tunnel vision a = nitro This file was edited using the t Buy now at www.nitropdf.cor t treading water, hoping something good will happen. trial balloon Inf. a test of someone's or the public’s reaction. 0 It was just a trial balloon, and it didn’t work. trials and tribulations Cliché problems and tests of one’s courage or perseverance. O I promise not to tell you of the trials and tribu- lations of my day if you promise not to tell me yours! “tricks of the trade Fig. special skills and knowledge associated with any trade or profession. (*Typically: know the ~; learn the ~; know a few ~; show so the ~; teach so a few~.) OI know a few tricks of the trade that make things easier. trip the light fantastic Fig. to dance. (Jocular.) 0 Shall we go trip the light fantastic? true to form Fig. exactly as expected; following the usual pattern. O And true to form, Mary left before the meeting was adjourned. try so’s patience Fig. to strain someone’s patience; to bother some- one as if testing the person’s patience. (Try means test here.) 0 You really try my patience with all your questions! tub of lard Inf. a fat person. (Insulting.) O That tub of lard can hardly get through the door. tunnel vision 1. Fig. a visual impairment wherein one can only see what is directly ahead of oneself. 0 I have tunnel vision, so I have to keep looking from side to side. 2. Fig. an inability to rec- ognize other ways of doing things or thinking about things. 0 The boss really has tunnel vision about sales and marketing. He sees no reason to change anything. 223aye (to somEorE, ti = nitro This file was edited using the tl Buy now at www.nitropdf.cor for food and shelter? turn a profit Fig. to earn a profit. O The company plans to turna profit two years from now. turn back the clock Fig. to try to make things the way they were before; to reverse sme change. 0 Jill: I wish I was back in college. Thad so much fu ther. Jane: You can’t turn back the clock. Even if you went back to school, it wouldn't be the same. the turn of the century the time when the year changes to one’ with two final zeros, such as from 1899 to 1900. (Although tech- nically incorrect—a new century begins with the year ending in 01—most people ignore this.) 0 My family moved to America at the turn of the century. turn on a dime Fig. [for a vehicle] to turn ina very tight turn. 0 I need a vehicle that can turn on a dime. turn on the waterworks Fig. to begin to cry. O Every time Billy got homesick, he turned on the waterworks. turn some heads Fig. to cause people to look (at someone or something); to get attention (from people). 0 That new bikini of yours is sure to turn some heads. turn the clock back’ Fig. to try to return to the past. O) You are not facing up to the future. You are trying to turn the clock back to a time when you were more comfortable. turn the other cheek Fig. to ignore abuse or an insult. 0 When Bob got mad at Mary and yelled at her, she just turned the other cheek. 224a two-way street ti Be nitro This file was edited using the Buy now at www.nitropdf.cor tl OUL ihe satiors Orly got wel. turn so’s water off Si. to deflate someone; to silence someone. 0 He said you were stupid, huh? Well, I guess that turns your water off! twelve good men and true Fig. a jury composed of trustworthy men. CO He was convicted by a jury of twelve good men and true. Not a wino in the lot. twiddle one’s thumbs Fig. to pass the time by twirling one’s thumbs. 0) What am I supposed to do while waiting for you? Sit here and twiddle my thumbs? twilight years Fig. the last years before death. 0 In his twilight years, he became more mellow and stopped yelling at people. two shakes of a lamb’s tail Inf. quickly; rapidly. O I'll be there in two shakes of a lamb’s tail. *two strikes against one Fig. a critical number of things against one; a position wherein success is unlikely or where the success of the next move is crucial. (*Typically: get ~; have ~.) O Poor Bob had two strikes against him when he tried to explain where he was last night. a two-time loser Inf. a confirmed loser; a person who has already failed at a previous attempt at some task. Martin is a two-time loser, or at least he looks like one. a two-way street Inf a reciprocal situation. 0 This is a two-way street, you know. You will have to help me someday in return. 225a nitro This file was edited using the Buy now at www.nitropdf.cor under a cloud (of suspicion) Fig. suspected of something. O Someone stole some money at work, and now everyone is under a cloud of suspicion. *under a spell Fig. enchanted; under the control of magic. (*Typ- ically: be ~; have so ~; put so ~.) 0 Her soft voice and faint perfume put Buxton under a spell. Then the enchantment was bro- ken when he found his wallet missing. *under arrest arrested and in the custody of the police in prepa- ration for the filing of a charge. (*Typically: be ~; put so ~.) O Am I under arrest, officer? What did I do? *under fire Fig. during an attack; being attacked. (*Typically: be ~; resign —; think ~.) O There was a scandal in city hall, and the mayor was forced to resign under fire. under oath Fig. bound by an oath; having taken an oath. 0 I was placed under oath before I could testify in the trial. under one's own steam Fig. by one’s own power or effort. 0 I missed my ride to class, so I had to get there under my own steam. under the sun Fig. anywhere on earth at all. C0 Isn’t there anyone under the sun who can help me with this problem? under the table 1. S/. intoxicated. 0 Jed was under the table by midnight. 2. Fig. secret; clandestine. (Hyphenated before a nom- inal.) D0 It was strictly an under-the-table deal. under the weather 1. Inf. ill. CI feel sort of under the weather today. 0 Whatever I ate for lunch is making me feel a bit under the 226 Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Click here for terms of use(up and) about This file was edited using the Buy now at www.nitropdf.cor (nitro (un}til the cows come home weather. 2. Inf. intoxicated. 0 Daddy’s had a few beers and is under the weather again. unsung hero Fig. a hero who has gotten no praise or recognition. O The time has come to recognize all the unsung heroes of the bat- tle for low-cost housing. (un)til hell freezes over Inf. forever. 0 That's all right, boss; I can wait till hell freezes over for your answer. (un)til the cows come home Rur. until the last; until very late. (Referring to the end of the day, when the cows come home to be fed and milked.) 0 Where’ve you been? Who said you could stay out till the cows come home? *(up and) about anv *up and around out of bed and moving about. (*Typically: be ~; get ~.) O The flu put Alice into bed for three days, but she was up and around on the fourth. 227up and around u a u n itro THD file Was wditeduking the Buy now at www.nitropdf.cor u the air, and people were to grab at as many bills as they could get.) O The election is up for grabs. Everything is still very chancy. 2. Fig. in total chaos. | This is a madhouse. The whole place is up for grabs. up in the air (about so/sth) Fig. undecided about someone or something; uncertain about someone or something. 0 I don’t know what Sally plans to do. Things were sort of up in the air the last time we talked. up North to or at the northern part of the country or the world. 0 When you say “up North,” do you mean where the polar bears live, or just in the northern states? up stakes Inf. to prepare for leaving and then leave. (Up has the force of a verb here. The phrase suggests pulling up tent stakes in preparation for departure.) 0 It’s that time of the year when I feel like upping stakes and moving to the country. up the creek (without a paddle) anv up a creek; up shit creek Inf. in an awkward position with no easy way out. (Cau- tion with shit.) O You are up a creek! You got yourself into it, so get yourself out. up to no good Fig. doing something bad. 0 There are three boys in the front yard. I don’t know what they are doing, but I think they are up to no good. *up to speed 1. Fig. moving, operating, or functioning at a nor- mal or desired rate. (*Typically: be ~; bring sth ~; get ~; get sth ~.) O Terri did everything she could to bring her workers up to speed, but couldn’t. 2. anv *up to speed on so/sth Fig. fully apprised about someone or something; up-to-date on the state of 228