twilight industry
A business or activity that operates in a gray area of legality
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Twilight Sleep
A state of semi-consciousness produced by injection of scopolamine and morphia in which a woman can undergo childbirth with comparatively little pain.
twilight years
The final years of a person's life
twilight zone
A strange or uncertain situation
twinkle in one's father's eye
an idea or plan that has not yet been realized
twiss
(IRISH) A Jordan, or pot de chambre. A Mr. Richard Twiss having in his "Travels" given a very unfavourable description of the Irish character, the inhabitants of Dublin, byway of revenge, thought proper to christen this utensil by his name--suffice it to say that the baptismal rites were not wanting at the ceremony.
twist
A mixture of half tea and half coffee; likewise brandy, beer, and eggs. A good twist; a good appetite. To twist it down apace; to eat heartily.
twist
Brandy and gin mixed.
twist and turn
to have many unexpected changes or developments
twist in the wind
To be left in a precarious or uncertain situation
twist of fate
An unexpected event that changes someone's life
twisting the lion's tail
Seeing how far the "Britishers" will bear provocation. "To give the lion's tail another twist" is to tax the British forbearance a little further. The nation will put up with a deal rather than resort to the arbitration of arms.
All in a twitter; in a fright. Twittering is also the note of some small birds, such as the robin, &c.
"all in a TWITTER," in a fright or fidgety state.
twitty
Silly, foolish, ineffectual.
two and eight
A fixed-order word pair (irreversible binomial); full definition pending editorial review.
two birds with one stone
To accomplish two tasks with a single action
two bob
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
two can play at that game
One can retaliate or respond in kind to someone's actions
two cents
one's opinion or contribution
two eighteener
An Americanism for a man or woman of the fastest kind—two minutes eighteen seconds, or close thereabouts, being the fastest time for a mile recorded in connexion with the Transatlantic national sport, trotting. "Two forty on a plank road," a once favourite expression with a similar meaning, derived from a feat of the famous trotting mare Flora Temple, has died out since trotting has become faster, and courses have been prepared on a different principle.
two for two
completely successful in two attempts
two ha'pennies for a penny
Something is not worth the effort or cost
two handed put
The amorous congress.
two heads are better than one
Collaboration often leads to better results than individual effort
two heads are better than one
Outside ad- vice is often very useful. To the saying are sometimes added the words — or why do folks marry ?
two is a company; three is a crowd
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
two is company, but three is a crowd
A small group is enjoyable, but one more person makes it awkward
two is company, three is none. (19th century)
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
two lamps burning and no ship at sea
A situation where there is no apparent explanation or reason
two left feet
Clumsy or uncoordinated in dancing or movement
two left hands
Clumsy or inept with one's hands
two or more
A fixed-order word pair (irreversible binomial); full definition pending editorial review.
two penn'orth
one's opinion or contribution
two pennies to rub together
having very little money
two pennies' worth
one's opinion or contribution
two sides of the same coin
Two things that are closely related and inseparable
two slips of latinum
A very small amount of money
two steps ahead
Anticipating and preparing for someone's actions or decisions
two tears in a bucket
A small problem compared to a much larger issue
two thieves beating a rogue
A man beating his hands against his sides to warm himself in cold weather; called also beating the booby, and cuffing Jonas.
Two things prolong your life: A quiet heart and a loving wife
A peaceful mind and a loving partner contribute to a long life
two thumbs up
Strong approval or enthusiastic endorsement
two to one
The pawnbroker’s sign of three balls. So called because it is supposed by calculating humourists to be TWO TO ONE against the redemption of a pledged article.
two to one shop
A pawnbroker's: alluding to the three blue balls, the sign of that trade: or perhaps to its being two to one that the goods pledged are never redeemed.
two upon ten
Or TWO PUN’ TEN, an expression used by assistants to each other, in shops, when a customer of suspected honesty makes his appearance. The phrase refers to "two eyes upon ten fingers," shortened as a money term to TWO PUN’ TEN. When a supposed thief is present, one shopman asks the other if that TWO PUN’ (pound) TEN matter was ever settled. The man knows at once what is meant, and keeps a careful watch upon the person being served.
two wrongs (do not) make a right
Harming someone in retaliation is not justified
two-eyed-steak
A red-herring or bloater. Otherwise "Billingsgate pheasant."
two-fisted drinker
Someone who can drink a lot of alcohol
two-handed
Great. A two-handed fellow or wench; a great strapping man orwoman,
two-handed
Expert at fisticuffs. Ambidextrous generally.
two-hit wonder
Someone who achieves success twice, but not sustainably
Two-minute Silence
A cessation of traffic and all other activities for two minutes at 11 a.m. on November llth, to commemorate those who died in World War I. It was first observed in 1919 and discontinued in 1947 when the day was named Remembrance Day in memory of the fallen in both "World Wars, and observed on the Sunday preceding November llth.
two-second rule
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
two-stroke
Coca-Cola.
two-way street
A situation where two parties benefit or contribute equally
twomp
20 U.S. dollars' worth of marijuana.
twopenny
The head; "tuck in your TWOPENNY," bend down your head.
twopenny-halfpenny
Paltry, insignificant. A TWOPENNY-HALFPENNY fellow, a not uncommon expression of contempt.
twopenny-hops
Low dancing rooms, the price of admission to which was formerly twopence. The clog hornpipe, the pipe dance, flash jigs, and hornpipes in fetters, à la Jack Sheppard, were the favourite movements, all entered into with great spirit.
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