This page gathers the 4,686 dictionary entries of which at least one sense is labelled “Idiomatic” by Wiktionary. The definition shown is that sense; each word leads to its full entry. Page 43 of 47: from “throat-clearing” to “toss up”.
- throat-clearing noun A performative or formal preamble before a statement.
- through the looking-glass prep_phrase Disconcertingly bizarre; surreal; weird; strange; topsy-turvy; beyond the reasonable limits of normality.
- throw a bone to verb To provide support or assistance to, especially in one particular way or to a limited extent; to make a concession to.
- throw a fit verb To become angry, enraged, or upset; to act or react with an outburst, as by shouting, swearing, etc.
- throw a kiss verb To kiss one's hand, then make a gesture as if one was throwing the kiss in a direction towards the recipient.
- throw away verb To give lightly, in an offhand manner.
- throw cold water on verb (of an achievement, emotion, idea, suggestion, etc.) To belittle or dismiss; to cast doubt upon; to debunk.
- throw down verb To produce or perform (something) admirably or forcefully.
- throw in verb To quit, to fold.
- throw off verb To confuse; especially, to lose a pursuer.
- throw one's weight around verb To exercise influence or authority, especially to an excessive degree or in an objectionable manner.
- throw out verb To discard; to dispense with something; to throw away.
- throw overboard verb To reject or expel
- throw shapes verb To act tough or put up a front. For example, to threaten a person by making "karate chops" at them, without actually doing harm or knowing…
- throw someone a rope verb To rescue someone by providing them with help, such as material aid, financial aid, a face-saving excuse, or a clue.
- throw the baby out with the bathwater verb To discard, inadvertently or through overzealousness, something valuable or essential ("the baby") in the process of removing or rejecting…
- throw the book at verb To charge with or convict of as many crimes as possible.
- throw the bull verb To chat idly.
- throw things at the wall and see what sticks verb To experiment in a haphazard or random manner with the hope that some amount of success may be achieved.
- throw to the dogs verb To throw away as useless.
- throw to the wolves verb To sacrifice someone, especially in an attempt to save oneself.
- throw up one's hands verb To cease an attempt because it is perceived as doomed.
- thumb on the scale noun An act of bias or a tactic for cheating which creates a situation that unfairly benefits one party involved in an interaction.
- thus and so noun A generic thing; a placeholder name.
- tick all the boxes verb To fulfill all the requirements, especially as itemized in a list; to have all the needed characteristics; to complete all the steps in a…
- tick over verb To run smoothly and without problems.
- ticket to ride noun Something that enables one to do something which would otherwise not be possible.
- tickle someone's pickle verb To amuse or astonish someone.
- tickle the dragon's tail verb To do something that has a risk of going catastrophically wrong.
- tickle the wire verb To create a situation that will encourage the target of a criminal probe to speak and divulge information on a wiretapped telephone.
- tide over verb To support or sustain (someone), especially financially, for a limited period.
- tie in verb To fit in or harmonize (with something).
- tie in knots verb To put (someone) in a difficult situation.
- tie in with verb To become associated with (a person or group of people); to connect with.
- tie oneself in knots verb To put oneself in a difficult situation.
- tie the knot verb To marry, wed, get married.
- tie up verb To occupy, detain, keep busy, or delay.
- tied in knots adj In a state of confusion; in a difficult situation, in a bind.
- tight spot noun A difficult position.
- tight squeeze noun A small amount of space shared by numerous people or things
- tight-lipped adj Unwilling to divulge information.
- till death do us part adv Until death separates us; a common phrase stated between the bride and the groom at a Christian wedding, indicating a commitment to their…
- tilt at windmills verb To attack imaginary enemies.
- time and material noun A form of contractual compensation involving payment for materials used and at agreed rates for the those involved in performing the…
- time bandit noun Something or someone that consumes an inordinate amount of time, especially without achieving anything productive.
- time burglar noun Something or someone that consumes an inordinate amount of time, especially without achieving anything productive.
- time forgot phrase Isolated from the outside world and far behind the times; extremely outdated or archaic.
- time out intj To call for a suspension of activity or conversation.
- time out of mind noun The distant past beyond anyone's memory.
- time thief noun Something or someone that consumes an inordinate amount of time, especially without achieving anything productive.
- time-waster noun Something unproductive.
- tin god noun A false god, particularly a petty tyrant, a person who abuses or exceeds their authority over others in petty ways.
- tin-pot dictatorship noun A country ruled by a tin-pot dictator; an autocracy, especially one ruled by someone with delusions of grandeur.
- tip of the iceberg noun A small indication of a larger possibility; the first part encountered of a problem that is much bigger than it seems.
- tip off verb To alert or inform (someone), especially confidentially.
- tip one's hat verb To acknowledge or show respect; to honor.
- tip the scale verb To change the fortunes, either positively or negatively.
- tired and emotional adj Drunk.
- tit for tat noun Equivalent retribution; an act of returning exactly what one gets; an eye for an eye.
- tits up adj Broken; failed; inoperable.
- to a degree prep_phrase extremely; exceedingly; a lot.
- to all intents and purposes prep_phrase For every functional purpose; in every practical sense; in every important respect; practically speaking.
- to and fro verb To go back and forth; to alternate.
- to be honest phrase Frankly, honestly.
- to beat the band adv In such a way as to surpass all competition; hence, contextually, very vigorously, at a frantic pace, to a high degree.
- to do with prep Used directly after the verb have or have got.
- to go adj Served in a package or takeout container so as to be taken away from a restaurant rather than eaten on the premises.
- to hell adv to an extreme extent
- to hell and back adv Greatly, intensely.
- to one's mind prep_phrase From one's point of view, in one's opinion.
- to pieces prep_phrase Completely, utterly.
- to say nothing of conj An apophasis used to mention another important, usually related, point: not taking into account, not to mention, without considering.
- to spare phrase In abundance.
- to the death prep_phrase To the utmost degree.
- to the max prep_phrase To a great degree or extent; very.
- to the point prep_phrase Relevant or pertinent; succinct; specific. (The article "the" may be replaced by a possessive form denoting whose point is being…
- to- prefix Parting: forming verbs that involve cleaving, breaking, or sundering.
- toast of the town noun A person, male or female, who is admired and very popular in local society, and who is sought after to attend parties, public events, etc.
- today we are all phrase An expression indicating that the speaker empathizes with members of an identifiable group that was the subject of a disaster, and projects…
- toe the line verb To abide by the rules or conventions; (politics, in particular) to follow the party line.
- toes up adj Of a person, dead or killed.
- tomayto, tomahto phrase Used to dismiss a correction to one's adherence to an alternative standard.
- tongue-in-cheek adj Not intended seriously; jocular or humorous.
- too bad phrase That's a pity.
- too big for one's britches adj Disturbingly confident, unacceptably cocky.
- too clever by half adj Shrewd but flawed by overthinking or excessive complexity, with a resulting tendency to be unreliable or unsuccessful.
- too good for this world adj Of exceptionally high quality; wonderful; marvelous; excellent.
- too late phrase Used to indicate that something is ineffective or useless because it happens after the best time for it.
- tool around verb To spend one's time idly.
- tools of trade noun The items and equipment that a person uses in the course and scope of their profession, trade, or occupation.
- tooth and nail adj vicious; violent; full of strength and power
- top banana noun The boss, the leader.
- top dog noun The boss, the leader (of the pack).
- top flight adj Of the highest rank, or peak of excellence.
- top oneself verb To outdo oneself or do more than one's previous best.
- top shelf adj Best, or high quality.
- top to bottom adv Completely; entirely.
- top up verb To add to a balance in an account (e.g., mobile payment, debit card, bank account).
- topsawyer noun A highly skilled, prominent, or commanding leader.
- toss up noun A decision in which neither choice is clearly favorable or unfavorable, or for which the outcome does not matter.