Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

Makkai Adam

[too ---- by half]{adj.} ({princ. British}) Much too; excessively. •/The heroine of the story is too nice by half; she is not believable./

[too close for comfort]{adj. phr.} Perilously near (said of bad things). •/When the sniper’s bullet hit the road the journalist exclaimed, "Gosh, that was too close for comfort!"/ Compare: CLOSE CALL, CLOSE SHAVE.

[too many cooks spoil the broth] or [stew] A project is likely to go bad if managed by a multiplicity of primary movers. — A proverb. •/When several people acted all at once in trying to reshape the company’s investment policy, Tom spoke up and said, "Let me do this by myself! Don’t you know that too many cooks spoil the broth?"/

[too many irons in the fire] See: IRONS IN THE FIRE.

[to one] See: TEN TO ONE, TWO TO ONE.

[to oneself(1)]{adv. phr.} 1. Silently; in the thoughts; without making a sign that others can see; secretly. •/Tom thought to himself that he could win./ •/Mary said to herself that Joan was prettier than Ann./ •/Bill laughed to himself when John fell down./ 2. Without telling others; in private; as a secret. — Used after "keep". •/Mary keeps her affairs to herself./ •/John knew the answer to the problem, but he kept it to himself./

[to oneself(2)]{adj. phr.} 1. Without company; away from others; alone; deserted. •/The boys went home and John was left to himself./ •/When Mary first moved to her new neighborhood she was very shy and kept to herself./ 2. Following one’s own beliefs or wishes; not stopped by others. •/When John insisted on going, Fred left him to himself./ •/The teacher left Mary to herself to solve the problem./

[to one’s face]{adv. phr.} Directly to you; in your presence. •/I told him to his face that I didn’t like the idea./ •/I called him a coward to his face./ Compare: IN ONE’S FACE. Contrast: BEHIND ONE’S BACK.

[to one’s feet]{adv. phr.} To a standing position; up. •/After Henry had been tackled hard by four big players, he got to his feet slowly and painfully./ •/When Sally saw the bus coming, she jumped to her feet and ran out./ Compare: ON ONE’S FEET.

[to one’s guns] See: STICK TO ONE’S GUNS.

[to one’s heart’s content]{adv. phr.} To the extent of one’s wishes; one’s complete satisfaction. •/There is a wonderful small restaurant nearby where you can eat to your heart’s content./

[to one’s heels] See: TAKE TO ONE’S HEELS.

[to one’s name]{adv. phr.} In your ownership; of your own; as part of your belongings. •/David did not have a book to his name./ •/Ed had only one suit to his name./

[to one’s ribs] See: STICK TO ONE’S RIBS.

[to one’s senses] See: COME TO ONE’S SENSES.

[to order]{adv. phr.} According to directions given in an order in the way and size wanted. •/The manufacturer built the machine to order./ •/A very big man often has his suits made to order./ 2. See: CALL TO ORDER.

[tooth] See: BY THE SKIN OF ONE’S TEETH, CUT TEETH or CUT EYETEETH, EYE FOR AN EYE AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH, FED TO THE GILLS or FED TO THE TEETH, GET ONE’S TEETH INTO or SINK ONE’S TEETH INTO, KICK IN THE PANTS or KICK IN THE TEETH, PULL ONE’S TEETH, SET ONE’S TEETH ON EDGE, TAKE THE BIT IN ONE’S TEETH, THROW SOMETHING IN ONE’S FACE or THROW SOMETHING IN ONE’S TEETH.

[tooth and nail] See: HAMMER AND TONGS.

[tooth and nail]{adv. phr.} With all weapons or ways of fighting as hard as possible; fiercely. — Used after "fight" or a similar word. •/When the Indian girl was captured, she fought tooth and nail to get away./ •/The farmers fought tooth and nail to save their crops from the grasshoppers./ •/His friends fought tooth and nail to elect him to Congress./

[toot one’s own horn] See: BLOW ONE’S OWN HORN.

[top] See: AT THE TOP OF ONE’S VOICE, BIG TOP, BLOW A FUSE or BLOW ONE’S TOP, HARD-TOP, OFF THE TOP OF ONE’S HEAD, ON TOP, ON TOP OF, ON TOP OF THE WORLD, OVER THE TOP.

[top banana] or [top dog]{n.}, {slang}, {informal} The head of any business or organization; the most influential or most prestigious person in an establishment. •/Who’s the top banana in this outfit?/ See: MAIN SQUEEZE.

[to pass] See: COME TO PASS.

[top-drawer]{adj.}, {informal} Of the best; or most important kind. •/Mary’s art work was top-drawer material./ •/Mr. Rogers is a top-drawer executive and gets a very high salary./

[topflight] or [topnotch] See: TOP DRAWER.

[to pieces]{adv. phr.} 1. Into broken pieces or fragments; destroyed. •/The cannon shot the town to pieces./ •/The vase fell to pieces in Mary’s hand./ 2. {informal} So as not to work; into a state of not operating. •/After 100,000 miles the car went to pieces./ •/When Mary heard of her mother’s death, she went to pieces./ 3. {informal} Very much; greatly; exceedingly. •/Joan was thrilled to pieces to see Mary./ •/The noise scared Bob to pieces./ 4. See: PICK APART.