Tell the truth and shame the Devil (Shakespeare, Henry IV)
Honesty is the best policy, even if it's uncomfortable
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tell you the truth
To speak honestly and sincerely
temper temper
Calm down, don't be angry
tempest in a teapot
A small event causing excessive commotion
Temple Bar
The old Fleet Street gateway into the City, formerly situated close to the entrance into the Temple, on the spot now marked by the monument known as the "Griffin." It was built by Wren in 1670, and was removed and re-erected in private grounds at Theobalds Park, Cheshunt, Herts, in 1878. It was long used for the exhibition of the heads of traitors and conspirators, and was hence sometimes called "the City Golgotha.
temple of immensity
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
temple pickling
Pumping a bailiff; a punishment formerly administered to any of that fraternity caught exercising their functions within the limits of Temple.
tempt fate
To take a risk that is likely to have bad consequences
ten a penny
Very common or abundant
ten in the hundred
An usurer; more than five in the hundred being deemed usurious interest.
ten to one
very likely or probable
ten-cent word
A word used to impress others with one's vocabulary
ten-dollar word
A word used to impress others with one's vocabulary
tenant at will
One who can at any moment be dispossessed of his tenancy at the will of the landlord or lessor.
tenant by frank-marriage
One holding lands or tenements by virtue of a gift thereof made to him upon his marriage,
tenant for life
A married man; i.e. possessed of a woman for life.
tench
The Penitentiary, of which it is a contraction. See STEEL.
tend to be something
Have a natural tendency or inclination
tend to do something
have a habit or inclination to do something
tender parnell
A tender creature, fearful of the least puff of wind or drop of rain. As tender as Parnell, who broke her finger in a posset drink.
tennis is of great age
The king of France sent Henry V a box of tennis balls; all modern courts are modelled on that in which Henry
tenpenny nails
Large-sized nails, originally so called because they were sold at lOd. a hundred. Smaller nails used to be known as eightpenny, sixpenny, fourpenny nails.
tent peg
An egg.
tentpole movie
A highly anticipated film expected to attract large audiences
term of years
A specific period of time
term of years absolute
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
term of years determinable
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
term out
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
termagant
An outrageous scold from Termagantes, a cruel Pagan, formerly represented in diners shows and entertainments, where being dressed a la Turque, in long clothes, he was mistaken for a furious woman.
terra firma
Solid ground, a safe or stable place
terra firma
Dry land, in opposition to water; the continents as distinguished from islands. The Venetians so called the mainland of Italy under their sway, and the continental parts of America belonging to Spain were called by the same term.
Territorial Army
The British home defence force which, in 1908, superseded the old Militia, Yeomanry, and Volunteers, on a territorial basis.
territorial pissing
Marking something as one's own to assert dominance or ownership
Terry Alts
Insurgents of Clare, who appeared after the Union (1798) and committed numer- ous outrages. These rebels were similar to "the Thrashers" of Connaught, "the Carders," and the followers of "Captain Rock" in 1822.
tertium quid
A third party which shall be nameless; a third thing resulting from the combination of two things, but different from both.
Terza Rima
An Italian verse-form in triplets, the second line rhyming with the first and third of the succeeding triplet. In the first triplet lines 1 and 3 rhyme, and in the last there is an extra line, rhyming with its second.
Test Act
An Act of Parliament directed against Roman Catholics and Nonconformists, especi- ally that of 1673, which decreed that all holders of public offices must take the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, receive the Church of England sacrament, renounce the doctrine of Transubstantiation, etc. It was repealed in 1828.
test bed
A place or situation for trying new ideas or methods
Test Match
In cricket, one of the matches played in a series between two national teams.
test someone's patience
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
test the waters
To try something new cautiously to see how it will be received
Testament and the Apocrypha
It was quickly superseded by the Great Bible (<7-v,), but it is of importance as it formed the starting-point
testamur
The slip of paper on which the examiners testify (testari) to the fact that the candidate has satisfied their requirements.—University.
tester
A sixpence: from TESTON, a coin with a head on it.
tester
Sixpence. From TESTONE, a shilling in the reign of Henry VIII., but a sixpence in the time of Queen Elizabeth.—Shakspeare. French, TESTE, or TÊTE, the head of the monarch on the coin.
Tetramund and Ortrud
He arrives at Antwerp in a skiff drawn by a swan, champions Elsa, and becomes her husband on the sole condition that she shall not ask his name or lineage. She is prevailed upon to do so on the marriage- night, and he, by his vows to the Grail, is obliged to disclose his identity, but at the same time disappears.
Teutonic Cross
A cross potent, the badge of the order of Teutonic Knights. See POTENT.
Teutonic Knights
An order which arose at the time of the Crusades. Originally only Germans of noble birth were admitted to the order. Abolished by Napoleon in 1809, it was revived again in Austria in 1840.
teviss
A shilling. Costermongers’ and tramps’ term.
Texas Rangers
A constabulary force enlisted in Texas in 1835 to control the lawlessness of cattle-thieves and other outlaws, and the hostile Indians.
Texas tea
Crude oil.
textbook case
A perfect example of something
Thakur Sahib
The title of the native ruler of Gondal, India. Tsar (from Lat. Ccesar i cp. KAISER). The popular title of the former Emperors of Russia (assumed in 1547 by Ivan the Terrible), but officially his only as King of Poland and a few other parts of his Empire. His wife was the Tsarina, his son the Tsarevich, and his daughter the Tsarevna.
thames
He will not find out a way to set the Thames on fire; he will not make any wonderful discoveries, he is no conjuror.
than a bygod
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
thank one's lucky stars
To feel grateful for good fortune
thank you
Expressing gratitude or appreciation
thank you very much
Expressing strong gratitude
thanks a bunch
used to express sarcastic thanks
thanks for nothing
used to express annoyance or displeasure at someone's unhelpful action
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