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

there is no escaping something
(there
is no escape from something )
there is nothing in it
(there is nothing
for it)
there is nothing to be done
(there is
nothing doing )
there is nothing to it 
(there is nothing
for it)
there you go
(here we go)
– 371 –
Phrase Index

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there’s a whole other world out there
(in another world)
there’s more than one way to kill a
cat 
(cat has nine lives, a)
there’s no mistake about it
(make no
mistake about it)
there’s no mistaking
(make no mistake
about it)
these days 
(one of these days)
thick as hail
(thick as herrings)
thick as peas in a shell
(thick as pea
soup)
thick as thieves
(thick as herrings)
thick as two short planks 
(thick as her-
rings)
thick-head 
(swell-head)
thick with someone
(thick on some-
one)
thieves’ Latin
(dog Latin)
thin as a herring
(thick as herrings)
thin blue line 
(ragged blue line)
thin end of the wedge, the 
(thick end
of the stick, the)
thin line
(all-red line)
thin on top 
(thin on the ground)
thin red line 
(all-red line)
thin tea 
(thick tea)
thin time 
(short time)
think better of something 
(think bet-
ter of someone)
think much of something 
(think much
about something )
think over something 
(think of some-
thing )
think too much of oneself
(think too
much about oneself )
think twice 
(think again)
third level 
(third degree)
third rail 
(fifth wheel)
third wheel 
(fifth wheel)
third-class degree
(third degree)
third-rate 
(third class)
Thirty Thousand Islands, the 
(Ten
Thousand Islands, the)
this is not the case
(it’s a case)
this is the life
(that’s life)
this minute
(at this minute)
this time
(at this time)
those were the days
(that’ll be the day)
Thousand Islands, the 
(Ten Thousand
Islands, the)
thousand to one, a 
(one in a thousand)
throw cold water on someone 
(give
someone a hot wash)
three dog nights 
(dog days, the)
three gold balls
(gold balls)
throw good money after bad
(bad
money drives out good)
three kings, the 
(four kings, the)
throw light on something 
(keep some-
thing dark)
throw one’s weight about
(throw one’s
weight)
throw oneself on someone 
(throw one-
self away on someone)
throw oneself on something 
(throw
oneself in something )
throw oneself to something
(throw
oneself in something )
throw out the anchors
(put down
anchors)
throw someone into the frying pan
(build a fire under someone)
throw something back to someone
(throw something back at someone)
throw something off
(cast something
off )
throw something over
(overthrow
something )
throw something to someone 
(throw
something at someone)
throw straws against the wind 
(straws
in the wind)
thus and thus 
(such and such)
tick someone off 
(give someone a tick-
ing-off )
tie someone up 
(tie someone down)
tie someone up in knots 
(tie someone
down)
tie someone up with something 
(tie
someone down to something )
tie the knot 
(cut the knot)
tie up loose ends
(be at loose ends)
tight money
(loose money)
tight with money
(tight for money)
tight with someone
(tight on someone)
tighten up screws 
(have a screw loose)
till one is blue in the face 
(look blue)
till the fat lady sings 
(till the cows come
home)
till the pips squeak
(till the cows come
home)
tilting board
(tiltboard)
time after time
(from time to time)
time and again
(now and again)
time is up 
(peak time)
time-keeper 
(keep up with the times)
time lag 
(jet lag )
time of day 
(daytime)
time of life
(lifetime)
time of one’s life
(one’s time of life)
time-serving
(time service)
timed fire 
(time fire)
tin hat
(brass hat)
tip someone off 
(tip someone)
tired of something
(tired from some-
thing )
to a fraction
(by a fraction)
to a hair’s breadth
(by a hair’s breadth)
to a man 
(as one man)
to a wonder (for a wonder)
to beat the band 
(beat the band)
to begin with
(at the beginning )
to crown it all 
(end it all)
to demonstration 
(for demonstration)
to extremes 
(in extremes)
to no avail 
(of no avail)
to no effect
(of no effect)
to one’s eyes 
(in one’s eyes)
to one’s fingertips
(at one’s fingertips)
to order 
(on order)
to say nothing of
(not to say)
to someone’s liking
(for someone’s lik-
ing )
to start with 
(at the start)
to the bone of one’s back 
(to the
bone)
to the contrary
(on the contrary)
to the death
(to death)
to the dot
(on the dot)
to the exclusion of someone 
(exclusive
to someone)
to the full
(in full)
to the good 
(for the good)
to the maximum
(at the maximum)
to the minimum
(at the minimum)
to the minute 
(up to the last minute)
to the nail
(on the nail)
to the nth degree 
(to the nines)
to the point
(to a point)
to the purpose
(to some purpose)
to the taste
(to taste)
to the teeth
(to someone’s teeth)
to the utmost
(at the utmost)
to this day
(to the day)
to time 
(in time)
toad in the hole
(toad in a hole)
Tom Collins
(Old Tom)
Tom, Dick, and Harry 
(Brown, Jones,
and Robinson)
Tom Long 
(Long Tom)
tomcat around 
(pussyfoot around)
too hot to handle
(not too hot)
too many cooks spoil the broth 
(too
many chiefs and not enough Indians)
top dollar
(bottom dollar)
top drawer
(bottom drawer)
top man 
(man upstairs)
top someone
(be on top of someone)
top the bill
(foot the bill)
total loss
(dead loss)
touch and goes
(touch and go)
touch base 
(reach first base)
touch bottom (go to the bottom)
touch ground 
(get off the ground)
touch upon something 
(touch some-
thing )
touched with the tar brush 
(painted
with the tar brush)
tough act to follow
(tough nut to crack)
tough cookies 
(tough cookie)
tough customer 
(rough customer)
tough row to hoe
(tough nut to crack)
tourist car
(touring car)
town house 
(country house)
townman
(man about town)
toy man
(toy boy)
toy soldier 
(chocolate soldier)
track back to something 
(backtrack on
something )
trade on something
(trade in some-
thing )
trade something in 
(trade in something )
trade something in for something
(trade something for something )
training school
(training college)
transit passenger 
(transit man)
transported with something
(trans-
ported by something )
travel all over the land
(travel over the
land)
travel overland 
(travel over the land)
tread on someone’s toes 
(tread on
someone’s heels)
Treasure State, the
(Bullion State, the)
treat someone for something
(treat
someone to something )
Phrase Index
–
372 –

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treat someone with something
(treat
someone to something )
tremble with something
(tremble at
something )
trouble-maker
(trouble man)
trouble oneself with something 
(trou-
ble oneself about something )
trouble someone for something
(trou-
ble someone about something )
trouble someone with something
(trouble someone about something )
true time 
(actual time)
truly yours
(your actual)
trust someone 
(trust in someone)
trust someone with something
(trust
someone for something )
trust something
(trust in something )
trust to someone 
(trust in someone)
trust to something 
(trust in something )
try one’s wings 
(try one’s hand)
try to do something 
(try doing some-
thing )
Tudor rose
(Tudor flower)
tug something 
(tug at something )
turn a blind eye to something
(be
blind to something )
turn-down 
(down-turn)
turn heads 
(turn someone’s brain)
turn in
(turn in on oneself )
turn of a hair
(not turn a hair)
turn one’s mind to something 
(put
one’s mind to something )
turn oneself in 
(turn in on oneself )
turn over
(overturn)
turn someone on 
(turn on someone)
turn someone’s head
(turn someone’s
brain)
turn someone’s water off
(turn on the
waterworks)
turn something over
(overturn some-
thing )
turn something upside down
(turn
something on its head)
turn the corner
(go on the bend)