turn the other cheek
To respond to aggression or insult non-violently and peacefully
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turn the page
Move on from a difficult experience
turn the scale
To tip the balance in favor of something
turn the screw
to increase pressure or tension on someone
turn the tables
To reverse a situation, gaining the upper hand
turn the tide
To change the course of a situation to one's favor
turn to dust
To decay or disintegrate completely
turn to good account
Use something to one's advantage
turn turtle
to capsize or turn upside down
turn two
to work two jobs, often simultaneously
turn up
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
turn up
A street fight; a sudden leaving, or making off. An unexpected slice of luck. Among sporting men bookmakers are said to have a TURN UP when an unbacked horse wins.
turn up for the book
to happen unexpectedly and conveniently
turn up one's nose
To show disdain or contempt for something
turn up the volume on
Increase attention or pressure on something
turn up trumps
To have a successful or advantageous outcome
turn upside down
Completely change or reverse something
turn your face toward the sun and the shadows fall behind you
Focus on the positive and negative things will be left behind
turn-out
Personal show or appearance; a man with a showy carriage and horses is said to have a good TURN-OUT.
turn-over
An apprentice who finishes with a second master the indentures he commenced with another, who has died or become bankrupt.
turncoat
One who has changed his party from interested motives.
turned over
Remanded by the magistrate or judge for want of evidence.
turned up
Acquitted; discharged.
turning point
A moment that changes the course of events
turnip
An old-fashioned watch, so called from its general appearance, if of silver. Also called "a frying-pan." Old-fashioned gold watches are called "warming-pans."
turnip-pated
White or fair-haired.
turnpike man
A parson; because the clergy collect their tolls at our entrance into and exit from the world.
turnpike sailors
Beggars who go about dressed as sailors. A sarcastic reference to the scene of their chief voyages.
turtle head
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
turtle up
to withdraw or become defensive
turtleneck
A foreskin.
turtles
Gloves.
tuscan peasants
The word is from tornare (to return). I'll tell him the white, and the green, and the red.
tuscan sign for one thousand
D with a dash over it (D) is 5,000. D.O. (Letter). Demi-official. A British War Office term for a letter on official business but addressed personally from one officer to another.
tusheroon
A crown piece, five shillings. Otherwise a bull or cartwheel.
tussle
A row, struggle, fight, or argument.
twaddle
Perplexity, confusion, or any thing else: a fashionable term that for a while succeeded that of BORE. See BORE.
tweague
In a great tweague: in a great passion. Tweaguey; peevish, passionate.
tweak on
To attack.
Tweedledum and Tweedledee
Names invented by John Byrom (1692-1763) to satirize two quarrelling schools of musicians between whom the real difference was negligible. Hence used of people whose persons or opinions — are "as like as two peas." Some say compared to Bononcini That mynheer Handel's but a mnny; Others aver that he to Handel Is scarcely tit to hold a candle. Strange all this difference should be Twixt Tweedledum and Tweedledee.
Twelfth Night
January 5th, the eve of Twelfth Day, or the Feast of the Epiphany, twelve days after Christmas, Jan. 6th. Formerly this was a time of great merrymaking, and the games that took place were, with little doubt, a survival of the old Roman Saturnalia, which was held at the same season. By the Julian calendar Twelfth Day is Old Christmas Day.
Twelve Apostles
The last twelve names on the poll or list of ordinary degrees were so called, when the list was arranged in order of merit, and not alphabetically, as now; they were also called the Chosen Twelve. The last of the twelve was designated "St. Paul," from a play on the verse 1 Cor. xv, 9. The same term was later applied to the last twelve in the Mathematical Tripos.
twelve-note music
A modern system of musical composition in which the twelve notes of the chromatic scale have each exactly the same importance, not being centred round any one tone. By a selected order of tones these are unified for any given composition.
twelve-ounce curls
bicep curls with light weights
twelver
A shilling.
twenty to the dozen
Talking quickly and excessively
twenty winks
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
twenty-twenty hindsight
Understanding a situation clearly after it has happened
twice-laid
A dish made out of cold fish and potatoes.—Sea. Compare BUBBLE AND SQUEAK, and RESURRECTION PIE.
twiddle one's thumbs
To wait idly or impatiently with nothing to do
twiddle poop
An effeminate looking fellow.
twig
Style. Prime TWIG, in good order and high spirits.
twilight industry
A business or activity that operates in a gray area of legality
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.
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