A-Z Database

A-Z Database

All A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Turn turtle

To turn turtle is to turn upside down, chiefly used for boats but also motor vehicles etc. The expression derives from the helplessness of a marine tu...

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Turn up one’s nose (at something or someone)

To turn one’s nose up is to express contempt, derision or rejection and derives from the allusion of turning one’s nose away from a bad smell under it...

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Turn up trumps

see Come up or turn up trumps


Turn-up for the book/books

A turn-up is slang for an unexpected stroke of luck and dates from the late 19th century, and when used in conjunction with book or books, it refers t...

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Turncoat

This expression dates from the 16th century and describes someone who switches allegiances and goes over to the opposition. This was indicated by lite...

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Twaddle

Meaning foolish or idle chatter dates from the late 18th century. It derives from earlier and now archaic words like twattle and twittle where a twatt...

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Twat

Originally, twat is a British vulgar word for vagina dates and from the 17th century; sometimes appears as twot. The word was resurrected from the lat...

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Twig

In the sense of to understand or cotton on dates from the early 19th century, according to the OED, but adds that the word goes back to the late 18th...

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Twinkle toes

The expression twinkle toes describes a person who is light on their feet, a good dancer but has also been applied to football (soccer) players, dates...

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Twinkling of an eye

see In the twinkling of an eye


Twist around one’s (little) finger

see Wrap/twist around one’s finger


Twit

A twit is British slang for a foolish, weak, ineffectual person; in spoken usage from the late 19th/early 20th century and first attested in print fro...

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Two bites at the apple/cherry

To take two bites or a second bite at the apple or cherry (these two fruits appear to be interchangeable) means to get a second chance or opportunity...

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Two heads are better than one

Meaning two brains working on the same problem is better than one is a very old proverb that appears in John Heywood Proverbs (1546).


Two left feet

This expression illustrates the ancient and traditional prejudice to all things left. Logically, two right feet would be just as awkward as two left f...

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