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[tongue] See: AT THE TIP OF ONE’S TONGUE, CAT GET ONE’S TONGUE, HOLD ONE’S TONGUE, KEEP A CIVIL TONGUE IN ONE’S HEAD, SLIP OF THE TONGUE.

[tongue-in-cheek]{adj. phr.} In an ironic or insincere manner. •/When the faculty complained about the poor salary increments, the university’s president said that he was not a psychiatrist, thus making an inappropriate tongue-in-cheek remark./

[tongue-lashing]{n.} A sharp scolding or criticism. •/Jim’s mother gave him a tongue-lashing for telling family secrets./ Syn.: PIECE OF ONE’S MIND.

[tongues wag]{informal} People speak in an excited or gossipy manner; people spread rumors. •/If married women go out with other men, tongues will wag./ •/When the bank clerk showed up in an expensive new car, tongues wagged./

[tongue-tied] See: TIGHT-LIPPED.

[tongue twister]{n.} A word or group of words difficult to pronounce whose meaning is irrelevant compared to the difficulty of enunciation. •/"She sells sea shells by the seashore" is a popular American tongue twister./

[to no avail] or [of no avail(1)]{adj. phr.}, {formal} Having no effect; useless, unsuccessful. •/Tom’s practicing was of no avail. He was sick on the day of the game./ •/Mary’s attempts to learn embroidering were to no avail./

[to no avail(2)]{adv. phr.}, {formal} Without result; unsuccessfully. •/John tried to pull the heavy cart, but to no avail./ •/Mary studied hard for the test but to no avail./ Compare: IN VAIN.

[too] See: EAT ONE’S CAKE AND HAVE IT TOO.

[too bad]{adj.} To be regretted; worthy of sorrow or regret; regrettable. — Used as a predicate. •/It is too bad that we are so often lazy./ •/It was too bad Bill had measles when the circus came to town./

[too big for one’s breeches] or [too big for one’s boots]{adj. phr.} Too sure of your own importance; feeling more important than you really are. •/That boy had grown too big for his breeches. I’ll have to put him back in his place./ •/When the teacher made Bob a monitor, he got too big for his boots and she had to warn him./

[too ---- by half]{adj.} ({princ. British}) Much too; excessively. •/The heroine of the story is too nice by half; she is not believable./

[too close for comfort]{adj. phr.} Perilously near (said of bad things). •/When the sniper’s bullet hit the road the journalist exclaimed, "Gosh, that was too close for comfort!"/ Compare: CLOSE CALL, CLOSE SHAVE.

[too many cooks spoil the broth] or [stew] A project is likely to go bad if managed by a multiplicity of primary movers. — A proverb. •/When several people acted all at once in trying to reshape the company’s investment policy, Tom spoke up and said, "Let me do this by myself! Don’t you know that too many cooks spoil the broth?"/

[too many irons in the fire] See: IRONS IN THE FIRE.

[to one] See: TEN TO ONE, TWO TO ONE.

[to oneself(1)]{adv. phr.} 1. Silently; in the thoughts; without making a sign that others can see; secretly. •/Tom thought to himself that he could win./ •/Mary said to herself that Joan was prettier than Ann./ •/Bill laughed to himself when John fell down./ 2. Without telling others; in private; as a secret. — Used after "keep". •/Mary keeps her affairs to herself./ •/John knew the answer to the problem, but he kept it to himself./

[to oneself(2)]{adj. phr.} 1. Without company; away from others; alone; deserted. •/The boys went home and John was left to himself./ •/When Mary first moved to her new neighborhood she was very shy and kept to herself./ 2. Following one’s own beliefs or wishes; not stopped by others. •/When John insisted on going, Fred left him to himself./ •/The teacher left Mary to herself to solve the problem./

[to one’s face]{adv. phr.} Directly to you; in your presence. •/I told him to his face that I didn’t like the idea./ •/I called him a coward to his face./ Compare: IN ONE’S FACE. Contrast: BEHIND ONE’S BACK.

[to one’s feet]{adv. phr.} To a standing position; up. •/After Henry had been tackled hard by four big players, he got to his feet slowly and painfully./ •/When Sally saw the bus coming, she jumped to her feet and ran out./ Compare: ON ONE’S FEET.

[to one’s guns] See: STICK TO ONE’S GUNS.

[to one’s heart’s content]{adv. phr.} To the extent of one’s wishes; one’s complete satisfaction. •/There is a wonderful small restaurant nearby where you can eat to your heart’s content./

[to one’s heels] See: TAKE TO ONE’S HEELS.

[to one’s name]{adv. phr.} In your ownership; of your own; as part of your belongings. •/David did not have a book to his name./ •/Ed had only one suit to his name./

[to one’s ribs] See: STICK TO ONE’S RIBS.

[to one’s senses] See: COME TO ONE’S SENSES.

[to order]{adv. phr.} According to directions given in an order in the way and size wanted. •/The manufacturer built the machine to order./ •/A very big man often has his suits made to order./ 2. See: CALL TO ORDER.

[tooth] See: BY THE SKIN OF ONE’S TEETH, CUT TEETH or CUT EYETEETH, EYE FOR AN EYE AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH, FED TO THE GILLS or FED TO THE TEETH, GET ONE’S TEETH INTO or SINK ONE’S TEETH INTO, KICK IN THE PANTS or KICK IN THE TEETH, PULL ONE’S TEETH, SET ONE’S TEETH ON EDGE, TAKE THE BIT IN ONE’S TEETH, THROW SOMETHING IN ONE’S FACE or THROW SOMETHING IN ONE’S TEETH.