A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

thick as two short planks
—(also: thick as a plank) very stupid:
Some of our greatest and richest superstars have been as thick
as two short planks.
thin as a herring —used of a very thin person: He was a very
small, dapper man, as thin as a herring, with projecting teeth
and a huge drooping many-curled wig…
thick as pea soup • thick as peas in a shell
thick as pea soup —(of fog or liquid) very dense; concentrated:
Wow, this coffee is strong! It’s thick as pea soup.
thick as peas in a shell —(also: thick as peas in a pod) intimate
or very friendly: Sam had had a game of billiards with the
Baron, and they were as thick as peas in a shell.
thick end of the stick, the • thin end of the wedge,
the
thick end of the stick, the —(also: short end of the stick, the)
the disadvantage in a bargain, contest, etc.: Don’t be cocky:
producers always hold the thick end of the stick and you
should know that.
thin end of the wedge, the —(also: small end of the wedge, the)
a modest beginning which may lead to smth. greater: It is the
thin end of the wedge — they will contaminate our agriculture
and that contamination will self-perpetuate as time goes on.
thick on someone • thick with someone
thick on someone —(coll.) somewhat burdensome on a per-
son: I don’t grudge him the time off, but it’s a bit thick on
me, having to do all his work.
thick with someone —(coll.) intimate or very friendly with a
person: Your Johnny seems very thick with that ginger-headed
boy.
thick tea • thin tea
thick tea —
1
. strong, concentrated tea: He poured two mugs
of thick tea and slowly shambled back to his sitting room. 2.
(UK dated) an early evening tea with a full meal (as a substitute
for dinner): The “thick teas” of Lancashire have long been cel-
ebrated for their eccentricity.
thin tea —weak, watery tea: She left the crib and sat at the
table where she poured herself a cup of thin tea.