tell tales— 1. tell about smb. who has done smth. wrong; inform upon a person: Teachers hate children who tell tales about their friends. 2. give away private information to outsiders: You’ve no business to know that. Somebody’s been telling tales. 3. tell a made-up story with the object of deceiving or arousing sympathy: David’s […]
Television serial vs Television series
television serial—a story on television which appears in parts (usually at regular times): The novel has recently been dramatized as a television serial. television series—a set of television programs, each complete in itself, that deal with the same subject: He is the co-author of the popular television series “Yes, Minister.”
Telephone girl vs Telephone man
telephone girl—an operator in a telephone exchange: The telephone girl sits on her high stool as she produces alternate order and chaos at her switchboard. telephone man—telephone mechanic: Common usage among telephone men has led to the classification of telephone service as follows: local, suburban, toll and long distance.
Tear something down vs Tear something up
tear something down— 1. dismantle or demolish smth.: The old theater is to be torn down and replaced by offices. 2. remove smth. by pulling down roughly: Even doors, fences, and planks from the wooden houses were torn down to serve as fuel. 3. (of a machine, etc.) take to pieces: We shall have to […]
Tear someone down vs Tear someone up
tear someone down—(U.S. coll.) criticize smb. severely; punish a person: Why won’t a politician talk according to his conscience? Because the next day, media and the opposition will tear him down. tear someone up—(U.S. coll.) cause smb. much grief; upset a person: She’s feeling really bad for Lodge because she knows how much it will […]
Teach an old dog new tricks vs Teach one’s grandmother to suck eggs
teach an old dog new tricks—is used to say that old people can hardly be expected to learn anything new: This computer is far too difficult for me. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Note: a) The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase teach a pig to play the piano—do futile […]
Tea hostess vs Tea lady
tea hostess—a woman in charge of serving tea at a tea-party or other social occasion: Mrs. Bowhill acted as model for the evening dress. Tea hostesses were Mrs. Kedge and Mrs. Williams. tea lady—(also: tea girl) a woman employed to make and serve tea in an office: Two years ago, it seemed the ubiquitous tea lady […]
Tea boy vs Tea man
tea boy—(UK) 1. a boy employed to run errands in an office, etc.: I left school at 17 and I started straight away in a recording studio, initially as a tea boy then trainee tape operator. 2. (coll.) a general assistant: Mr. Fenby says he began his career as a journalist employed as a “tea […]
Tax avoidance vs Tax evasion
tax avoidance—the use of legal methods to pay the smallest amount of tax: I think that all these devices for tax avoidance ought to be stopped. tax evasion—the illegal non-payment or underpayment of in come tax: Most crooked businesses rely on substantial tax evasion.
Taste like something vs Taste of something
taste like something—have the same taste as smth. else: The cowish or biscuit root is somewhat larger than a walnut and tastes like a sweet potato. taste of something—have the hint of a certain specified flavor: If it tastes of the raw berry (as Egyptian coffee generally does), it is under-roasted.
Tape machine vs Tape recorder
tape machine—a telegraphic instrument in which the message is printed on a paper tape: Some twenty men were crowding round a “tape machine” waiting for the result of the race to come through. tape recorder—an electronic apparatus for recording music, etc. on magnetic tape: A tape recorder offers the additional facility of actual recording, either […]
Talk the same language vs Tell the same tale
talk the same language —(also: speak the same language) have an understanding with a person through similarity of outlook: I don’t have many friends because I no longer talk the same language as the people I used to know. tell the same tale— 1. (also: sing the same song ) express the same ideas, opinions, etc.: […]