Important idioms and phrases which start with the letter ‘T and U’
Take one’s chance (on something)
Meaning: Venture on.
Example: She is not much confident of becoming the general manager of the company, but, she shall take a chance to impress upon the CMD.
Take a risk
Meaning: Put oneself in danger.
Example: “Don’t take a risk of your life by indulging in dangerous water sports,” said his friend.
Take a turn
Meaning: Become different, change.
Example: Her entire personality took a turn within a year.
Take aback
Meaning: Greatly surprised.
Example: She was taken aback when her young son refused to live with her.
Take advantage of
Meaning: Treat unfairly for one’s own gain.
Example: Don’t take advantage of your innocent mother’s feelings for you.
Take after
Meaning: Resemble in built, character, features, or disposition.
Example: She takes after her mother in dancing ability.
Take (somebody) at his word
Meaning: Believe.
Example: Don’t take him at his word. He is a cheater.
Take away
Meaning: Cause to cease.
Example: Don’t worry. Pray to God. Prayer shall take away all the troubles of your life.
Take a cue
Meaning: Get a hint.
Example: You must take a cue from your mother, that she doesn’t like your interference in the family disputes.
Take heart
Meaning: Feel encouraged.
Example: Take heart and cross the difficulties of life bravely.
Take in
Meaning: Decieve.
Example: She was taken in by his false stories he has made up to take advantage of her.
Take in hand
Meaning: Undertake.
Example: She has taken up many assignments in hand.
Take on trust
Meaning: Believe without evidence or proof.
Example: Don’t take him on trust. He might be befooling you.
Take one’s fancy
Meaning: Charm.
Example: The diamond ring took her fancy and she bought it for a ten thousand rupees.
Take orders
Meaning: Become a priest.
Example: There are some good people, who take orders to bring discipline in the society.
Take pot luck
Meaning: Eat whatever is cooked without previous invitation.
Example: Why are you going to the hotel for lunch? Come to my house and take pot luck.
Take stock of
Meaning: Examine or assess.
Example: The police was taking the stock of the situation, when the accident took place.
Take to heart
Meaning: Feel grieved.
Example: She took her father’s death to heart and refused to eat or drink for days together.
Take to one’s heels
Meaning: Run away.
Example: The thief took to his heels, when he saw police coming.
Take to task
Meaning: Punish.
Example: You mother shall take you to task if you shall tease your younger sister.
Tall story
Meaning: Exaggerated story’.
Example: She told us tall story about her achievements in swimming.
Throw cold water on
Meaning: Discourage.
Example: She threw cold water on her sister’s plans to open up a botique.
Throw down the gauntlet
Meaning: Throw down the challenge.
Example: In the past, the kings used to throw down the gaunlet to other kings in order to win over their territories.
Throw dust in the eyes of
Meaning: Decieve.
Example: He is adept of throwing dust in the eyes of his innocent wife.
Through thick and thin
Meaning: Under all circumstances.
Example: She is a faithful wife, she stood by him through thick and thin.
Topsy-turvy
Meaning: Upside down.
Example: The mad man turned everything topsy-turvy.
Turn the tables down
Meaning: To reverse the position.
Example: She tried to insult me in the public, but my mother turned the table down by revealing all about her dishonest practices.
Turn up one’s nose at
Meaning: Show contempt for.
Example: She turned up her nose, when her friend suggested her to remain a spinster.
Idioms that start with U
Under age
Meaning: Too young.
Example: He was not allowed to get married as he was underage.
Under the thumb of
Meaning: Under the control of.
Example: She is under the thumb of her elder sister.
Up and down
Meaning: Rising andfalling, backward and forward.
Example: The doctor told her to walk up and down to get well soon.
Up in the air
Meaning: In great excitement or anger.
Example: He was up in the air, when he came to know that his son has left the house.
Up one’s sleeve
Meaning: Hidden.
Example: She began to laugh up in her sleeve, when she saw her husband’s half shaved moustaches.
Up to the mark
Meaning: Coming up to a certain standard.
Example: The manager told her to bring her work up to the mark, if she wanted a promotion.
Ups and down
Meaning: Prosperity and adversity.
Example: He has seen many ups and down in life, that is why he has gained so much wisdom.
(Be) used to
Meaning: In the habit of.
Example: I am used to giving alms to poor people.