[swelled head]{n.}, {informal} A feeling that you are very important or more important than you really are. •/When John won the race, he got a swelled head./ •/Pretty girls shouldn’t get a swelled head about it./ — [swell-headed] {adj. phr.} •/After he was elected captain of the team, Bob became swell-headed./ Compare: BIG HEAD.
[swell-headed] See: SWELLED HEAD.
[swim] See: IN THE SWIM, SINK OR SWIM.
[swim against the current] or [swim against the stream] {v. phr.} To do the opposite of what most people want to do; go against the way things are happening; struggle upstream. •/The boy who tries to succeed today without an education is swimming against the stream./
[swine] See: CAST PEARLS BEFORE SWINE or CAST ONE’S PEARLS BEFORE SWINE.
[swing] See: IN FULL SWING.
[swing one’s weight]{v. phr.} To use your personal power to get something done •/The President swings his weight to get laws passed./ •/Mr. Thomas swung his weight to get his son a job with the company./
[switch] See: ASLEEP AT THE SWITCH.
[switched on]{adj.}, {slang} 1. In tune with the latest fads, ideas, and fashions. •/I dig Sarah, she is really switched on./ 2. Stimulated; as if under the influence of alcohol or drugs. •/How come you’re talking so fast? Are you switched on or something?/
[swoop] See: AT ONE FELL SWOOP.
[sword] See: AT SWORDS' POINTS, PUT TO THE SWORD.
[sword rattling] See: SABER RATTLING.
[sworn enemies]{n. phr.} People or groups or nations that have a long-standing dislike for each other. •/The Israelis and the Arabs used to be sworn enemies but hopefully they will sign a lasting peace accord./
[syllable] See: WORDS OF ONE SYLLABLE.
[system] See: PUBLIC-ADDRESS SYSTEM.
[T] See: TO A T.
[tab] See: KEEP TAB ON or KEEP TABS ON.
[table] See: AT THE TABLE or AT TABLE, COFFEE TABLE, PUT ONE’S CARDS ON THE TABLE or LAY ONE’S CARDS ON THE TABLE, TURN THE TABLES, WAIT AT TABLE or WAIT ON TABLE.
[tack] See: GET DOWN TO BRASS TACKS, GO SIT ON A TACK, SHARP AS A TACK.
[tackle] See: FLYING TACKLE
[tack on]{v. phr.} To append; add. •/We were about to sign the contract when we discovered that the lawyer had tacked on a codicil that was not acceptable to us./
[tag end] or [tail end] {n.}, {informal} The end, farthest to the rear, last in line, nearest the bottom, or least important. •/John was at the tail end of his class./ •/Mary’s part in the play came at the tag end, and she got bored waiting./ •/Bill waited at the crossing for the tag end of a freight to go by./
[tail] See: COW’S TAIL, HEADS I WIN, TAILS YOU LOSE, MAKE HEAD OR TAIL OF, TURN TAIL.
[tail between one’s legs]{n. phr.} State of feeling beaten, ashamed, or very obedient, as after a scolding or a whipping. •/The army sent the enemy home with their tails between their legs./ •/The boys on the team had boasted they would win the tournament, but they went home with their tails between their legs./ (So called because a beaten dog usually puts his tail down between his legs and slinks away.)
[tail end] See: TAG END.
[taillight]{n.} The rear red light of a car. •/My father was fined $15 for driving without a taillight./
[tailor-made] See: MADE-TO-MEASURE.
[tailspin] See: GO INTO A TAILSPIN.
[tail wags the dog] Said of situations in which a minor part is in control of the whole. •/He is just a minor employee at the firm, yet he gives everyone orders, a case of the tail wagging the dog./
[take] See: CAN TAKE IT WITH ONE, GIVE AND TAKE, GIVE ONE AN INCH AND HE WILL TAKE A MILE, GIVE OR TAKE, SIT UP AND TAKE NOTICE.
[take aback] See: TAKEN BACK.
[take a back seat]{v. phr.}, {informal} To accept a poorer or lower position; be second to something or someone else. •/During the war all manufacturing had to take a back seat to military needs./ •/She does not have to take a back seat to any singer alive./ Compare: PLAY SECOND FIDDLE.
[take a bath]{v. phr.}, {informal} To come to financial ruin. •/Boy, did we ever take a bath on that merger with Brown & Brown, Inc./
[take a bow]{v. phr.} To stand up or come on a stage to be clapped for or praised for success. •/The audience shouted for the author of the play to take a bow./ •/The basketball team should take a bow for fine work this season./
[take a break]{v. phr.} To have a brief rest period during the course of one’s work. •/"You’ve worked hard. It’s time to take a break," the boss said./
[take a chance]{v. phr.} To accept the risk of failure or loss. •/We will take a chance on the weather and have the party outdoors./
[take a crack at]{v. phr.} To try doing something. •/It was a difficult challenge to reorganize our antiquated campus, but the resident architect decided to take a crack at it./
[take a dig at]{v. phr.} To attack verbally; offend; denigrate. •/If you keep taking digs at me all the time, our relationship will be a short one./
[take a dim view of]{v. phr.} 1. To have doubts about; feel unsure or anxious about. •/Tom took a dim view of his chances of passing the exam./ •/Betty hoped to go on a picnic, but she took a dim view of the weather./ 2. To be against; disapprove. •/John’s father took a dim view of his wanting to borrow the car./ •/The teacher took a dim view of the class’s behavior./
[take a dislike to] Contrast: TAKE A FANCY TO.
[take a drop]{v. phr.} 1. To indulge in alcoholic drinks. •/Aunt Liz doesn’t really drink; she just takes a drop every now and then./ 2. To lose value; decrease in price. •/Stocks took a big drop yesterday due to the international crisis./
[take advantage of]{v. phr.} 1. To make good use of. •/The cat took advantage of the high grass to creep up on the bird./ •/Jean took advantage of the lunch hour to finish her homework./ 2. To treat (someone) unfairly for your own gain or help; make unfair use of. •/He took advantage of his friend’s kindness./ •/The little children did not know how much to pay for the candy, and Ralph took advantage of them./ Syn.: IMPOSE ON.
[take after]{v.} To be like because of family relationship; to have the same looks or ways as (a parent or ancestor). •/He takes after his father in mathematical ability./ •/She takes after her father’s side of the family in looks./ Compare: LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON; RUN IN THE FAMILY.
[take a fancy to]{v. phr.} To become fond of; cultivate a predilection for. •/Aunt Hermione has taken a fancy to antique furniture./
[take a flop]{v. phr.} To fall heavily. •/I took a nasty flop on the ice-covered sidewalk./
[take aim]{v. phr.} To get ready to hit, throw at, or shoot at by sighting carefully. •/When the captain orders "Take aim," raise your gun to your shoulder and sight along the barrel at the target./ •/Before the hunter could take aim, the deer jumped out of sight./
[take a hand in]{v. phr.} To assist in the direction of; participate. •/The University Faculty Club decided to take a hand in helping the recent refugees./
[take a hard line with] See: HARD LINE, HARD-LINER.
[take a hike] See: GO FLY A KITE.
[take a hint]{v. phr.} To understand an allusion or a suggestion and behave accordingly. •/"I don’t like people who smoke," she said. "Can’t you take a hint and either quit smoking or seeing me?"/
[take a joke]{v. phr.} Accept in good spirit some derision directed at oneself. •/My brother has a good sense of humor when teasing others, but he cannot take a joke on himself./
[take a liking to] See: TAKE A FANCY TO.
[take a load off one’s feet]{v. phr.} To alleviate one’s fatigue by sitting down during some taxing work. •/"You’ve been standing there for hours, Jake," John said. "Why don’t you take a load off your feet?"/
[take a long breath] See: DRAW A LONG BREATH.
[take amiss] or [the wrong way] {v. phr.} To become offended due to a misunderstanding. •/"I hope you won’t take it amiss," the boss said to Jane, "that I find you irresistibly attractive."/
[take a new turn]{v. phr.} To start a new course; decide upon a new direction. •/The company took a new turn under Jack’s directorship./
[take a nose dive]{v. phr.} To plummet; fall sharply. •/The stock market took a nose dive after the news of the President’s heart attack./
[take a notion] See: TAKE INTO ONE’S HEAD.
[take apart]{v. phr.} To dismantle; disassemble. •/Boys like taking radios and watches apart, but they seldom know how to put them back together again./
[take a poke at] See: TAKE A PUNCH AT.
[take a pot shot at] See: POTSHOT.
[take a powder]{v. phr.}, {slang} To leave hurriedly; run out or away; desert, flee. •/All the gang except one had taken a powder when the police arrived./
[take a punch at] or [take a poke at] or [take a sock at] {v. phr.} To try to hit (someone) with the fist; swing or strike at; attack with the fists. •/Bob was very angry and suddenly he took a punch at Fred./ •/Johnny knocked my hat off, so I took a poke at him./ •/I felt like taking a sock at Joe, but I kept my temper./
[take a risk] See: RUN A RISK.
[take a shine to]{v. phr.}, {slang} To have or show a quick liking for. •/He took a shine to his new teacher the very first day./ Compare: TAKE A FANCY TO.
[take a shot at]{v. phr.} To try casually; attempt to do. •/"Can you handle all these new book orders?" Tom asked. "I haven’t done it before," Sally replied, "but I can sure take a shot at it."/
[take a sock at] See: TAKE A PUNCH AT.
[take a spill]{v. phr.} To fall down; tip over. •/During the harsh winter, when the sidewalk is covered with ice, many people take a spill./
[take at one’s word]{v. phr.} To believe everything (someone) says; to act on what is said. •/If you say you don’t want this coat, I’ll take you at your word and throw it away./ •/When the king said he wished to be rid of his advisor, a friend took him at his word and murdered the councillor./
[take a stand]{v. phr.} To assert one’s point. of view; declare one’s position. •/It is time for American society to take a stand against crime./
[take a turn]{v. phr.} To become different; change. •/Mary’s fever suddenly took a bad turn./ •/The story took an odd turn./ Often used with "for the better" or "for the worse". •/In the afternoon the weather took a turn for the better./ •/Suddenly the battle took a turn for the worse./
[take a turn for the better]{v. phr.} To start improving; start to get better. •/Aunt Hermione was very ill for a long time, but last week she suddenly took a turn for the better./
[take a turn for the worse] See: FOR THE WORSE. Contrast: TAKE A TURN FOR THE BETTER.
[take a whack at] See: TAKE A SHOT AT.
[take back]{v.} To change or deny something offered, promised, or stated; admit to making a wrong statement. •/I take back my offer to buy the house now that I’ve had a good look at it./ •/I want you to take back the unkind things you said about Kenneth./
[take by storm]{v. phr.} 1. To capture by a sudden or very bold attack. •/The army did not hesitate. They took the town by storm./ 2. To win the favor or liking of; make (a group of people) like or believe you. •/The comic took the audience by storm./ •/John gave Jane so much attention that he took her by storm, and she said she would marry him./ Compare: MAKE A HIT.
