English Idiom, Phrase, and Saying Dictionary

IdiomMeaningLanguage
tick over(intransitive,of an engine)toidle(to run at a slow speed, or out ofgear).; (idiomatic,of, e.g. a process or a business)To runsmoothlyand without...en
tide over(transitive,idiomatic)Tosupportorsustain(someone), especiallyfinancially, for a limited period.Could you lend me ten pounds totidemeovertill payday?Would a small snacktideyouoveruntil dinner?1901,Henry James,The Papers:Each evening,...en
tied in knots(idiomatic)In a state ofconfusion; in adifficultsituation,in a bind.Synonyms:seeThesaurus:in trouble2005July, Dan Tynan, “30 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do on...en
tie in(intransitive,idiomatic)Tofit inorharmonize(with something).This paragraph does nottie inwith the greater themes of the story.2019March 8, Andrew Lupton, “JUNOS value to London?...en
tie in knots(transitive,idiomatic)Toput(someone) in adifficultsituation.2021March 14, Ed Pilkington, “A year of living dangerously: how Andrew Cuomo fell from grace”, inThe Observer‎[1]:That is...en
tie in with(transitive,idiomatic)To becomeassociatedwith (a person or group of people); toconnectwith.2016December 8, Matt Grobar, quotingGarth Davis, “'Lion' Director Garth Davis On His...en
tie one on(idiomatic,colloquial,dated)Todrinkalcoholexcessively, to the point of being drunkSynonym:hang one on1940,Hearst's International combined with Cosmopolitan‎[2], volume109, page77:"Let'stie one on!" said Peachy gaily....en
tie oneself in knots(idiomatic)Toputoneself in adifficultsituation.2018December 6,Shaun Walker, “Trump's European diplomats tied in knots over rise of populism”, inThe Guardian‎[1]:Across the border in...en
knock down a peg(idiomatic)Synonym oftake down a notch.en
knock for a loop(transitive,idiomatic)Toastonish; tostaggeroroverwhelm; toconfuseordisorient.Synonyms:throw for a loop,throw off1932,Delos W. Lovelace,King Kong, published1965, page 7:[Denham answered] "Gas bombs, Old Man! My own...en
knocking on heaven's door(idiomatic)Dying, close todeath.en
knock it off(colloquial,chieflyimperative,idiomatic)Toceasedoing something, particularlyannoyingorunpleasant; todesist.Would you two pleaseknock it offwith the shouting? I'm trying to sleep.en
knock it out of the parkAlternative form ofhit one out of the ballpark.2022October 10, Jenna Scherer, “House Of The Dragon drops its best episode yet”,...en
knock oneself out(idiomatic,informal)Togo ahead; to do as onepleases; toenjoyoneself; toendeavorvery hard at a task."These cookies are my favorite! Can I have some?"...en
knock on heaven's door(idiomatic)Todieor be close todeath.2011, Lesley Ann Eden,Beyond Belief in the Land of Rhythm, page200:I hadknocked on heaven's doorbut they didn't...en
knock on wood(idiomatic,US,Philippines)To take acustomaryaction toward offsomemisfortunethat is believed to be attracted by apresumptuousstatement.Synonym:(UK, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand)touch wooden
knock outTo strike or render unconscious(transitive)To strike or bump (someone or something) out.I accidentallyknocked outthe glass in my picture frame.(transitive,idiomatic)To renderunconscious,...en
knock out of the box(baseball)To cause apitcherto be replaced by heavy hitting.; (idiomatic)To cause something to be replaced by something else.en
look into(idiomatic)Toinvestigate,explore, orconsider.If you are buying a new car, you might want tolook intogetting a hybrid or other high-efficiency vehicle.; Used...en
tie someone's hands(idiomatic,often inpassive voice)Torendersomeonepowerlessto act, tothwartsomeone.This contract would havetied my hands.I'd like to help you, but myhands are tied.en
tie the knot(idiomatic,intransitive)Tomarry,wed,get married.Synonym:get hitched1869,William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 3, inBurlesques:Rowena sacrificed her inclination to remain single, to her sense of duty; and...en
tie upTosecurewithrope,string,etc.Don't forget totie upyour hair before you bake.The robberstied upthe bank employees before forcing a way into the vault.1918,W[illiam] B[abington]...en
tie up loose ends(idiomatic)Todealwith the minorconsequencesof a previous action; totidyup,finish, orcomplete.Removing her name from the mailing list was her way oftying up loose...en
tighten the purse strings(idiomatic,colloquial)To decreasespendingordisallowincreased spending; toincreasecontrolof spending.1894, New Zealand Parliament,Parliamentary debates, page710:...would have the opposite effect entirely, and wouldtighten the purse-stringsof capitalists...en
tight-lipped(literal)Having thelipspressed tightly together, hence, not speaking.1922,Rafael Sabatini,Captain Blood: His Odyssy, chapter XXV:He would have sprung upon Captain Blood, who...en
tight lips(idiomatic)Of a person,silenceorreticence.1921,Rafael Sabatini, chapter II, inScaramouche:After M. de Kercadiou came M. de Vilmorin, very pale and self-contained, withtight lipsand...en
tight ship(idiomatic)A well-organized and highly disciplinedorganization.to run atight ship1999,Strangers with Candy(television production), spoken by Chuck Noblet (Stephen Colbert):You're new here, so...en
tight spot(idiomatic)Adifficultposition.Synonyms:seeThesaurus:difficult situation1992October 21, Murray Chass, “Jays Squeeze Out of Tight Spot Into a 2-1 Lead”, inThe New York Times‎[1],→ISSN:Jays Squeeze...en
tight squeeze(idiomatic)A small amount ofspaceshared by numerous people or things; (idiomatic)A small amount of time in which something is to be...en
till death do us part(duration,idiomatic)Untildeathseparatesus;a common phrase stated between thebrideand thegroomat a Christianwedding, indicating acommitmentto theirunion.en
time after time(idiomatic)Again andagain;repeatedly; every time;always; time and again.Synonyms:seeThesaurus:repeatedlyTime after timehe tries, andtime and again, he fails.en
time alone will tell(idiomatic)Alternative form oftime will tell.en
time and material(idiomatic,business)A form of contractual compensation involving payment for materials used and at agreed rates for the those involved in performing...en
time bandit(informal,idiomatic)Something or someone thatconsumesan inordinate amount oftime, especially without achieving anythingproductive.1983, Mark Porter,The Time of Your Life, Victor Books,→ISBN,page101:The telephone...en
tools of trade(idiomatic)Theitemsandequipmentthat apersonuses in thecourseandscopeof theirprofession,trade, oroccupation.en
time burglar(informal,idiomatic)Something or someone thatconsumesan inordinate amount oftime, especially without achieving anythingproductive.2012, Nick O'Kelly, Patrick Schulte,Live on the Margin: Learn to...en
time flies(idiomatic)Timepasses quickly.Synonym:tempus fugitTime flieswhen you're having fun.en
time is ripe(idiomatic,almost always preceded bytheand often followed byfor)Asuitabletimehasarrivedfor aparticularactivity.Coordinate terms:clock is ticking,clock is running,time is ticking,time is short;tick-tock(interjection);time is of the...en
time is short(idiomatic,almost always preceded bytheand often followed byfor)Synonym ofclock is ticking.en
time is ticking(idiomatic)Synonym ofclock is ticking.en
time off(idiomatic,business,human resources)A period of time where one is not required to work.I've got sometime offnext week, so maybe we could...en
time of one's life(idiomatic)A period ofenjoying oneselfimmensely, or more than ever before.Hypernym:good time1997, “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)”, inNimrod, performed byGreen Day,Reprise...en
time out(sports)To call for a time-out.; (idiomatic)To call for a suspension of activity or conversation.; (live actionroleplaying games)Used to announce the...en
time out of mind(idiomatic)Thedistantpastbeyond anyone'smemory.1669,John Nievhoff, translated byJohn Ogilby,An Embassy from the Eaſt-India Company of the United Provinces, to the Grand Tartar Cham...en
time thief(informal,idiomatic)Something or someone thatconsumesan inordinate amount oftime, especially without achieving anythingproductive.2006, Don Boyer,The Power of Mentorship, Real Life Teaching/Publishing,→ISBN,page137:Genie is...en
time-tried(idiomatic)Testedandprovedto bereliableover aperiod of time.1976February 7, “A Liberation Publication?”, inGay Community News, volume 3, number32, page 5:And never mind that...en
time-wasterSomeone whowastestheir owntimeor thetimeofothers.I showed him round the property thinking he was a prospective buyer, but in fact he was...en
time will tell(idiomatic)Events and outcomes cannot be known beforehand.This may not be a good idea, buttime will tell.2011January 11, Jonathan Stevenson, “West...en
tin god(idiomatic)Afalsegod,particularlyapettytyrant, apersonwhoabusesorexceedstheirauthorityover others inpettyways.1886,Rudyard Kipling, “[Departmental Ditties] Public Waste”, inDepartmental Ditties[…], New York, N.Y.: M. F. Mansfield & A. Wessels,...en
Tinker to Evers to ChanceA famous baseball infielddouble-playcombination.en