twist and turn
to have many unexpected changes or developments
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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.
tyburn blossom
A young thief or pickpocket, who in time will ripen into fruit borne by the deadly never-green.
Tyburn Ticket
A certificate which, under a statute of William III, was granted to prosecutors who had secured a capital con- viction against a criminal, exempting them from all parish and ward offices within the parish in which the felony had been committed. This, with the privilege it conferred, might be sold once, and once only, and the Stamford Mercury for March 27th, 1818, announced the sale of one for £280. The Act was repealed by 58 Geo. Ill, c. 70.
tyburn tippet
A halter; see Latimer's sermon before. Edward VI. A. D. 1549.
tyburnia
The Portman and Grosvenor Square district. It is facetiously divided by the Londoners into "Tyburnia Felix," "Tyburnia Deserta," and "Tyburnia Snobbica." The old gallows at Tyburn stood near the N.E. corner of Hyde Park, at the angle formed by the Edgware Road and the top of Oxford Street. In 1778 this was two miles out of London.
tye
Or TIE, a neckerchief. Proper hosiers’ term now, but slang thirty years ago, and as early as 1718.
tyke
A dog, also a clown; a Yorkshire tyke.
tyke
A Yorkshireman. Term used by themselves, as well as by Southerners, in reference to them.
Tyler's Insurrection
An armed rebellion of peasants in southern England in 1381, led by Wat Tyler (an Essex man), in consequence of discontent aroused by the Statute of Labourers, and the heavy taxation, especially a poll-tax of three groats to defray the expenses of a war with France. Wat Tyler was slain by Sir William Walworth, the Lord Mayor, at Smith- field, the revolt was crushed, and many of the rebels executed.
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