trade something for something—give one thing in exchange for another, in place of money: The cargo consisted of textiles and antiquated firearms. These were traded on the coast for slaves, who were shipped to America. trade something in for something—give smth. in part payment for smth. else (usually another article of the same kind): You […]
Trade in something vs Trade on something
trade in something—buy and sell a particular commodity: The company of merchants included both general dealers and such as traded in only one kind of wares. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase trade something in—give a used thing as part payment for a new one: You trade in your car […]
Toy boy vs Toy man
toy boy—(sl., also: boy toy) a woman’s very young lover: At 48 she is like a teenage girl again—raving it up with four different lovers including a toy boy of 27. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the compound playboy—a rich man who spends most of his time enjoying himself in expensive […]
Touring car vs Tourist car
touring car—an open automobile with a folding top: Mac and Jim circled the buildings and went to the ancient Ford touring car. tourist car— 1. a (rented) car used by tourists: An early start on all itineraries can avoid most tourist cars, tour busses, and crowds. 2. a railway car equipped with less comfortable sleeping […]
Tough nut to crack vs Tough row to hoe
tough nut to crack—(also: hard nut to crack) 1. a difficult person to deal with: Meggie was going to be a tough nut to crack and he couldn’t afford to frighten her. 2. a difficult problem or task to undertake: Getting them all here on time will be a tough nut to crack. tough row to […]
Tough cookie vs Tough cookies
tough cookie —(sl.) an unyielding person who is difficult to deal with: He’s a real tough cookie and you know it. tough cookies —(sl., parenthetical) too bad; very unfortunate (also: tough bananas): If you give the wrong answer, well, tough cookies, you have to move backward.
Touch something vs Touch upon something
touch something— 1. put the hand or finger upon smth. so as to feel it: As his hand touched the surface of the mirror, it rippled like the water in a pond. He drew his hand back, startled. 2. (cause to) be in contact with smth.: Scientific information on the Martian atmosphere was gathered even before […]
Touch and go vs Touch and goes
touch and go—said of a very uncertain or critical situation: The day after the operation was touch-and-go. The patient needed a tremendous amount of fluid… touch and goes—(RAF) landing and immediate take-off as part of the training for pilots: Touch and goes proved fairly simple; power on, flaps up produced almost spontaneous response with a […]
Top ten vs Upper ten
top ten—the highest ranking music items, goods, etc. on a ten-point scale: Pet foods come sixth in the consumer top ten. Baby food lags way behind. upper ten—the upper social classes; the aristocrats: The upper ten still send their children to Eton or Harrow.
Top line vs Up line
top line— 1. the uppermost line of text: A special machine, an “interpreter,” can be used to read the cards and print their contents on the top line. 2. the head item on a bill of entertainment: His duets with Miss Muriel George have reached a top-line position on the halls. 3. headline of a […]
Too many chiefs and not enough Indians vs Too many cooks spoil the broth
too many chiefs and not enough Indians —(saying ) there are too many bosses and not enough people to do the work: “Too many chiefs and not enough Indians.” In some cases that’s what we are seeing in high-tech industry today. too many cooks spoil the broth—(saying ) when too many people try to manage […]
Toad in a hole vs Toad in the hole
toad in a hole—meat or sausages baked in paste: It looks more like fish-in-a-pond than toad-in-a-hole: you forgot to turn the oven on. toad in the hole— 1. = toad in a hole: To serve, cut the toad in the hole into sections with one or two sausages in each. 2. a game in which […]