American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

that's the breaks, I guess, or There's not much you can do if the breaks are against you. In the singular and modified forms, this term becomes good or bad or lucky break. In the plural form, only the context determines its favorable or unfavorable meaning. [Slang; early 1900s] Also see

TOUGH BREAK.

the business

1. Verbal abuse, scolding, or teasing; also, a beating. For example, At boarding school new kids always get the business, or The boxer faked and then gave his opponent the business. [Slang; c. 1940] 2. A harsh interrogation, as in The detectives gave each suspect the business. [Slang; c.

1940] 3. Dismissal from work or jilting, as in Once the new management takes over I'm sure to get the business, or Dorothy gave him the business and married someone else. [Slang; c. 1940]

the creeps Also, the willies. A sensation of horror or repugnance, as in That weird man gives me the creeps, or I get the willies when I hear that dirge music. The first of these colloquial terms alludes to a sensation of something crawling on one's skin. Charles Dickens used it in David Copperfield (1849) to describe a physical ailment: "She was constantly complaining of the cold and of its occasioning a visitation in her back, which she called 'the creeps.'" But soon after it was used to describe fear and loathing. The variant dates from the late 1800s, and both its allusion and origin are unclear.

the damage

The cost or price of something, as in So what's the damage for this outfit? This seemingly modern slangy phrase, with damage alluding to the harm done to one's pocketbook, was first recorded in 1755.

the hell with

hand. see TO HELL WITH.

the horse's mouth

hand. see FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH.

the idea Also, the very idea. See under WHAT'S THE IDEA.

the latest Also, the latest thing. The most recent development, as in fashion or the news. For example, Wearing straw hats to the beach is the latest thing, or Have you heard the latest about the royal family? [Colloquial; late 1800s] Also see THE THING.

the likes of

hand. see LIKES OF.

the limit

The most extreme; someone or something that irritates, delights, or surprises to the ultimate

degree. For example, Hiring and firing someone the same day?

that's the limit in employee relations! or That excuse of yours for missing the wedding, that's the limit, or He's done wonders before but this last one is the limit. This idiom uses limit as "the last possible point or boundary." [Colloquial; c. 1900]

the long and the short of it

hand. see LONG AND SHORT OF IT.

the lowdown on

The whole truth about something, as in We're waiting to hear the lowdown on what happened after we left. This term uses lowdown in the sense of "the basic or fundamental part." [Slang; early 1900s]

the masses

The body of common people, or people of low socioeconomic status, as in TV sitcoms are designed to appeal to the masses. This idiom is nearly always used in a snobbish context that puts down the taste, intelligence, or some other quality of the majority of people. W.S. Gilbert satirized this view in the peers' march in Iolanthe (1882), in which the lower-middle class and the masses are ordered to bow down before the peers. Prime Minister William Gladstone took a different view (Speech, 1886): "All the world over, I will back the masses against the [upper] classes." [First half of 1800s]

the matter

hand. see WHAT'S THE MATTER.

the more the merrier

hand. see MORE THE MERRIER.

them's fighting words

hand. see FIGHTING WORDS.

then

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with THEN, also see AND THEN SOME;

EVERY NOW AND THEN.

then again Also, but then. On the other hand, an opposite possibility. For example, I think it'll arrive tomorrow; then again, it may not, or We think you'll like this restaurant, but then again, not everyone does, or The play was a bit dull, but then she's a great actress.

then and there Also, there and then. At that precise time and place; on the spot. For example, When the board questioned his judgment again, he resigned then and there. The first term was first recorded in 1442, the variant in 1496.

the thing is

The issue, main point, or problem is, as in The thing is, we haven't enough money for the tickets.

[Colloquial; late 1800s]

the ticket

hand. see JUST THE TICKET.

the wiser

hand. see NONE THE WISER.

the works

1. Everything, the full range of possibilities, as in He ordered a pizza with the works, or All right, tell me, give me the works on it. This usage derives from works in the sense of "a complete set of parts for a machine or mechanism." [Colloquial; late 1800s] 2. A beating or other severe treatment. This usage is often put as give someone the works, as in They took him outside and gave him the works. [Slang; first half of 1900s]

they

hand. see BIGGER THEY COME; LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY.

thick

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with THICK, also see BLOOD IS THICKER

THAN WATER; LAY IT ON THICK; PLOT THICKENS; THROUGH THICK AND THIN.

thick and fast

Rapidly crowding, coming so fast they run together, as in The questions came at him thick and fast. This term originated in the second half of the 1500s as thick and threefold and was replaced by the current version about 1700. For a synonym, see FAST AND FURIOUS.

thick and thin

hand. see THROUGH THICK AND THIN.

thick as thieves

Intimate, closely allied, as in The sisters-in-law are thick as thieves. This term uses thick in the sense of ''intimate," a usage that is obsolete except in this simile. [Early 1800s]

thick skin

Insensitivity to criticism or insult, as in You can tell him exactly what you think of his new piece; unlike most composers he has a thick skin. This term transfers an impervious outer coating to mental or emotional toughness. [Mid-1500s]

thief, thieves

hand. see IT TAKES ONE TO KNOW ONE (A THIEF TO CATCH A THIEF); THICK AS THIEVES.

thin

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with THIN, also see INTO THIN AIR; ON

THIN ICE; SPREAD ONESELF TOO THIN; THROUGH THICK AND THIN; WEAR THIN.

thin as a rail

Very slender, as in I do not know why she's dieting; she's thin as a rail already. This simile, which uses rail in the sense of "a narrow bar," has largely replaced such other versions as thin as a lath or rake, although the latter is still common in Britain. [Second half of 1800s]

thin edge of the wedge

A minor change that begins a major development, especially an undesirable one. For example, First they asked me to postpone my vacation for a week, and then for a month; it's the thin edge of the wedge and pretty soon it'll be a year. This term alludes to the narrow wedge inserted into a log for splitting wood. [Mid-1800s]

thing

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with THING, also see ALL THE RAGE (THING);

ALL THINGS TO ALL MEN; AMOUNT TO THE SAME THING; DO ONE'S THING; FIRST THING; FIRST THINGS FIRST; FOR ONE (THING); GET (A THING) GOING; GET INTO THE SWING OF THINGS; GREATEST THING SINCE SLICED BREAD; HAVE A GOOD THING GOING; HAVE A THING ABOUT; JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS; KNOW ALL THE ANSWERS (A THING OR TWO); LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS A DANGEROUS THING; NEAR THING; NO SUCH THING; NOT KNOW BEANS (THE FIRST THING); OF ALL THINGS; OTHER THINGS BEING EQUAL; SEEING THINGS; SURE THING; THE LATEST (THING); THE THING; THE THING IS; TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING; VERY THING.

thing or two

Quite a lot, as in You can count on Bob to tell you a thing or two about Iran. This term is nearly always an understatement. [Mid-1800s] Also see under

things are looking up

Matters are improving; see under LOOK UP.

think

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with THINK, also see COME TO THINK OF IT;

HAVE ANOTHER GUESS (THINK) COMING; HEAR ONESELF THINK; NOT THINK MUCH OF; PUT ON ONE'S THINKING CAP; WISHFUL THINKING. Also see under THOUGHT.

think a lot of Also, think highly or well or the world of. Have a good opinion of, regard very favorably, as in I think a lot of my daughter-in-law, or He didn't think highly of this company, or

Dean thought the world of his youngest. These expressions use think in the sense of "regard" or "value," a usage dating from the late 1300s. For antonyms, see

THINK LITTLE OF.

think aloud

Speak one's thoughts audibly, as in We need flour, sugar, butter?

I'm just thinking aloud. [Early 1700s]

think back

Recall or reflect on, as in When I think back on my days as a summer camper, I really had a good time, or As he thought back to his father, long dead, tears came to his eyes. [Mid-1900s]

think better of

Reconsider, change one's mind about, as in I hope you'll think better of it before you quit your job.

[c. 1600]

think big

Be ambitious, as in There's no point in moving to a place the same size; we have to think big and plan for expansion. [Colloquial; mid-1900s]

thinking cap

hand. see PUT ON ONE'S THINKING CAP.

think little of

Have a poor opinion of, as in I think little of moving to Florida since none of us likes heat or humidity. This term uses think in the sense of "regard" or "value," a usage dating from the 1300s.

Also see NOT THINK MUCH OF.

think nothing of

1. Give little consideration to, regard as routine, as in He thinks nothing of driving 100 miles to see a new movie. [c. 1800] 2. think nothing of it. It's not important, as in Thanks for the lift.?

Think nothing of it. This way of saying YOU' RE WELCOME dates from the late 1800s.

think on one's feet

React quickly, be mentally agile, as in Reporters bombarded him with difficult questions, but Bill was very good at thinking on his feet. This expression uses on one's feet in the sense of "wide awake, alertly." [First half of 1900s]

think out

hand. see THINK THROUGH.

think over

Ponder, reflect about, especially with a view to making a decision. For example, I'll have to think it over carefully before I can say yes or no. [Mid-1800s]

think piece

An article that presents news analysis, background material, and the author's opinions, as in Her goal was to write think pieces but the editor kept assigning crime stories. [c. 1940]

think positive

Be optimistic, concentrate on the good rather than the bad, as in It's true you were fired but think positive?

now you can look for a job you really like. This expression comes from the psychological doctrine of positive thinking, which gained currency with Norman Vincent Peale's popular book, The Power of Positive Thinking (1953). [Second half of 1900s]

think tank

A group or organization dedicated to problem-solving and research, especially in such areas as technology, social or political strategy, and the military. For example, The congressional leaders rely too heavily on that conservative think tank. This term originated about 1900 as a facetious colloquialism for brain and was given its new meaning about 1950.

think the world of

hand. see under THINK A LOT OF.

think through Also, think out. Arrive at a thorough understanding of; devise or contrive thoroughly. For example, That answer doesn't work; I don't believe you've thought the problem through, or He thought out a far more efficient method. The first term dates from the early 1900s, the variant from the mid-1800s. Also see THINK UP.

think twice

1. Reconsider something, weigh something carefully, as in I've got to think twice before spending that much on a car. [Late 1800s] 2. not think twice. Take no notice, not worry about, as in She didn't think twice about flying off to Europe with a day's notice. [Mid-1900s]

think up

Devise, contrive by thinking, as in She's an expert at thinking up interesting programs. [Mid-1800s] thin on top

Becoming bald, as in I notice that he's getting a little thin on top. The top in this euphemism refers to the top of the head. [Second half of 1800s] third degree

Intensive questioning or rough treatment used to obtain information or a confession, as in The detectives gave her the third degree, or Jim gave her the third degree when she came home so late. This term comes from freemasonry, where a candidate receives the third or highest degree, that of master mason, upon passing an intensive test. Dating from the 1770s, the phrase was transferred to other kinds of interrogation in the late 1800s.

third rail

Something that is dangerous to tamper with, as in Anything concerning veterans is a political third rail. This term alludes to the rail that supplies the high voltage powering an electric train, so called since 1918. On the other hand, grab hold of the third rail means "become energized." Both shifts from the original meaning date from the late 1900s.

third world

Underdeveloped or developing countries, as in The conditions in our poorest rural areas resemble those in the third world. This expression originated in the mid-1900s, at first denoting those countries in Asia and Africa that were not aligned with either the Communist bloc nations or the non-Communist Western nations. Because they were for the most part poor and underdeveloped, the term was transferred to all countries with those characteristics, and later still to poorer groups within a larger prevailing culture.

this

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with THIS, also see AT THIS POINT; AT THIS

RATE; AT THIS STAGE; FROM THIS DAY FORWARD; IN THIS DAY AND AGE; OUT OF THIS WORLD; SHUFFLE OFF (THIS MORTAL COIL).

this and that Also, this, that, and the other. Various miscellaneous items, one thing and another, as in He said this and that about the budget, but nothing new or of great substance, or We spent all evening chatting about this, that, and the other. The first idiom was first recorded in 1581; the variant dates from the early 1900s.

this is where I came in

This is where I began, my knowledge dates from this point. For example, Do you have anything more to add, because if not, this is where I came in. This idiom, dating from the 1920s, originally alluded to the continuous showing of a motion picture, with customers entering the theater at any stage while the film was running and leaving when it reached the point where they had started.

this side of