/ •/Tom andFred traveled light on their camping trip./
[tread on the toes of] or [tread on one’s toes] See: STEP ON THE TOESOF or STEP ON ONE’S TOES.
[tread water]{v. phr.} To keep the head above water with the body inan upright position by moving the feet as if walking. •/He kept afloat bytreading water./
[treat] See: TRICK OR TREAT.
[tree] See: BARK UP THE WRONG TREE, CAN’T SEE THE WOOD FOR THE TREES, UP ATREE.
[trembling] See: FEAR AND TREMBLING.
[trial] See: ON TRIAL.
[trial and error]{n.} A way of solving problems by trying differentpossible solutions until you find one that works. •/John found the shortcircuit by trial and error./ •/The only way Tom could solve the algebraproblem was by the method of trial and error./
[trial balloon]{n.} A hint about a plan of action that is given out tofind out what people will say. •/John mentioned the class presidency to Billas a trial balloon to see if Bill might be interested in running./ •/Theeditorial was a trial balloon to test the public’s reaction to a change in theschool day./
[trice] See: IN A FLASH also IN A TRICE.
[trick] See: DO THE TRICK, TURN THE TRICK.
[trick of the trade]{n. phr.}, {usually in plural}, {informal}1. A piece of expert knowledge; a smart, quick, or skillful way of working at atrade or job. •/Mr. Olson spent years learning the tricks of the trade as acarpenter./ •/Any one can learn how to hang wallpaper, but only an expertcan show you the tricks of the trade./ 2. A smart and sometimes tricky ordishonest way of doing something in order to succeed or win. •/The championknows all the tricks of the boxing trade; he knows many ways to hurt hisopponent and to get him mixed up./
[trick or treat]{n.} The custom of going from house to house onHalloween asking for small gifts and playing tricks on people who refuse togive. •/When Mrs. Jones answered the doorbell, the children yelled "Trick ortreat." Mrs. Jones gave them all some candy./ •/On Halloween Bill and Tomwent out playing trick or treat./
[trigger] See: QUICK ON THE TRIGGER.
[trigger happy] See: QUICK ON THE TRIGGER(1).
[triple threat]{n.} A football player who is able to pass, kick, andrun all very well. •/The triple threat halfback was the star of the team./
[tripped out]{adj.}, {slang}, {informal} Incoherent, confused,faulty of speech, illogical; as if under the influence of drugs or alcohol.•/It was hard to make sense of anything Fred said yesterday, he sounded sotripped out./ See: SPACED OUT.
[trip up]{v.} 1. To make (someone) unsteady on the feet; cause to missa step, stumble, or fall. •/A root tripped Billy up while he was running inthe woods, and he fell and hurt his ankle./ 2. To cause (someone) to make amistake. •/The teacher asked tricky questions in the test to trip up studentswho were not alert./
[trolley] See: OFF ONE’S ROCKER or OFF ONE’S TROLLEY.
[trot out]{v. phr.} To bring out for inspection; display. •/Don’tmention compact disks to Joe, or he’ll trot out his entire collection and we’llbe stuck here all night./
[trouble] See: BORROW TROUBLE, GO TO THE TROUBLE or TAKE THE TROUBLE.
[troubled waters] See: POUR OIL ON TROUBLED WATERS.
[trousers] See: WEAR THE TROUSERS.
[trowel] See: LAY IT ON.
[truck] See: PANEL TRUCK.
[true] See: COME TRUE, HOLD TRUE, RUN TRUE TO FORM.
[trump] See: HOLD ALL THE TRUMPS.
[trump card]{n.} Something kept back to be used to win success ifnothing else works. •/The coach saved his star pitcher for a trump card./•/Mary had several ways to get Joan to come to her party. Her trump card wasthat the football captain would be there./
[trump up]{v.} To make up (something untrue); invent in the mind.•/Every time Tom is late getting home he trumps up some new excuse./•/The Russians were afraid he was a spy, so they arrested him on a trumped-upcharge and made him leave the country./
[trust] See: IN TRUST.
[truth] See: CHILDREN AND FOOLS SPEAK THE TRUTH.
[try on]{v.} To put (clothing) on to see if it fits. •/She tried onseveral pairs of shoes before she found one she liked./ •/The clerk toldhim to try the coat on./
[try one’s hand]{v. phr.} To make an inexperienced attempt (atsomething unfamiliar.) •/I thought I would try my hand at bowling, although Ihad never bowled before./
[try one’s wings]{v. phr.} To try out a recently acquired ability.•/Marjorie just had her twelfth French lesson and wants to try her wings byspeaking with our visitors from Paris./
[tryout]{n.} An audience at a theater or opera for would-be actors andsingers. •/The Civic Opera is holding tryouts throughout all of next week.Maybe I’ll go and see if I can sing in the chorus./
[try out]{v. phr.} 1. To test by trial or by experimenting. •/Hetried golf out to see if he would like it./ •/The scientists tried outthousands of chemicals before they found the right one./ •/The coach wantsto try the new play out in the first game./ 2. To try for a place on a teamor in a group. •/Tom tried out for the basketball team./ •/Shirley willtry out for the lead in the play./ Compare: OUT FOR.
[tuck] See: NIP AND TUCK.
[tucker] See: BEST BIB AND TUCKER.
[tuck in]{v. phr.} To place the covers carefully around the person(usually a child) in bed. •/When I was a child, my mother used to tuck meinto bed every night./
[tug-of-war]{n.} 1. A game in which two teams pull on opposite ends ofa rope, trying to pull the other team over a line marked on the ground. •/Thetug-of-war ended when both teams tumbled in a heap./ 2. A contest in whichtwo sides try to defeat each other; struggle. •/A tug-of-war developedbetween the boys who wanted to go fishing and those who wanted to go hiking./•/Betty felt a tug-of-war between her wish to go to the movies and herrealizing she had to do her homework./ •/The tug of war between the unionmen and management ended in a long strike./
[tune] See: CALL THE TUNE, CHANGE ONE’S TUNE, IN TUNE, SING A DIFFERENTTUNE or WHISTLE A DIFFERENT TUNE also SING A NEW TUNE, TO THE TUNE OF.
[tune in] To adjust a radio or television set to pick up a certain station.•/Bob tuned in his portable radio to a record show./ •/Tom tuned in toChannel 11 to hear the news./
[tune out]{v. phr.} To not listen to something. •/"How can you workin such a noisy environment?" Jane asked Sue. "Well, I simply tune it out," sheanswered./
[tune up]{v.} 1a. To adjust (a musical instrument) to make the rightsound. •/Before he began to play, Harry tuned up his banjo./ 1b. To adjusta musical instrument or a group of musical instruments to the right sound.•/The orchestra came in and began to tune up for the concert./ 2. To adjustmany parts of (car engine) which must work together so that it will runproperly. •/He took his car to the garage to have the engine tuned up./
[tune-up]{n.} 1. The adjusting or fixing of something (as a motor) tomake it work safely and well. •/Father says the car needs a tune-up beforewinter begins./ 2. Exercise or practicing for the purpose of getting ready; atrial before something. •/The team went to the practice field for their lasttune-up before the game tomorrow./ Syn.: WARM UP.
[turkey] See: TALK TURKEY.
[turn] See: AT EVERY TURN, BLOOD RUN COLD or BLOOD TURNS TO ICE, BY TURNS,CALL THE TURN at CALL ONE’S SHOTS(2), EVERY TIME ONE TURNS AROUND, IN TURN, NOTKNOW WHICH WAY TO TURN, OUT OF TURN, TAKE A TURN, TAKE TURNS, TO A T or TO ATURN.
[turn a blind eye]{v. phr.} To pretend not to see; not pay attention.•/The corrupt police chief turned a blind eye to the open gambling in thetown./ •/Bob turned a blind eye to the "No Fishing" sign./ Compare: CLOSEONE’S EYES.
[turn a cold shoulder] See: COLD SHOULDER.
[turn a deaf ear to]{v. phr.} To pretend not to hear; refuse to hear;not pay attention. •/Mary turned a deaf ear to Lois’s asking to ride herbicycle./ •/The teacher turned a deaf ear to Bob’s excuse./ Compare: COLDSHOULDER.
[turn a hand]{v. phr.} To do anything to help. — Usually used in thenegative. •/When we were all hurrying to get the house ready for company,Mary sat reading and wouldn’t turn a hand./ Syn.: LIFT A FINGER.
[turn an honest penny]{v. phr.} To realize a good profit. •/Tomturned an honest penny in the soybean trading business./ Compare: PRETTYPENNY.
[turn back the clock] See: PUT BACK THE CLOCK.
[turn color]{v. phr.} To become a different color. •/In the fall theleaves turn color./ •/When the dye was added the solution turned color./
[turn down]{v.} 1. To reduce the loudness, brightness, or force of.•/The theater lights were turned down./ •/Turn down that radio, willyou?/ •/The hose was throwing too much water so I turned down the water alittle bit./ 2. To refuse to accept; reject. •/His request for a raise wasturned down./ •/If she offers to help, I’ll turn her down./ •/Many boyscourted Lynn, but she turned them all down.