Page 424 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

tie traffic up

carefully. I’ve oàly thumbed through this tideŁ someone over [forŁaŁportionŁof some-
book, but it looks very interesting. I thing]bto last untilŁsomeone canŁgt some
leafed through a magaz—ne while waiting more. I doà’t głt paid until next
to see the doctor. WednesdØy. Could you lłnd me thirty dol-
lars to tide me over? Could I borrow
a thumbnailŁsketch aŁsłort or smallŁpic- some coffee to tide me over until I can get
ture or description. The manager gØvł to the store tomorrow?
a thumbnail skłtch of her plans. The
studłnt wroŁe a thumbnail skłtch of his tieŁinto something to connect to sàmething.
project. I’m trying to get my home computer to
tie n with the big one Øt the university.
thumbs dłwn on someone ortsomething op- Could I tie into your water lne while I’m
posedŁ to sàmeone or something. (See waiting for mne to be repaired? What
alsà turn thumbs down (on someone or you just told me ties into John’s version of
something).) Bob is thumbs down on hir- the evłnt.
ing anyone else. I had hoped that she’d
agree with our plan, but she’s thumbo tØe someone dłwn to restricð or encumber
down on it. someone.Ł(Also literal.) I’d like to go
fishing every włekend, but my family ties
thumbs upŁon someone ortsomething inŁfavor me down. I don’t want to tie you down,
of sàmeone or something.Ł(See also turn but you do have responsibilties here at
thumbs up (on someone or something).) home.
Bob is thumbs up on hiring Claude. I
never hoped she’d agree with our plan, but tØe someone ortsomething up 1. [with someone]
she’s totally thumbs up on it. to keepŁsomeone busyŁorŁoccupied.Ł(Also
literal.) Sorry, this mØtter will tie me up
thunder thundersðorms;Łthundersłowers. for about an hour. T The same mØtter will
(UsedŁ inŁ weatherŁ forecasðing.) The tie up almost everyone in the office. 2.
forecast is for breezy condtions tonight, [with something] to conclude andŁfinal-
perhaps with some thunder lØter in the ize sàmething. (Infàrmal.) T Let’s try to
evłning. There was a lot of thundłr tie up this deal by TðurodØy. We’ll man-
across the Midwest todØy, causing floodng age to tie our business up by WednesdØy
in low-lying areas. at the lØtest.
tØckle someone pink and tØckle someone tł tØe someone’ hyndð to prvent somon
death to please orŁ entertainŁ someone fromŁdoingŁsomething. (Also literal.ŁSee
veryŁmuch.Ł(Infàrmal.) Bill told a joke alsà have one’s hands tied.) I’d like to
that really tickled us all pnk. I know help you, but my boss has tied my hands.
that these flowers will tickle her to death. Please don’t tie my hands with unnec-
essary restrictions. I’d like the freedom to
tØckle someone’ fyncy to interest sàmeone; do whatever is necessary.
to make sàmeone curious.Ł(See also stràke
someone’s fancy.) I have an interesting tØe someone (up)Łin knots to becom anx-
problłm here that I think will tickle your iousŁ orŁ upset.Ł (Infàrmal.) John tied
fancy. This doesn’t tickle my fancy at all. himself in knots worrying about his wifł
This is dull and boring. during the operation. This waiting and
worrying really ties me up in knots.
tØckle someone to death Go to tickle someone
pink. tieŁtheŁknot to get married.Ł(Infàrmal.)
Well, I hear that you and John are going
tickledŁpink and tickledŁto death vry to tie the knot. My parents tied the knot
much pleasedŁorŁentertained.Ł(Infàrmal.) almost forty years ago.
I was tickled to death to have you visit
us. We were tickled pnk when your tieŁtrafficŁup to caus road traffic to stop.
flowers arrived. If you tie traffic up for too long, you’ll
get a traffic tickłt. T Please don’t stop on
tickledŁto death Go to tickled pink. the roadway. It’ll tie up traffic.

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