Wesley Review Stage: May 2010

Thursday, May 27, 2010

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Bad Days for South Korea's Type-B Men (Free Talking Class)

Story:

"An Young Ha Sae Yo!"

Welcome all Andongkim family and extended family members. The purpose of this website is to provide a place for all Andong Kim's to gather, talk, discuss and get to know each other. We are all part of the extended Andong Kim Clan. We are family.

We originally gave birth to this site because there was an innate curiosity to learn about our unique family history and to meet others out there who belonged to this special Korean "Kim" clan. We want to get to know you. Where you live, what you do, and how you got there. How did our family tree divulge, morph and spread across the globe?

Andong Kim Wiki
This website is a work in progress. I invite everyone to participate in our Andongkim Wiki. The ultimate goal is to document our family tree lineage and album online, accessible by members of the entire clan. the wiki will not only be an online family tree, but also a history and information repository for our family clan.

Andong Kim Forum
The forum is designed to create a space for us to get acquainted. I invite everyone to discuss current events, Korean culture, Korean food, all matters that affect Korea, and of course things pertaining to our clan.

I thank everyone in advance for participating in this website development. I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you, and learning more about our family history.

We also invite other family clans to participate and add to the growth and the content of this site.

Thank you and " Gam Sa Hap Ni Da".

Title: Bad Days for South Korea's Type-B Men

Author: Jon Herskovitz

Source: Andongkim.com, Reuters

Level: Advanced

Vocabulary

buzz(ing)
cad(s)
compatibility
devote(d)
extramarital
fixate(d)
genetics
jilt(ed)
lyric(s)
mercurial
miserable
nadir
nudge
outgoing
passionate
pitfall(s)
pleasure(s)
portal
psychiatry
scholar
self-proclaimed
temperament
trait(s)
woo(ing)
wrath

Interesting Expressions
break-up
break (someone's) heart
chat room
flat out
hot-headed
in the end
pop culture
ring up (a sale)
strike up (a conversation)

Talking Points

With your conversation partner, or classmates, you may wish to discuss the following:

Do you believe that one's personality is linked to his/her blood type?
Why or why not?

Is it fair to pre-judge a person because of his/her blood type?

Scientists have refuted the claims to connections between personality and blood type.
Why do you think people persist in believing in "pop culture" stereotypes?

Why do you think people are willing to buy books based on unscientific theories
put forth by self-proclaimed experts?

Would you buy such a book? Why or why not?

For More Practice

Pretend you are a scientist who has studied blood type and found no
connection with personality. Debate the issue with a person who strongly
supports the pop culture point of view.

Pretend you are a Type B Man. How can you best deal with negative stereotypes?

Your friend is unfairly prejudicial against Type B Men.
Help her/him change her/his point of view.

Special Thanks to:
Source:
http://www.eslgold.com

Man Catches Fire During Surgery (Free Talking Class)

Story:

Seattle police launched an investigation on Friday to determine how a patient undergoing emergency heart surgery caught on fire at a local hospital in 2003.

The male patient, who was not identified, went up in flames after alcohol poured on his skin was ignited by a surgical instrument.

The patient died after the surgery but that was due to heart failure and not the fire, said Dr. Robert Caplan, medical quality director of Virginia Mason.

Caplan said fires are known to occur in operating rooms although they were extremely rare.

The two-year-old incident became publicly known after an anonymous letter sent to the media mentioned it as a sign of unsafe health care at the hospital, and said the patient burned to death.

Caplan strongly disputed its contents. "That letter is factually incorrect," he said.

Title: Man Catches Fire during Surgery

Source: Infowars.com, Reuters

Level: Intermediate

Vocabulary

anonymous
alcohol
content(s)
determine
dispute(d)
emergency
factually
flame(s)
ignite
investigation
launch(ed)
media
mention(ed)
operate(-ing)
patient
pour
public(ly)
quality
surgery/surgical
undergo(ing)

Interesting phrases
catch fire
go up in flames
health care
launch an investigation
a sign of (something)

Talking Points

Have you heard of any strange occurrences that happened during surgery?

What do you think could have prevented this, or was it purely accidental?

What should the man's family do (if anything) to seek compensation from the hospital?

Do you think a lawsuit would be appropriate in this situation?
Against whom? (the doctors/surgeons, hospital, others)

For More Practice

Check the newspaper for recent accidents or tragic events.
Describe the event(s) to your partner and discuss how this type of thing might be prevented in the future.

Pretend you work for a hospital where a tragic situation occurred.
How will you handle the publicity?

Do you think doctors are unfairly targeted in lawsuits?
How can we determine if a lawsuit is merited or not?

Special Thanks to:
Source:
http://www.eslgold.com

Yawning Proves Costly in Courtroom (Free Talking Class)

Story:

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Boredom proved costly to a potential juror who let out a loud yawn in a Los Angeles courtroom and was promptly ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Craig Veals found the man in contempt of court during an lengthy April 1 jury selection procedure when he waved his arms, yawned, and told the judge he was "really bored," court officials said on Wednesday.

Veals imposed a $1,000 fine but slashed it to $100 when the man protested as he turned up to pay a few days later. The man, whose identity was not revealed, was not selected to serve on a jury.

Under California law, judges can fine anyone up to $1,500 to enforce order in the courtroom. But lawyers and court officials said they had never heard of such a punishment for yawning.

Topic: Yawning

Title: Yawning Proves Costly

Source: Reuters

Level: Intermediate

Here is an excerpt of the article:

Boredom proved costly to a potential juror who let out a loud yawn in a Los Angeles courtroom and was promptly ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.

Vocabulary

boredom
courtroom
enforce
identity
impose(d)
judge(s)
juror
lengthy
official(s)
potential
procedure
prompt(ly)
protest(ed)
punish(ment)
reveal(ed)
slash(ed)
wave(d)
yawn(ing)

Interesting phrases:
contempt of court
impose a fine
jury selection
prove costly
turn up

Talking Points

Does a judge have the right to impose a fine on anyone who fails to maintain order in the court?

Do you think that yawning is a sign of rudeness?

Do you think this man should have been fined for yawning in court?

How serious do you think it is to disobey a judge's order?

For More Practice

Would you challenge a judge's decision if you thought it was too harsh?
Why or why not?

Pretend you are the man who got fined by the judge. What will you say to your friends?

Pretend you are the judge. It is dinner time. Tell your spouse about the yawning
incident in your courtroom.

Role play a situation in which someone is dismissed from a courtroom for unruly behavior.

Special Thanks to:
Source:
http://www.eslgold.com

US moves to ban billboards in space (Free Talking Class)

Story:
The US Government does not want billboards in space.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed to amend its regulations to ensure that it can enforce a law that prohibits "obtrusive" advertising in zero gravity.

"Objects placed in orbit, if large enough, could be seen by people around the world for long periods of time," the FAA said in a regulatory filing.

Currently, the FAA lacks the authority to enforce the existing law.

For instance, outsized billboards deployed by a space company into low Earth orbit could appear as large as the moon and be seen without a telescope.

Big and bright advertisements might hinder astronomers.

"Large advertisements could destroy the darkness of the night sky," regulators said.

- Reuters

Topic: Billboards in Space

Title: Billboards in Space

Source: ABC News Online, Reuters

Level: Intermediate

Vocabulary

advertise(ment)
amend
astronomer(s)
authority
aviation
billboard(s)
deploy(ed)
enforce
ensure
hinder
obstrusive
outsized
prohibit
propose(d)
regulation(s)
regulator(s)
telescope

Interesting Expressions
zero gravity

Talking Points

Do you agree with the idea of prohibiting billboards in outer space?
Why or why not?

What would be the benefits and disadvantages of allowing advertisements in space?

Does the U.S. (or any country) control what can or cannot be done in space?

Who has the authority to enforce space laws?

What will happen if no regulations are put on space advertising?

What do you think about the commercialization of outer space?

If you were a millionaire, would you spend money on a trip into space?

Special Thanks to:
Source:
http://www.eslgold.com

Children at War ( Free Talking Class)

Credits :http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/lessonplans/world/jan-june09/childsoldiers.html

LESSON: CHILDREN AT WAR
Background, Activities and Critical Analysis
By Doug DuBrin, French International School, Bethesda, MD
Subject(s)
social studies
Estimated Time
One to two class periods, plus extended activities
Grade Level
Grades 8 to 12
Objective
This lesson will familiarize students with the extensive use of children in combat throughout the world so that they can begin to examine both the causes as well as the consequences of the practice.

Background
It has been estimated that there are at least 300,000 children under 18 directly involved in armed conflicts worldwide. Some nations that have regularly used children in combat are Angola, Burma, Colombia, Lebanon, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Sri Lanka.

Even the United States has acknowledged using 17-year-old soldiers in conflicts in the Persian Gulf, Somalia and Bosnia. Measures have been taken since then, though, to cease the practice.

Of course, the use of children in combat is not strictly a contemporary phenomenon. The American Civil War saw drummer boys lead troops directly into the line of fire, and numerous nations of both World War I and World War II used children to bolster their oft-depleted ranks.

Active efforts are being made, however, to curb the use of children as soldiers. Many countries have either signed or ratified the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which calls for nations to "take all feasible measures" to assure that no children under 18 years old are used as combatants. (http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/6/protocolchild.htm).

Procedure
1. Either prior to the lesson or as a class, have the students carefully read the background information and the United Nations overview.

2. As the students refer to the readings, have them answer the following questions (either in small groups or individually). Possible answers are provided in the teacher key.

* What could be the reasons that children, as opposed to adults, are chosen for combat?
* What circumstances in a society might lead children into combat situations?
* What do you imagine might be some of the consequences to children who do take part in war?
* In most states in the U.S., once 16 years old, children can legally work, drive or leave school; they may not, however, vote until 18 or drink alcohol until 21. If the U.S. were to adopt an official policy of having children at 16 serve in combat, while maintaining the current voting and drinking age, how would you respond? If the voting and drinking ages were lowered to 16 as well, would you be more likely to support the policy of using children in combat?

3. Discuss the responses as a class.

Extension Activity I

To further their understanding of the life of a child soldier, have the students read and discuss the personal testimonies provided. Please keep in mind that the material is often stark and explicit in its descriptions.

To address the following questions, the students should then envision themselves (at their current age) as participants in combat situations -the responses may be given in small groups, as a class, or in essay format.

Be sure to urge your class to respond to the hypothetical situation as truthfully as possible:

* How would you respond to the lack of sleep, unappealing food, and seemingly endless, exhausting labor associated with combat?
* How would you handle having almost none of the amenities you currently possess, such as television, the Internet, music, junk food, etc.?
* How would you respond to taking orders constantly and having virtually no say in your own life?
* If you became ill or wounded in combat, how do you see yourself coping without your family nearby to help you?
* Do you see yourself able to kill another person if you are ordered to do so?
* How do see yourself responding to the death, pain and destruction that would surround you in battle?
* What causes, if any, would you be willing to fight for?

Extension Activities
Assign the students to follow and analyze the media coverage (newspapers, magazines, television, Internet, etc.) of children in combat. Questions to guide their research could include:

* What conflicts seem to be receiving the most coverage? Why do you think certain regions receive more attention than others?
* Does the coverage present a bias or opinion on the subject matter, or is it mostly factual and objective?
* What kind of language in the coverage would indicate bias?
* How much of the media coverage addresses what is being done to solve the problem of child soldiers?
* From your research, what are some of the specific efforts being made to help the situation?

Special Thanks to:
Source:
http://www.eslgold.com

Idiom list (Z)

~ Z ~

Zero hour: The time when something important is to begin is zero hour.
Zero tolerance: If the police have a zero tolerance policy, they will not overlook any crime, no matter how small or trivial.
Zigged before you zagged: If you did things in the wrong order, you zigged before you zagged.
Zip it: This is used to tell someone to be quiet.
Zip your lip: If someone tells you to zip your lip, they want to to shut up or keep quiet about something. ('Zip it' is also used.)

Idiom list (Y)

~ Y ~

Yah boo sucks: Yah boo & yah boo sucks can be used to show that you have no sympathy with someone.
Yank my chain: If some one says this to another person (i.e. stop yanking my chain) it means for the other person to leave the person who said it alone and to stop bothering them.
Yellow press: The yellow press is a term for the popular and sensationalist newspapers.
Yellow streak: If someone has a yellow streak, they are cowardly about something.
Yellow-bellied: A yellow-bellied person is a coward.
Yen: If you have a yen to do something, you have a desire to do it.
Yeoman's service: (UK) To do yeoman's service is to serve in an exemplary manner.
Yes-man: Someone who always agrees with people in authority is a yes-man.
Yesterday's man or Yesterday's woman: Someone, especially a politician or celebrity, whose career is over or on the decline is yesterday's man or woman.
You are what you eat: This is used to emphasise the importance of a good diet as a key to good health.
You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar: This means that it is easier to persuade people if you use polite arguments and flattery than if you are confrontational.
You can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family: Some things you can choose, but others you cannot, so you have to try to make the best of what you have where you have no choice.
You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink: This idiom means you can offer something to someone, like good advice, but you cannot make them take it.
You can say that again: If you want to agree strongly with what someone has said, you can say 'You can say that again' as a way of doing so.
You can't fight City Hall: This phrase is used when one is so cynical that one doesn't think one can change their Representatives. The phrase must have started with frustration towards a local body of government.
You can't have cake and the topping, too: (USA) This idiom means that you can't have everything the way you want it, especially if your desires are contradictory.
You can't have your cake and eat it: This idiom means that you can't have things both ways. For example, you can't have very low taxes and a high standard of state care.
You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear: If something isn't very good to start with, you can't do much to improve it.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs: This idiom means that in order to achieve something or make progress, there are often losers in the process.
You can't take it with you: Enjoy life, enjoy what you have and don't worry about not having a lot, especially money...because once you're dead, 'you can't take it with you.' For some, it means to use up all you have before you die because it's no use to you afterwards.
You can't unring a bell: This means that once something has been done, you have to live with the consequences as it can't be undone.
You could have knocked me down with a feather: This idiom is used to mean that the person was very shocked or surprised.
You do not get a dog and bark yourself: (UK) If there is someone in a lower position who can or should do a task, then you shouldn't do it.
You get what you pay for: Something that is very low in price is not usually of very good quality.
You reap what you sow: This means that if you do bad things to people, bad things will happen to you, or good things if you do good things. It is normally used when someone has done something bad.
You said it!: Used to say you agree completely with something just said.
You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours: This idiom means that if you do something for me, I'll return the favour.
You what?: This is a very colloquial way of expressing surprise or disbelief at something you have heard. It can also be used to ask someone to say something again.
You're toast: If someone tells you that you are toast, you are in a lot of trouble.
You've got rocks in your head: (USA) Someone who has acted with a lack of intelligence has rocks in their head.
You've made your bed- you'll have to lie in it: This means that someone will have to live with the consequences of their own actions.
Young blood: Young people with new ideas and fresh approaches are young blood.
Young Turk: A Young Turk is a young person who is rebellious and difficult to control in a company, team or organisation.
Your belly button is bigger than your stomach: If your belly button is bigger than your stomach, you take on more responsibilities than you can handle.
Your call: If something is your call, it is up to you to make a decision on the matter.
Your name is mud: If someone's name is mud, then they have a bad reputation.
Your sins will find you out: This idiom means that things you do wrong will become known.

Idiom list (X)

~ X ~

X factor: The dangers for people in the military that civilians do not face, for which they receive payment, are known as the X factor.
X marks the spot: This is used to say where something is located or hidden.
X-rated: If something is x-rated, it is not suitable for children.

Idiom list (W)

~ W ~

Wag the dog: To 'wag the dog' means to purposely divert attention from what would otherwise be of greater importance, to something else of lesser significance. By doing so, the lesser-significant event is catapulted into the limelight, drowning proper attention to what was originally the more important issue.The expression comes from the saying that 'a dog is smarter than its tail', but if the tail were smarter, then the tail would 'wag the dog'. The expression 'wag the dog' was elaborately used as theme of the movie. 'Wag the Dog', a 1997 film starring Robert de Niro and Dustin Hoffman, produced and directed by Barry Levinson.
Wait for a raindrop in the drought: When someone is waiting for a raindrop in the drought, they are waiting or hoping for something that is extremely unlikely to happen.
Waiting in the wings: If someone is waiting in the wings, or in the wings, they are in the background, but nearby, ready to act on short notice.
Wake up and smell the coffee: When someone doesn't realise what is really happening or is not paying enough attention to events around them, you can tell them to wake up and smell the coffee.
Wake-up call: A wake-up call is a warning of a threat or a challenge, especially when it means that people will have to change their behaviour to meet it.
Walk a fine line: If you have to walk a fine line, you have to be very careful not to annoy or anger people or groups that are competing. ('Walk a thin line' is an alternative.)
Walk a mile in my shoes: This idiom means that you should try to understand someone before criticising them.
Walk a tightrope: If you walk a tightrope, you have to be very careful not to annoy or anger people who could become enemies.
Walk in the park: An undertaking that is easy is a walk in the park. The opposite is also true - "no walk in the park".
Walk on eggshells: If you have to walk on eggshells when with someone, you have to be very careful because they get angry or offended very easily.('Walk on eggs' is also used.)
Walk the green mile: Someone or something that is walking the green mile is heading towards the inevitable.
Walk the plank: If someone walks the plank, they are going toward their own destruction or downfall
Walking encyclopedia: A very knowledgeable person is a walking encyclopedia.
Walking on air: If you are walking on air, you are so happy that you feel as if you could float.
Walking on broken glass: When a person is punished for something. e.g. 'She had me walking on broken glass.'
Walking time-bomb: A person whose behaviour is erratic and totally unpredictable is a walking time-bomb.
Wallflower: (UK) A woman politician given an unimportant government position so that the government can pretend it takes women seriously is a wallflower.
War chest: A war chest is a fund that can be used to finance a campaign like and election or for use in emergencies or unexpected times of difficulty.
War of words: A war of words is a bitter argument between people or organisations, etc.
Warm and fuzzy: Meaning the feeling evoked as though you were enclosed in a warm and fuzzy blanket.
Warm the cockles of your heart: If something warms the cockles of your heart, it makes you feel happy.
Warpath: If someone is on the warpath, they are very angry about something and will do anything to get things sorted the way they want.
Warts and all: If you like someone warts and all, you like them with all their faults.
Wash your hands of something: If you wash your hands of something, you disassociate yourself and accept no responsibility for what will happen.
Waste not, want not: If you don't waste things, you are less likely to end up lacking.
Waste of skin: If a person is referred to as a 'waste of skin', it means he is not worth very much.
Watch grass grow: If something is like watching grass grow, it is really boring.
Watch your six: (USA) This idiom means that you should look behind you for dangers coming that you can't see.
Watching paint dry: If something is like watching paint dry, it is really boring.
Water off a duck's back: If criticism or something similar is like water off a duck's back to somebody, they aren't affected by it in the slightest.
Water over the dam: (USA) If something has happened and cannot be changed, it is water over the dam.
Water under the bridge: If something belongs to the past and isn't important or troubling any more, it is water under the bridge.
Watering hole: (UK) A watering hole is a pub.
Watery grave: If someone has gone to a watery grave, they have drowned.
Weak at the knees: If people go weak at the knees, they have a powerful emotional reaction to something and feel that they might fall over.
Wear sackcloth and ashes: If someone displays their grief or contrition publicly, they wear sackcloth and ashes.
Wear your heart on your sleeve: Someone who wears their heart on their sleeve shows their emotions and feelings publicly.
Weather a storm: If you weather a storm, you get through a crisis or hard times.
Wedge politics: (USA) In wedge politics, one party uses an issue that they hope will divide members of a different party to create conflict and weaken it.
Weight off your shoulders: If something is a weight off your shoulders, you have relieved yourself of a burden, normally a something that has been troubling you or worrying you.
Well-heeled: Someone who is well-heeled is rich.
Well-oiled: If someone is well-oiled, they have drunk a lot.
Well-oiled machine: Something that functions very well is a well-oiled machine.
Were you born in a barn?: If someone asks you this, it means that you forgot to close the door when you came in.
Wet behind the ears: Someone who is wet behind the ears is either very young or inexperienced.
Wet blanket: A wet blanket is someone who tries to spoil other people's fun.
Wet your whistle: If you are thirsty and have an alcoholic drink, you wet your whistle. "Whet your whistle" is also used.
Whale of a time: If you have a whale of a time, you really enjoy yourself.
What can sorry do?: This means that it is not enough to apologise.
What can you expect from a hog but a grunt?: (USA) This means that you can't expect people to behave in a way that is not in their character- a 'hog' is a 'pig', so an unrefined person can't be expected to behave in a refined way.
What does that have to do with the price of tea in China?: This idiom is often used when someone says something irrelevant to the topic being discussed.
What goes around comes around: This saying means that of people do bad things to other people, bad things will happen to them.
What goes around, comes around: The good or bad you do to others is requited.
What will be will be: The expression what will be will be is used to describe the notion that fate will decide the outcome of a course of events, even if action is taken to try to alter it.
What's cooking?: When you ask what's cooking it means you want to know what's happening.
What's good for the goose is good for the gander: This idiom means that the sexes should be treated the same way and not be subjected to different standards.
What's up?: This can be used to ask 'What's wrong?' or 'How are you?'.
What's your poison?: This is a way of asking someone what they would like to drink, especially alcohol.
What's your take on that?: This idiom is way of asking someone for their opinion and ideas.
Whatever floats your boat: When people say this, they mean that you should do whatever makes you happy.
Wheels fall off: When the wheels fall off something, it goes wrong or fails. ('Wheels come off' is an alternative.)
When hell freezes over: An impossible or very unlikely situation or event
When in Rome, do as the Romans do: This idiom means that when you are visiting a different place or culture, you should try to follow their customs and practices.
When it rains, it pours: This idiom means that when things go wrong, a lot of things go wrong at the same time.
When pigs fly: Meaning you will not get something when you want it or someone doesn't want something for you. say you are selling an item and some one doesn't want it. they might say 'I'll buy it when pigs fly'. it just means you will never get someone to say yes to you when you ask for something.
When the chickens come home to roost: When a person pays dearly for something bad he or she did in the past, the chickens come home to roost.
Where the rubber meets the road: (USA) Where the rubber meets the road is the most important point for something, the moment of truth. An athlete can train all day, but the race is where the rubber meets the road and they'll know how good they really are.
Where there's a will, there's a way: This idiom means that if people really want to do something, they will manage to find a way of doing it.
Where there's muck, there's brass: You can make money doing dirty jobs nobody else wants to do. "Where there's muck, there's money" is also used.
Where there's smoke, there's fire: When there is an indication or sign of something bad, usually the indication is correct.
Whet your appetite: If something whets your appetite, it interests you and makes you want more of it.
Which came first the chicken or the egg?: This idiomatic expression is used when it is not clear who or what caused something.
While the cat's away, the mouse will play: People whose behaviour is strictly controlled go over the top when the authority is not around, which is why most teenagers have parties when their parents have gone on holiday. The parents are the scary authority figures, but the cat's away and the kids are the mice partying and enjoying their freedom.
Whistle for it: If someone says that you can whistle for something, they are determined to ensure that you don't get it.
Whistle-stop tour: A whistle-stop tour is when someone visits a number of places quickly, not stopping for long.
Whistling Dixie: (USA) If someone is whistling Dixie, they talk about things in a more positive way than the reality.
Whistling in the dark: If someone is whistling in the dark, they believe in a positive result, even though everybody else is sure it will not happen.
Whistling past the graveyard: (USA) If someone is whistling past the graveyard, they are trying to remain cheerful in difficult circumstances. ('Whistling past the cemetery' is also used.)
White as a sheet: A bad shock can make somebody go as white as a sheet.
White as snow: If something or someone is as white as snow, they are perfect or completely uncorrupted and honest.
White elephant: A white elephant is an expensive burden; something that costs far too much money to run, like the Millennium Dome in the UK.
White feather: If someone shows a white feather, they are cowards.
White lie: If you tell a white lie, you lie in order not to hurt someone's feelings.
White-bread: If something is white-bread, it is very ordinary, safe and boring.
Who wears the pants?: (USA) The person who wears the pants in a relationship is the dominant person who controls things.
Who wears the trousers?: (UK) The person who wears the trousers in a relationship is the dominant person who controls things.
Who will ring the bell?: 'Who will ring the bell?' asks who will assume the responsibility to help us out of a difficult situation.
Whole ball of wax: (USA) The whole ball of wax is everything.
Whole kit and caboodle: The whole kit and caboodle means 'everything' required or involved in something. ('Kaboodle' is an alternative spelling.)
Whole new ball game: If something's a whole new ball game, it is completely new or different.
Whole nine yards: The whole nine yards means means everything that is necessary or required for something.
Whole shebang: The whole shebang includes every aspect of something.
Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free: This idiom is usually used to refer to men who don't want to get married, when they can get all the benefits of marriage without getting married.
Why keep a dog and bark yourself?: There's no need to do something yourself when you have somebody to do it for you, usually trivial matters.
Wide berth: If you give someone a wide berth, you keep yourself well away from them because they are dangerous.
Wide of the mark: If something is wide of the mark, it is inaccurate or incorrect.
Wild goose chase: A wild goose chase is a waste of time- time spent trying to do something unsuccessfully.
Will never fly: If an idea or project, etc, will never fly, it has no chance of succeeding.
Will-o'-the-wisp: Something that deceives by its appearance is a will-o’-the-wisp; it looks good, but turns out to be a disappointment.
Win by a nose: If somebody wins by a nose, they only just beat the others.
Window dressing: If something is done to pretend to be dealing with an issue or problem, rather than actually dealing with it, it is window dressing.
Window to the soul: Eyes are sometimes referred to as the window to the soul.
Wing and a prayer: If you do something on a wing and a prayer, you try to do something and hope you'll succeed even though you have very little chance of success.
Winner takes all: If everything goes to the winner, as in an election, the winner takes all.
Wipe the floor with: (UK) If you wipe the floor with someone, you destroy the arguments or defeat them easily.
Wipe the smile of someone's face: If you wipe the smile of someone's face, you do something to make someone feel less pleased with themselves.
With a heavy hand: If someone does something with a heavy hand, they do it in a strict way, exerting a lot of control.
With child: (UK) If a woman's with child, she's pregnant.
With flying colours (colors): If you pass something with flying colours (colors), you pass easily, with a very high mark or grade.
With friends like that, who needs enemies?: This expression is used when people behave badly or treat someone badly that they are supposed to be friends with.
Wither on the vine: If something withers on the vine, it fails to get the intended result, doesn't come to fruition.
Within a whisker: If you come within a whisker of doing something, you very nearly manage to do it but don't succeed.
Without a hitch: If something happens without a hitch, nothing at all goes wrong.
Woe betide you: This is used to wish that bad things will happen to someone, usually because of their bad behaviour.
Woe is me: This means that you are sad or in a difficult situation. It's archaic, but still used.
Wolf in sheep's clothing: A wolf in sheep's clothing is something dangerous that looks quite safe and innocent.
Wood for the trees: (UK) If someone can't see the wood for the trees, they get so caught up in small details that they fail to understand the bigger picture.
Word of mouth: If something becomes known by word of mouth, it is because people are talking about it, not through publicity, etc.
Word of the law: The word of the law means that the law is interpreted in an absolutely literal way which goes against the ideas that the lawmakers had wished to implement.
Words fail me: If words fail you, you can't find the words to express what you are trying to say.
Work like a charm: If something works like a charm, it works perfectly.
Work like a dog: If you work like a dog, you work very hard.
Work the system: If people work the system, they exploit the state or similar setup to their advantage.
Work your fingers to the bone: If you work your fingers to the bone, you work extremely hard on something.
Work your socks off: If you work your socks off, you work very hard.
Work your tail off: If you work your tail off, you work extremely hard.
World at your feet: If everything is going well and the future looks full of opportunity, you have the world at your feet.
World is your oyster: When the world is your oyster, you are getting everything you want from life.
Worm information: If you worm information out of somebody, you persuade them to tell you something they wanted to keep from you.
Worm's eye view: A worm's eye view of something is the view from below, either physically or socially.
Worse for wear: If something's worse for wear, it has been used for a long time and, consequently, isn't in very good condition. A person who's worse for wear is drunk or high on drugs and looking rough.
Worse things happen at sea: This idiomatic expression is used as a way of telling someone not to worry so much about their problems.
Worth a shot: If something is worth a shot, it is worth trying as there is some chance of success.
Worth your salt: Someone who is worth their salt deserves respect.
Wouldn't touch it with a bargepole: (UK) If you wouldn't touch something with a bargepole, you would not consider being involved under any circumstances. (In American English, people say they wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole)
Wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole: (USA) If you wouldn't touch something with a ten-foot pole, you would not consider being involved under any circumstances. (In British English, people say they wouldn't touch it with a bargepole)
Wrap yourself in the flag: If someone wraps themselves in the flag, they pretend to be doing something for patriotic reasons or out of loyalty, but their real motives are selfish. ('Drape yourself in the flag' is an alternative form of this idiom)
Wrench in the works: (USA) If someone puts or throws a wrench, or monkey wrench, in the works, they ruin a plan. In British English, 'spanner' is used instead of 'wrench'.
Writ large: If something is writ large, it is emphasised or highlighted.
Write your own ticket: If you write your own ticket, you control the terms and conditions for something and have them exactly the way you want.
Writing on the wall: If the writing's on the wall for something, it is doomed to fail.
Written all over your face: If someone has done something wrong or secret, but cannot hide it in their expression, it is written all over their face.
Written in stone: If something is written in stone, it is permanent and cannot be changed.
Wrong end of the stick: If someone has got the wrong end of the stick, they have misunderstood what someone has said to them.
Wrong foot: If you start something on the wrong foot, you start badly.

Idiom list (V)

~ V ~

Vale of tears: This vale of tears is the world and the suffering that life brings.
Velvet glove: This idiom is used to describe a person who appears gentle, but is determined and inflexible underneath. ('Iron fist in a velvet glove' is the full form.)
Vent your spleen: If someone vents their spleen, they release all their anger about something.
Vicar of Bray: (UK) A person who changes their beliefs and principles to stay popular with people above them is a Vicar of Bray
Vicious circle: A vicious circle is a sequence of events that make each other worse- someone drinks because they are unhappy at work, then loses their job... 'Vicious cycle' is also used.
Virgin territory: If something is virgin territory, it hasn't been explored before.
Volte-face: If you do a volte-face on something, you make a sudden and complete change in your stance or position over an issue.

Idiom list (U)

~ U ~

U-turn: If a government changes its position radically on an issue, especially when they have promised not to do so, this is a U-turn.
Ugly as a stick: (USA) If someone is as ugly as a stick, they are very ugly indeed.
Ugly duckling: An ugly duckling is a child who shows little promise, but who develops later into a real talent or beauty.
Uncalled for: If someone does something bad and unnecessary without consideration for anothers feelings, what they do is uncalled for.
Uncharted waters: If you're in uncharted waters, you are in a situation that is unfamiliar to you, that you have no experience of and don't know what might happen. ('Unchartered waters' is an incorrect form that is a common mistake.)
Uncle Sam: (USA) Uncle Sam is the government of the USA.
Under a cloud: If someone is suspected of having done something wrong, they are under a cloud.
Under a flag of convenience: If a ship sails under a flag of convenience, it is registered in a country where taxes, etc, are lower than in the country it comes from, so if someone does something under a flag of convenience, they attempt to avoid regulations and taxes by a similar means.
Under false colours: If someone does something under false colours/colors, they pretend to be something they are not in order to deceive people so that they can succeed.
Under fire: If someone is being attacked and cricitised heavily, they are under fire.
Under lock and key: If something is under lock and key, it is stored very securely.
Under someone's heel: If you are under someone's heel, they have complete control over you.
Under the radar: If something slips under the radar, it isn't detected or noticed.
Under the table: Bribes or illegal payments are often described as money under the table.
Under the weather: If you are feeling a bit ill, sad or lack energy, you are under the weather.
Under the wire: (USA) If a person does something under the wire, they do it at the last possible moment.
Under your belt: If you have something under your belt, you have already achieved or experienced it and it will probably be of benefit to you in the future.
Under your breath: If you say something under your breath, you whisper or say it very quietly.
Under your nose: If something happens right in front of you, especially if it is surprising or audacious, it happens under your nose.
Under your skin: If someone gets under your skin, they really annoy you.
Under your thumb: Someone who is manipulated or controlled by another person is under his or her thumb.
Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown: This means that people with serious responsibilities have a heavy burden.
Unwavering loyalty: Unwavering loyalty does not question or doubt the person or issue and supports them completely.
Up a gum tree: (AU) If you're up a gum tree, you're in trouble or a big mess.
Up a river without a paddle: If you up a river without a paddle, you are in an unfortunate situation, unprepared and with none of the resources to remedy the matter.
Up for grabs: If something is up for grabs, it is available and whoever is first or is successful will get it.
Up in the air: If a matter is up in the air, no decision has been made and there is uncertainty about it.
Up sticks: (UK) If you up sticks, you leave somewhere, usually permanently and without warning- he upped sticks and went to work abroad.
Up the ante: If you up the ante, you increase the importance or value of something, especially where there's an element of risk as the term comes from gambling, where it means to increase the stake (the amount of money bet).
Up the creek: If someone or something is up the creek, they are in real trouble. 'Up the creek without a paddle' is an alternative, and 'up shit creek (without a paddle)' is a ruder form.
Up the duff: (UK) If a woman is up the duff, she's pregnant.
Up the spout: (UK) If something has gone up the spout, it has gone wrong or been ruined.
Up the stick: (UK) If a woman is up the stick, she's pregnant.
Up the wall: If someone goes up the wall, they get very angry.
Up the wooden hill: When you go up the wooden hill, you go up the stairs to bed.
Up to scratch: If something doesn't come up to scratch, it doesn't meet the standard required or expected.
Up to snuff: If something isn't up to snuff, it doesn't meet the standard expected.
Up to speed: If you bring someone up to speed, you update them on something.
Up to the eyes: You you are up to your eyes in something, you are deeply involved or to have too much of something like work. ('Up the neck', 'up to the eyeballs' and 'up to the ears' are also used.)
Up to the neck: If someone's in something up to the neck, they are very involved in it, especially when it's something wrong.
Up to your eyes: When you've got too much work to do, you're up to your eyes in it.
Up to your neck: If someone is very involved in something, they are up to their neck in it, especially if it is something bad or immoral.
Up with the lark: If you get up very early, you're up with the lark.
Upper crust: The upper crust are the upper classes and the establishment.
Upper hand: If you have the upper hand, you have the advantage.
Upset the apple cart: If you upset the apple cart, you cause trouble and upset people.

Idiom list (T)

~ T ~

Tables are turned: When the tables are turned, the situation has changed giving the advantage to the party who had previously been at a disadvantage.
Tackle an issue: If you tackle an issue or problem, you resolve or deal with it.
Take a hike: This is a way of telling someone to get out.
Take a leaf out of someone's book: If you take a leaf out of someone's book, you copy something they do because it will help you.
Take a nosedive: When things take a nosedive, they decline very quickly and head towards disaster.
Take a punch: If somebody takes a blow, something bad happens to them.
Take a raincheck: If you take a rain check, you decline an offer now, suggesting you will accept it later. ('Raincheck' is also used.)
Take a straw poll: If you take a straw poll, you sound a number of people out to see their opinions on an issue or topic.
Take by the scruff of the neck: If you take something by the scruff on the neck, you take complete control of it.
Take for a test drive: If you take something for a test driver, you try something to see if you like it.
Take for granted: If you take something for granted, you don't worry or think about it because you assume you will always have it. If you take someone for granted, you don't show your appreciation to them.
Take forty winks: If you take 40 winks, you have a short sleep.
Take guts: If something takes guts, it requires courage in the face of danger or great risk. It takes guts for firemen to enter a burning building to save someone.
Take it in your stride: If you take something in your stride, you deal with it even though it is difficult or unpleasant without letting it bother or upset you.
Take it on the chin: If you take something on the chin, something bad happens to you and you take it directly without fuss.
Take no prisoners: If people take no prisoners, they do things in a very aggressive way, without considering any harm they might do to achieve their objectives.
Take sand to the beach: Doing something that is completely pointless or unnecessary is like taking sand to the beach.
Take someone down a peg: If someone is taken down a peg (or taken down a peg or two), they lose status in the eyes of others because of something they have done wrong or badly.
Take someone for a ride: If you are taken for a ride, you are deceived by someone.
Take someone to task: If you take someone to task, you scold them for something they have done wrong.
Take someone to the woodshed: If someone is taken to the woodshed, they are punished for something they have done.
Take someone under your wing: If you take someone under your wing, you look after them while they are learning something.
Take stock: To assess a situation, to conduct a personal inventory of ones beliefs and values, etc.
Take the biscuit: (UK) If something takes the biscuit, it is the absolute limit.
Take the bull by its horns: Taking a bull by its horns would be the most direct but also the most dangerous way to try to compete with such an animal. When we use the phrase in everyday talk, we mean that the person we are talking about tackles their problems directly and is not worried about any risks involved.
Take the chair: If you take the chair, your become the chairman or chairwoman of a committee, etc.
Take the fall: If you tall the fall, you accept the blame and possibly the punishment for another's wrongdoing, with the implication that the true culprit, for political or other reasons, cannot be exposed as guilty (accompanied by a public suspicion that a reward of some sort may follow).
Take the fifth: (USA) If you do not want to answer a question you can take the fifth, meaning you are choosing not to answer. ('Plead the fifth' is also used.)
Take the flak: If you take the flak, you are strongly criticised for something.('Take flak' is also used.)
Take the floor: Start talking or giving a speech to a group
Take the heat: If you take the heat, you take the criticism or blame for something you didn't do, normally to protect the guilty person.
Take the Mickey: (UK) If you take the Mickey, you tease someone. ('Take the Mick' is also used.)
Take the plunge: If you take the plunge, you decide to do something or commit yourself even though you know there is an element of risk involved.
Take the rough with the smooth: People say that you have to take the rough with the smooth, meaning that you have to be prepared to accept the disadvantages as well of the advantages of something.
Take to your heels: If you take to your heels, you run away.
Take up the torch: If you take up the torch, you take on a challenge or responsibility, usually when someone else retires, or leaves an organisation, etc.
Take your breath away: If something takes your breath away, it astonishes or surprises you.
Take your eye off the ball: If someone takes their eye off the ball, they don't concentrate on something important that they should be looking at.
Take your hat off: If you say that you take your hat off to someone, you are showing your respect or admiration.
Take your hat off to somebody: If you take your hat off to someone, you acknowledge that they have done something exceptional or otherwise deserve your respect.
Taken as read: If something can be taken as read, it is so definite that it's not necessary to talk about it.
Tale of the tape: This idiom is used when comparing things, especially in sports; it comes from boxing where the fighters would be measured with a tape measure before a fight.
Talk a blue streak: (USA) If someone talks a blue streak, they speak quickly and at length. ('Talk up a blue streak' is also used.)
Talk a glass eye to sleep: Someone who could talk a glass eye to sleep is very boring and repetitive.
Talk is cheap: It's easy to talk about something but harder to actually do it.
Talk nineteen to the dozen: If someone talks very quickly, they talk nineteen to the dozen.
Talk of the town: When everybody is talking about particular people and events, they are he talk of the town.
Talk out of the back of your head: If someone is talking out of the back of their head, they are talking rubbish.
Talk out of your hat: If someone is talking out of their hat, they're talking utter rubbish, especially if compounded with total ignorance of the subject on which they are pontificating. ('Talk through your hat' is also used.)
Talk shop: If you talk shop, you talk about work matters, especially if you do this outside work.
Talk the hind legs off a donkey: A person who is excessively or extremely talkative can talk the hind legs off a donkey.
Talk the legs off an iron pot: (AU) Somebody who is excessively talkative or is especially convincing is said to talk the legs off an iron pot. ('Talk the legs off an iron chair' is also used)
Talk turkey: When people talk turkey, they discuss something frankly.
Talk your arm off: Someone who talks so much that it is a strain to listen can talk your arm off.
Talking to a brick wall: If you talk to someone and they do not listen to you, it is like talking to a brick wall.
Tall drink of water: Someone who is very tall and slender is a tall drink of water. ('A tall glass of water' is also used.)
Tall order: Something that is likely to be hard to achieve or fulfil is a tall order.
Tall story: A tall story is one that is untrue and unbelievable.
Tally ho!: (UK) This is an exclamation used for encouragement before doing something difficult or dangerous.
Tar baby: A tar baby is a problem that gets worse when people try to sort it out.
Tar with the same brush: If people are tarred with the same brush, they are said to have the same set of attributes or faults as someone they are associated with.
Taste blood: If someone has tasted blood, they have achieved something and are encouraged to think that victory is within their grasp.
Taste of your own medicine: If you give someone a taste of their own medicine, you do something bad to someone that they have done to you to teach them a lesson.
Teach your grandmother to suck eggs: When people say 'don't teach your grandmother to suck eggs', they mean that people shouldn't try to teach someone who has experience or is an expert in that area.
Teacher's pet: The teacher's favorite pupil is the teacher's pet, especially if disliked by the other pupils.
Tear your hair out: If someone is tearing their hair out, they are extremely worried or agitated about something.
Tears before bedtime: (UK) This idiom is used when something seems certain to go wrong or cause trouble.
Teeny-weeny: If something is teensy-weensy, it is very small indeed.('Teeny-weeny' and 'teensie-weensie' are also used.)
Teething problems: (UK) The problems that a project has when it is starting are the teething problems.
Tell them where the dog died: (USA) If you tell them where the dog died, you strongly and sharply correct someone.
Tempest in a teapot: If people exaggerate the seriousness of a situation or problem, they are making a tempest in a teapot.
Tempt providence: If you tempt providence, you take a risk that may well have unpleasant consequences. ('Tempt fate' is also used.)
Ten a penny: (UK) If something is ten a penny, it is very common. ("Two a penny" is also used.)
Test the waters: If you test the waters, or test the water, you experiment to see how successful or acceptable something is before implementing it.
That and 50 cents will buy you a cup of coffee: (USA) This is used to describe something that is deemed worthless. "He's got a Ph.D. in Philosophy." "So? That and 50 cents will buy you a cup of coffee."
That dog won't hunt: (USA) Very common Southern US expression meaning: What you say makes no sense.
That is the way the cookie crumbles: "That's the way the cookie crumbles" means that things don't always turn out the way we want.
That makes two of us: A speaker says "that makes two of us" to indicate agreement with what another speaker just said. For example, I can say, "I wish I would win the lottery." A listener who says "That makes two of us" is indicating the he or she wants to win the lottery, too.
That ship has sailed: A particular opportunity has passed you by when that ship has sailed.
That's all she wrote: (USA) This idiom is used to show that something has ended and there is nothing more to say about something.
The apple does not fall far from the tree: Offspring grow up to be like their parents.
The ball's in your court: If somebody says this to you, they mean that it's up to you to decide or take the next step.
The be all and end all: The phrase 'The be all and end all' means that a something is the final, or ultimate outcome or result of a situation or event.
The bigger they are, the harder they fall: This idiom means that the more powerful have more to lose, so when they suffer something bad, it is worse for them.
The common weal: If something is done for the common weal, it is done in the interests and for the benefit of the majority or the general public.
The grass is always greener: This idiom means that what other people have or do looks preferable to our life. The complete phrase is 'The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence'.
The line forms on the right: Something's meaning is becoming clear when the line forms on the right.
The more the merrier: The more the merrier means that the greater the quantity or the bigger the number of something, the happier the speaker will be.
The Mountie always gets his man: (Canada) The Mounties are the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and they have a reputation for catching criminals they are after.
The penny dropped: When the penny drops, someone belatedly understands something that everyone else has long since understood.
The plot thickens: When the plot thickens, a situation become more complicated and difficult.
The rough and tumble: The rough and tumble refers to areas of life like business, sports, politics, etc, where competition is hard and people will take any advantage that they can.
The sands of time: The sands of time is an idiom meaning that time runs out either through something reaching an end or through a person's death. It comes from the sand used in hourglasses, an ancient way of measuring time.
The short straw: If you take the short straw, you lose a selection process, which means that you have to do something unpleasant.
The sun might rise in the west: When people say this, they mean that they don't expect something to happen.
The whole shooting match: Everything, the entire object, or all the related parts.
The world and his wife: If the world and his wife were somewhere, then huge numbers of people were present.
Their bark is worse than their bite: If someone's bark is worse than their bite, they get angry and shout and make threats, but don't actually do anything.
There are many ways to skin a cat: This is an expression meaning there are many different ways of doing the same thing.
There's never a road without a turning: No situation in life stays the same forever.
There's no such thing as a free lunch: This idiom means that you don't get things for free, so if something appears to be free, there's a catch and you'll have to pay in some way.
There's the rub: The meaning of this idiom is 'that's the problem'.
Thick and fast: If things are happening thick and fast, they are happening so fast they seemed to be joined together.
Thick as mince: (UK) If someone is as thick as mince, they are very stupid indeed.
Thick as thieves: If people are thick as thieves, they are very close friends who have no secrets from each other.
Thick-skinned: If a person is thick-skinned, they are not affected by criticism.
Thin as a rake: A rake is a garden tool with a long, thin, wooden handle, so someone very thin is thin as a rake.
Thin blue line: (UK) The thin blue line is a term for the police, suggesting that they stand between an ordered society and potential chaos. (Police uniforms are blue.)
Thin end of the wedge: The thin end of the wedge is something small and seemingly unimportant that will lead to something much bigger and more serious.
Thin line: If there's a thin line between things, it's hard to distinguish them- there's a thin line between love and hate.
Thin-skinned: If somebody is thin-skinned, they are very sensitive to any sort of criticism.
Think outside the box: If you think outside the box, you think in an imaginative and creative way.
Think the world of: To hold something or someone in very high esteem. To love or admire immensely.
Third degree: If someone is given the third degree, they are put under a great deal of pressure and intimidation to force them to tell the truth about something.
Third rail: The third rail of something is dangerous to alter or change. Originally, the third rail is the one carrying the electricity for a train.
Third time's the charm: This is used when the third time one tries something, one achieves a successful outcome.
Thorn in your side: A thorn in your side is someone or something that causes trouble or makes life difficult for you.
Those who live by the sword die by the sword: This means that violent people will be treated violently themselves.
Three sheets in the wind: (UK) Someone who is three sheets in the wind is very drunk. ('Three sheets to the wind' is also used. 'Seven sheets' is an alternative number used.)
Three sheets to the wind: If someone is three sheets to the wind, they are drunk.
Thrilled to bits: If you are thrilled to bits, you are extremely pleased or excited about something.
Through gritted teeth: If you do something through gritted teeth, you accept or agree with it against your will and it is obvious to others how you really feel.
Through the ceiling: If prices go through the ceiling, they rise very quickly.
Through the floor: If prices go, or fall, through the floor, they fall very quickly.
Through thick and thin: If someone supports you through thick and thin, they support you during good times and bad.
Throw a curve: (USA) If you throw someone a curve, you surprise them with something they find difficult to deal with. ('Throw' a curveball' is also used.)
Throw a monkey wrench into the works: (USA) If you throw a monkey wrench into the works, you ensure that something fails.
Throw a sickie: If you pretend to be ill to take a day off work or school, you throw a sickie.
Throw caution to the wind: When people throw caution to the wind, they take a great risk.
Throw down the gauntlet: Throw down the gauntlet is to issue a challenge to somebody.
Throw in the towel: If you throw in the towel, you admit that you are defeated or cannot do something.
Throw pearls to the pigs: Someone that throws pearls to pigs is giving someone else something they don't deserve or appreciate. ('Throw pearls before pigs' and 'Cast pearls before swine' are also used.)
Throw someone a bone: If you throw someone a bone, you give them a small reward or some kind words to make them feel good even if they've not really contributed much.
Throw someone a line: If someone throws you a line, they give you help when you are in serious difficulties.
Throw someone in at the deep end: If you are thrown in at the deep end, you have to deal with serious issues the moment you start something like a job, instead of having time to acquire experience.
Throw someone to the wolves: If someone is thrown to the wolves, they are abandoned and have to face trouble without any support.
Throw someone under the bus: To throw someone under the bus is to get the person in trouble either by placing blame on that person or not standing up for him.
Throw the baby out with the bath water: If you get rid of useful things when discarding inessential things, you throw the baby out with the bath water.
Throw the book at someone: If you throw the book at someone, you punish them as severely as possible.
Throw your hat in the ring: If someone throws their hat in the ring, they announce that they want to take part in a competition or contest. 'Toss your hat in the ring' is an alternative.
Throw your toys out of the pram: To make an angry protest against a relatively minor problem, in the process embarrassing the protester. The analogy is with a baby who throws toys out of the pram in order to get their parent to pay attention to them. The implication in the idiom is that the protester is acting like a baby.
Throw your weight around: If someone throws their weight around, they use their authority or force of personality to get what they want in the face of opposition.
Thumb your nose at: If you thumb your nose at something, you reject it or scorn it.
Thumbs down & thumbs up: If something gets the thumbs up, it gets approval, while the thumbs down means disapproval.
Tickle your fancy: If something tickles your fancy, it appeals to you and you want to try it or have it.
Tickled pink: If you are very pleased about something, you are tickled pink.
Tidy desk, tidy mind: A cluttered or disorganised environment will affect your clarity of thought. Organised surroundings and affairs will allow for clearer thought organisation.
Tie the knot: When people tie the knot, they get married.
Tied to your mother's apron strings: Describes a child (often a boy) who is so used to his mother's care that he (or she) cannot do anything on his (or her) own.
Tight rein: If things or people are kept on a tight rein, they are given very little freedom or controlled carefully.
Tight ship: If you run a tight ship, you control something strictly and don't allow people much freedom of action.
Tighten your belt: If you have to tighten your belt, you have to economise.
Till the cows come home: This idioms means 'for a very long time'. ('Until the cows come home' is also used.)
Till the pips squeak: If someone will do something till the pips squeak, they will do it to the limit, even though it will make other people suffer.
Till you're blue in the face: If you do something till you're blue in the face, you do it repeatedly without achieving the desired result until you're incredibly frustrated.
Tilt at windmills: A person who tilts at windmills, tries to do things that will never work in practice.
Time and again: If something happens time and again, it happens repeatedly. ('Time and time again' is also used.)
Time and tide wait for no man: This is used as a way of suggestion that people should act without delay.
Time does sail: This idioms means that time passes by unnoticed.
Time flies: This idiom means that time moves quickly and often unnoticed.
Time is on my side: If time is on your side, you have the luxury of not having to worry about how long something will take.
Time of your life: If you're having the time of your life, you are enjoying yourself very much indeed.
Time-honoured practice: A time-honoured practice is a traditional way of doing something that has become almost universally accepted as the most appropriate or suitable way.
Tip of the iceberg: The tip of the iceberg is the part of a problem that can be seen, with far more serious problems lying underneath.
Tipping point: Small changes may have little effect until they build up to critical mass, then the next small change may suddenly change everything. this is the tipping point.
Tired and emotional: (UK) This idiom is a euphemism used to mean 'drunk', especially when talking about politicians.
Tit for tat: If someone responds to an insult by being rude back, it's tit for tat- repaying something negative the same way.
To a fault: If something does something to a fault, they do it excessively. So someone who is generous to a fault is too generous.
To a man: If a group of people does, believes, thinks, etc, something to a man, then they all do it.
To a T: If something is done to a T, it is done perfectly.
To all intents and purposes: This means in all the most important ways.
To be as thick as two bricks: Someone who is as thick as two bricks is really stupid.
To be dog cheap: If something's dog cheap, it is very cheap indeed.
To err is human, to forgive divine: This idiom is used when someone has done something wrong, suggesting that they should be forgiven.
To have the courage of your convictions: If you have the courage of your convictions, you are brave enough to do what you feel is right, despite any pressure for you to do something different.
To little avail: If something is to little avail, it means that, despite great efforts, something ended in failure, but taking comfort from the knowledge that nothing else could have been done to avert or avoid the result.
To the end of time: To the end of time is an extravagant way of saying 'forever'.
Toe the line: If someone toes the line, they follow and respect the rules and regulations.
Tomorrow's another day: This means that things might turn out better or that there might be another opportunity in the future.
Tongue in cheek: If something is tongue in cheek, it isn't serious or meant to be taken seriously.
Too big for your boots: If someone is too big for their boots, they are conceited and have an exaggerated sense of their own importance.
Too big for your britches: If someone is too big for their britches, they are conceited and have an exaggerated sense of their own importance.
Too many chiefs and not enough Indians: When there are too many chiefs and not enough Indians, there are two many managers and not enough workers to work efficiently.
Too many cooks spoil the broth: This means that where there are too many people trying to do something, they make a mess of it.
Too many irons in the fire: This means juggling too many projects at once and something's bound to fail; when a smith had too many irons in his fire, he couldn't effectively keep track of all of them.
Toot you own horn: If someone toot their own horn, they like to boast about their achievements.
Top dog: The most important or influential person is the top dog.
Top notch: If something is top notch, it's excellent, of the highest quality or standard.
Touch and go: If something is touch and go, the result is uncertain and could be good or bad.
Touch base: If you touch base with someone, you contact them.
Touch wood: This idiom is used to wish for good luck. ('Knock on wood' is also used.)
Touch-and-go: If something is touch-and-go, it is very uncertain; if someone is ill and may well die, then it is touch-and-go.
Tough as old boots: Something or someone that is as tough as old boots is strong and resilient.
Tough cookie: A tough cookie is a person who will do everything necessary to achieve what they want.
Tough luck: Tough luck is bad luck.
Tough nut to crack: If something is a tough nut to crack, it is difficult to find the answer or solution. When used about a person, it means that it is difficult to get them to do or allow what you want. 'Hard nut to crack' is an alternative.
Tough row to hoe: (USA) A tough row to hoe is a situation that is difficult to handle. ('A hard row to hoe' is an alternative form.)
Trade barbs: If people trade barbs, they insult or attack each other.
Traffucked: If you are traffucked, you are stuck in heavy traffic and get where you need to be.
Trail your coat: If you trail your coat, you act in a provocative way.
Train of thought: A train of thought is a sequence of thoughts, especially when you are talking to someone and you forget what you were going to say.
Tread on someone's toes: If you tread on someone's toes, you upset them, especially if you do something that they should be in charge of.
Tread the boards: When someone treads the boards, they perform on stage in a theatre.
Tread water: If someone is treading water, they are making no progress.
Treasure trove: Something of great value or a very good source.
Tried and tested: If a method has been tried and tested, it is known to work or be effective because it has been successfully used long enough to be trusted.
True blue: A person who is true blue is loyal and dependable, someone who can be relied on in all circumstances.
True colours: If someone shows their true colours, they show themselves as they really are. ('True colors' is the American spelling.)
Trump card: A trump card is a resource or strategy that is held back for use at a crucial time when it will beat rivals or opponents.
Truth will out: Truth will out means that, given time, the facts of a case will emerge no matter how people might try to conceal them.
Tug at the heartstrings: f something tugs at the heartstrings, it makes you feel sad or sympathetic towards it.
Turf war: If people or organisations are fighting for control of something, it is a turf war.
Turn a blind eye: When people turn a blind eye, they deliberately ignore something, especially if people are doing something wrong.
Turn a deaf ear: If someone turns a deaf ear to you, they don't listen to you.
Turn a new leaf: If someone turns a new leaf, they change their behaviour and stop doing wrong or bad things.
Turn something on its head: If you turn something on its head, you turn it upside down or reverse it.
Turn the corner: To get over a bad run. When a loss making venture ceases to make losses, it has "turned the corner".
Turn the crack: (Scot) If you turn the crack, you change the subject of a conversation.
Turn the other cheek: If you turn the other cheek, you are humble and do not retaliate or get outwardly angry when someone offends or hurts you, in fact, you give them the opportunity to re-offend instead and compound their unpleasantness.
Turn the tables: If circumstances change completely, giving an advantage to those who seemed to be losing, the tables are turned.
Turn turtle: If something turns turtle, it turns upside down.
Turn up like a bad penny: If someone turns up like a bad penny, they go somewhere where they are not wanted.
Turn up one's toes to the daisies: If someone has turned up their toes to the daisies, it means that the person died.
Turn water into wine: If someone turns water into wine, they transform something bad into something excellent.
Turn your nose up: If someone turns their nose up at something, they reject it or look odwn on it because they don't think it is good enough for them.
Turn-up for the books: A turn-up for the books is an unexpected or surprising event.
Twenty-four seven: Twenty-four seven or 24/7 means all the time, coming from 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Twinkling of an eye: If something happens in the twinkling of an eye, it happens very quickly.
Twist someone's arm: If you twist someone's arm, you put pressure on them to try to make them do what you want them to do.
Twisting in the wind: If you are twisting in the wind, you are without help or support - you are on your own.
Two cents: If you add or throw in your two cents, you give your opinion on an issue.
Two heads are better than one: When two people work together more things get accomplished.
Two left feet: A person with two left feet can't dance.
Two peas in a pod: If things or people are like two peas in a pod, they look very similar or are always together.
Two sides of the same coin: If two things are two sides of the same coin, there is much difference between them.
Two-edged sword: If someone uses an argument that could both help them and harm them, then they are using a two-edged sword sword; it cuts both ways.
Two-faced: Someone who is two-faced will say one thing to your face and another when you're not there.

Wesley Review Stage