Compare: TURN THE TIDE.
[tired] See: DEAD TIRED, SICK AND TIRED.
[tire out] See: WEAR OUT(2).
[tit for tat] <n. phr.> Equal treatment in return; a fair exchange. * /Billy hit me, so I gave him tit for tat./ * /I told him if he did me any harm I would return tit for tat./ * /They had a warm debate and the two boys gave each other tit for tat./ Compare: GET BACK AT, EYE FOR AN EYE AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.
[to a conclusion] See: JUMP TO A CONCLUSION.
[to a crisp] See: BURN TO A CRISP.
[to a degree] <adv. phr.> 1. <Chiefly British> Very; to a large extent. * /In some things I am ignorant to a degree./ 2. Somewhat; slightly; in a small way; rather. * /His anger was, to a degree, a confession of defeat./ * /To a degree, Mary was to blame for Bob's failing mathematics, because he spent much time with her when he should have been studying./
[to advantage] <adv. phr.> So as to bring out the good qualities of; favorably; in a flattering way. * /The jeweler's window showed the diamonds to advantage./ * /The green dress showed up to advantage with her red hair./
[to a fault] <adv. phr.> So very well that it is in a way bad; to the point of being rather foolish; too well; too much. * /Aunt May wants everything in her house to be exactly right; she is neat to a fault./ * /Mary acts her part to a fault./ * /John carries thoroughness to a fault; he spends many hours writing his reports./
[to a halt] See: GRIND TO A HALT.
[to a large extent] See: IN GREAT MEASURE.
[to all intents and purposes] <adv. phr.> In most ways; in fact. * /The president is called the head of state, but the prime minister, to all intents and purposes, is the chief executive./
[to a man] <adv. phr.> Without exception; with all agreeing. * /The workers voted to a man to go on strike./ * /To a man John's friends stood by him in his trouble./ Compare: EVERY LAST MAN.
[to and fro] <adv. phr.> Forward and back again and again. * /Father pushed Judy in the swing, and she went to and fro./ * /Busses go to and fro between the center of the city and the city limits/ * /The man walked to and fro while he waited for his phone call./ Compare: BACK AND FORTH.
[to another tune] See: DANCE TO ANOTHER TUNE.
[to a T] or [to a turn] <adv. phr.> Just right; to perfection; exactly. * /The roast was done to a turn./ * /His nickname, Tiny, suited him to a T./ Compare: TO THE LETTER.
[to bat] See: GO TO BAT FOR.
[to bay] See: BRING TO BAY.
[to-be] <adj.> That is going to be; about to become.
– Used after the noun it modifies. * /Bob kissed his bride-to-be./ * /The principal of the high school greeted the high school students-to-be on their last day in junior high./
[to bed] See: PUT TO BED, PUT TO BED WITH A SHOVEL.
[to be on the safe side] <adv. phr.> To take extra precautions; reduce or eliminate the possibility of a mistake, an error, or even danger. * /Dad always keeps his valuables in a bank's safe deposit box, just to be on the safe side./ Compare: JUST IN CASE.
[to be sure] <adv. phr.> Without a doubt; certainly; surely. * /"Didn't you say Mr. Smith would take us home?" "Oh, yes. To be sure, I did."/ - Often used before a clause beginning with "but". * /He works slowly, to be sure, but he does a good job./ * /To be sure, Jim is a fast skater, but he is not good at doing figures./ Syn.: OF COURSE.
[to blame] <adj. phr.> Having done something wrong; to be blamed; responsible. * /John was to blame for the broken window./ * /The teacher tried to find out who was to blame in the fight./
[to boot] <adv. phr.> In addition; besides; as something extra. * /He not only got fifty dollars, but they bought him dinner to boot./ Compare: FOR GOOD MEASURE, IN THE BARGAIN, THROW IN.
[to date] <adv.> or <adj. phr.> Up to the present time; until now. * /To date twenty students have been accepted into the school./ * /The police have not found the runaway to date./ * /Jim is shoveling snow to earn money, but his earnings to date are small./ Syn.: SO FAR.
[to death] <adv. phr.>, <informal> To the limit; to the greatest degree possible.
– Used for emphasis with verbs such as "scare", "frighten", "bore". * /Cowboy stories bore me to death, but I like mysteries./ * /Sara is scared to death of snakes./ * /John is tickled to death with his new bike./
[to do] See: HAVE TO DO WITH.
[toe] See: CURL ONE'S HAIR or CURL ONE'S TOES, ON ONE'S TOES, STEP ON THE TOES OF.
[toe the line] or [toe the mark] <v. phr.> To be very careful to do just what you are supposed to do; obey the rules and do your duties. * /The new teacher will make Joe toe the line./ * /Bill's father is strict with him and he has to toe the mark./ Compare: WALK THE CHALK.