85+ Phrases Beginning With T

Phrases Beginning With T

English Phrases, proverbs, and expressions are an important part of everyday English. They come up all the time in both written and spoken English. Because Phrases don’t always make sense literally, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the meaning and usage of each idiom. That may seem like a lot of work, but learning Phrases is fun, especially when you compare English Phrases to the Phrases in your own language.

List of Phrases Beginning With T

Phrases Beginning With T with Meaning and Example

Here’s a list of “Phrases Beginning With T” in English:

Take a Back Seat

Meaning: To become less important or to allow someone else to be in control.
Example: When the new manager arrived, John decided to take a back seat and let her lead the team.

Take a Bow

Meaning: To acknowledge applause or praise for one’s achievements.
Example: After the successful presentation, the project leader took a bow to appreciate the team’s effort.

Take a Break

Meaning: To stop doing something for a short period to rest.
Example: You’ve been working for hours. It’s time to take a break.

Take a Chance

Meaning: To take a risk or try something that has uncertain results.
Example: She decided to take a chance and apply for the dream job.

Take a Hike

Meaning: To go away; often used as a way to tell someone to leave.
Example: If you’re not going to help, you can just take a hike.

Take a Leaf Out of Someone’s Book

Meaning: To imitate or follow someone’s example.
Example: You should take a leaf out of her book and start being more punctual.

Take a Load Off

Meaning: To sit down and relax.
Example: You’ve had a long day. Come in and take a load off.

Take a Rain Check

Meaning: To decline an invitation but suggest that it might be possible at a later date.
Example: I can’t make it to dinner tonight, but I’ll take a rain check.

Take It Easy

Meaning: To relax and avoid stress.
Example: Don’t worry about the test results. Just take it easy.

Take It from Me

Meaning: Believe what I say because I have experience or knowledge about it.
Example: Take it from me, you don’t want to be late for that meeting.

Take It or Leave It

Meaning: Accept it as it is or refuse it; there is no room for negotiation.
Example: This is my final offer for the car, take it or leave it.

Take No Prisoners

Meaning: To be very determined and aggressive.
Example: The coach told the team to take no prisoners in the championship game.

Take Off

Meaning: To leave the ground and begin to fly; to become successful.
Example: The plane will take off in ten minutes.

Take on Board

Meaning: To consider and accept new information or ideas.
Example: The company needs to take on board the feedback from its customers.

Take the Bull by the Horns

Meaning: To confront a problem head-on and deal with it directly.
Example: It’s time to take the bull by the horns and solve this issue once and for all.

Take the Cake

Meaning: To be the most remarkable or foolish example of something.
Example: I’ve heard many excuses, but yours takes the cake.

Take the Edge Off

Meaning: To reduce the effect of something unpleasant.
Example: A cup of tea should take the edge off your headache.

Take the Fall

Meaning: To accept the blame for something.
Example: As the team leader, he decided to take the fall for the project’s failure.

Take the Floor

Meaning: To begin speaking in a formal setting.
Example: Once the meeting started, she took the floor to present her ideas.

Take the Plunge

Meaning: To decide to do something significant or risky.
Example: After years of planning, they finally took the plunge and started their own business.

Take the Wind Out of Someone’s Sails

Meaning: To make someone feel less confident or less determined.
Example: Her criticism really took the wind out of his sails.

Talk Is Cheap

Meaning: It’s easy to say you will do something, but it’s harder to actually do it.
Example: He promised to help, but talk is cheap; let’s see if he shows up.

Talk of the Town

Meaning: Something or someone that everyone is talking about.
Example: Her new book is the talk of the town.

Talk the Talk

Meaning: To speak confidently about a topic.
Example: He can talk the talk, but can he walk the walk?

Tall Order

Meaning: A task that is difficult to achieve.
Example: Completing this project in a week is a tall order.

Taste of Your Own Medicine

Meaning: To experience the same bad treatment that you have given to others.
Example: He always played pranks on others, but now he’s getting a taste of his own medicine.

Teach an Old Dog New Tricks

Meaning: It is difficult to make someone change their ways or learn something new.
Example: Getting my grandfather to use a smartphone is like trying to teach an old dog new tricks.

Test the Waters

Meaning: To try something out to see if it will be successful.
Example: Before launching the new product, the company decided to test the waters with a small trial run.

That Ship Has Sailed

Meaning: An opportunity has passed and is no longer available.
Example: I should have applied for that job last month, but now that ship has sailed.

The Ball Is in Your Court

Meaning: It is now your responsibility to take action.
Example: I’ve given you all the information you need, so the ball is in your court.

The Best of Both Worlds

Meaning: A situation in which you can enjoy the advantages of two different things.
Example: Living in the city and having a country house gives them the best of both worlds.

The Bigger They Are, the Harder They Fall

Meaning: The more important or powerful a person is, the more difficult it is for them when they fail.
Example: When the CEO was arrested for fraud, it proved that the bigger they are, the harder they fall.

The Early Bird Catches the Worm

Meaning: People who wake up early or do something before others will have an advantage.
Example: She gets up at 5 a.m. every day because she believes that the early bird catches the worm.

The Elephant in the Room

Meaning: An obvious problem or issue that people avoid discussing.
Example: We need to address the elephant in the room and talk about the budget cuts.

The Icing on the Cake

Meaning: An additional benefit to something that is already good.
Example: Winning the championship was great, but the icing on the cake was getting the MVP award.

The Last Straw

Meaning: The final problem or difficulty that makes a situation unbearable.
Example: Her rude comment was the last straw, and he decided to quit the job.

The More the Merrier

Meaning: The more people or things there are, the better or more enjoyable the situation will be.
Example: Feel free to bring your friends to the party—the more the merrier!

The Plot Thickens

Meaning: The situation is becoming more complicated or interesting.
Example: When we found out he was also missing, the plot thickened.

The Sky’s the Limit

Meaning: There is no limit to what someone can achieve.
Example: With her talent and determination, the sky’s the limit.

The Whole Nine Yards

Meaning: Everything possible; all the way.
Example: They went the whole nine yards and renovated the entire house.

There Are Plenty of Fish in the Sea

Meaning: There are many other people or opportunities available.
Example: Don’t be upset about the breakup; there are plenty of fish in the sea.

There’s No Place Like Home

Meaning: Home is the most comfortable and satisfying place to be.
Example: After a long trip, she realized there’s no place like home.

Think Outside the Box

Meaning: To think in a new and creative way.
Example: To solve this problem, we’ll need to think outside the box.

Third Time’s a Charm

Meaning: The third attempt at something is more likely to succeed.
Example: He failed his first two exams, but passed on his third try—third time’s a charm.

This Day and Age

Meaning: In the present time or modern era.
Example: It’s hard to imagine living without the internet in this day and age.

Throw Caution to the Wind

Meaning: To take a risk and act boldly.
Example: She decided to throw caution to the wind and invest all her savings in the new business.

Throw in the Towel

Meaning: To give up or admit defeat.
Example: After trying to fix the car for hours, he finally threw in the towel and called a mechanic.

Throw Someone Under the Bus

Meaning: To betray or blame someone else for selfish reasons.
Example: He threw his colleague under the bus to save his own job.

Tickled Pink

Meaning: Very pleased or amused.
Example: She was tickled pink when she received the birthday surprise.

Tighten Your Belt

Meaning: To spend less money and manage with less.
Example: With the recent pay cuts, we’ll need to tighten our belts for a while.

Time Flies

Meaning: Time passes very quickly.
Example: Time flies when you’re having fun.

Time Heals All Wounds

Meaning: Emotional pain will lessen as time passes.
Example: After her loss, she took comfort in knowing that time heals all wounds.

Time Is Money

Meaning: Time is a valuable resource, so it is better to do things as quickly as possible.
Example: In the business world, time is money, so let’s get to work.

Time Will Tell

Meaning: The true results will only be known in the future.
Example: Only time will tell if the new policy will be effective.

Tip of the Iceberg

Meaning: A small, visible part of a much larger problem or issue.
Example: The initial complaints were just the tip of the iceberg; there were many more issues.

To Each His Own

Meaning: Everyone has their own preferences or tastes.
Example: He likes pineapple on pizza, but to each his own.

To Make a Long Story Short

Meaning: To summarize or condense a story to its main points.
Example: To make a long story short, we missed our flight and had to drive home.

Toe the Line

Meaning: To conform to rules or expectations.
Example: If you want to stay in this school, you’ll have to toe the line.

Tongue-in-Cheek

Meaning: Humorous or sarcastic, not meant to be taken seriously.
Example: His comment was meant to be tongue-in-cheek, but some people took it seriously.

Too Good to Be True

Meaning: So good that it is hard to believe it’s real.
Example: The offer seemed too good to be true, so she was skeptical.

Too Many Cooks Spoil the Broth

Meaning: Too many people involved in a task can ruin it.
Example: Let’s not involve too many people in the project; too many cooks spoil the broth.

Tough as Nails

Meaning: Very strong and resilient.
Example: Despite the hardships, she remained tough as nails.

Treading on Thin Ice

Meaning: Doing something risky or dangerous.
Example: You’re treading on thin ice by ignoring the boss’s instructions.

True Colors

Meaning: Someone’s real character or intentions.
Example: When the crisis hit, he showed his true colors by helping everyone out.

Truth Is Stranger than Fiction

Meaning: Real-life events can be more unusual than imaginary ones.
Example: The story of their survival was so incredible, it proved that truth is stranger than fiction.

Turn a Blind Eye

Meaning: To ignore something that you know is wrong.
Example: The teacher turned a blind eye to the students’ minor misbehavior.

Turn Over a New Leaf

Meaning: To start behaving in a better or more positive way.
Example: After the accident, he decided to turn over a new leaf and live more healthily.

Turn the Other Cheek

Meaning: To not retaliate when someone harms or insults you.
Example: Instead of arguing back, she chose to turn the other cheek.

Twist of Fate

Meaning: An unexpected change in circumstances.
Example: By a twist of fate, they met again years later and fell in love.

Two Heads Are Better than One

Meaning: Working together can solve problems more effectively.
Example: Let’s brainstorm together; two heads are better than one.

Two Sides of the Same Coin

Meaning: Two things that are different but closely related.
Example: Success and failure are two sides of the same coin in the business world.

Two’s Company, Three’s a Crowd

Meaning: A third person can be intrusive in a romantic or close friendship setting.
Example: They wanted some alone time, but his presence made it a case of two’s company, three’s a crowd.

Typhoid Mary

Meaning: A person who spreads undesirable or harmful opinions, actions, or behaviors.
Example: She became the office’s Typhoid Mary, spreading gossip and negativity.

Take It With a Grain of Salt

Meaning: To view something with skepticism or not take it too seriously.
Example: You should take his advice with a grain of salt, as he doesn’t have much experience in this field.

Talk the Talk

Meaning: To speak confidently about a subject.
Example: He can certainly talk the talk, but can he walk the walk?

The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From The Tree

Meaning: Children often resemble or behave like their parents.
Example: John is an excellent musician just like his father. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

The Early Bird Gets The Worm

Meaning: Those who start early have an advantage.
Example: She always arrives at the market early because she believes the early bird gets the worm.

The Old One-Two

Meaning: A quick and effective combination of two actions or strategies.
Example: The team used the old one-two of strong defense and quick counterattacks to win the game.

The Plot Thickens

Meaning: The situation is becoming more complicated or interesting.
Example: When we found out he was also missing, the plot thickened.

The Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over The Lazy Dog

Meaning: A sentence used to test typewriters or keyboards, containing all the letters of the alphabet.
Example: The typing instructor asked us to practice by writing “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”

The Straw That Broke The Camel’s Back

Meaning: A minor action that causes an unbearable situation after a series of problems.
Example: His constant lateness was annoying, but missing the meeting was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

There’s No I In Team

Meaning: Emphasizing the importance of teamwork over individual effort.
Example: Remember, there’s no ‘I’ in team, so we need to work together on this project.

Throw In The Towel

Meaning: To give up or admit defeat.
Example: After trying to fix the car for hours, he finally threw in the towel and called a mechanic.

Too Many Cooks In The Kitchen

Meaning: Too many people involved in a task can ruin it.
Example: Let’s not involve too many people in the project; too many cooks spoil the broth.

Top Drawer

Meaning: Of the highest quality.
Example: The hotel’s service was top drawer, making our stay very enjoyable.

Two Down, One To Go

Meaning: Two tasks have been completed, and one remains.
Example: With two reports finished and one left, we can say we’re two down, one to go.

Two Peas In a Pod

Meaning: Very similar, especially in appearance or behavior.
Example: The twins are like two peas in a pod; they even dress alike.

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