[to a conclusion] See: JUMP TO A CONCLUSION.

[to a crisp] See: BURN TO A CRISP.

[to a degree]{adv. phr.} 1. {Chiefly British} Very; to a large extent. •/In some things I am ignorant to a degree./ 2. Somewhat; slightly; in a small way; rather. •/His anger was, to a degree, a confession of defeat./ •/To a degree, Mary was to blame for Bob’s failing mathematics, because he spent much time with her when he should have been studying./

[to advantage]{adv. phr.} So as to bring out the good qualities of; favorably; in a flattering way. •/The jeweler’s window showed the diamonds to advantage./ •/The green dress showed up to advantage with her red hair./

[to a fault]{adv. phr.} So very well that it is in a way bad; to the point of being rather foolish; too well; too much. •/Aunt May wants everything in her house to be exactly right; she is neat to a fault./ •/Mary acts her part to a fault./ •/John carries thoroughness to a fault; he spends many hours writing his reports./

[to a halt] See: GRIND TO A HALT.

[to a large extent] See: IN GREAT MEASURE.

[to all intents and purposes]{adv. phr.} In most ways; in fact. •/The president is called the head of state, but the prime minister, to all intents and purposes, is the chief executive./

[to a man]{adv. phr.} Without exception; with all agreeing. •/The workers voted to a man to go on strike./ •/To a man John’s friends stood by him in his trouble./ Compare: EVERY LAST MAN.

[to and fro]{adv. phr.} Forward and back again and again. •/Father pushed Judy in the swing, and she went to and fro./ •/Busses go to and fro between the center of the city and the city limits/ •/The man walked to and fro while he waited for his phone call./ Compare: BACK AND FORTH.

[to another tune] See: DANCE TO ANOTHER TUNE.

[to a T] or [to a turn] {adv. phr.} Just right; to perfection; exactly. •/The roast was done to a turn./ •/His nickname, Tiny, suited him to a T./ Compare: TO THE LETTER.

[to bat] See: GO TO BAT FOR.

[to bay] See: BRING TO BAY.

[to-be]{adj.} That is going to be; about to become. — Used after the noun it modifies. •/Bob kissed his bride-to-be./ •/The principal of the high school greeted the high school students-to-be on their last day in junior high./

[to bed] See: PUT TO BED, PUT TO BED WITH A SHOVEL.

[to be on the safe side]{adv. phr.} To take extra precautions; reduce or eliminate the possibility of a mistake, an error, or even danger. •/Dad always keeps his valuables in a bank’s safe deposit box, just to be on the safe side./ Compare: JUST IN CASE.

[to be sure]{adv. phr.} Without a doubt; certainly; surely. •/"Didn’t you say Mr. Smith would take us home?" "Oh, yes. To be sure, I did."/ — Often used before a clause beginning with "but". •/He works slowly, to be sure, but he does a good job./ •/To be sure, Jim is a fast skater, but he is not good at doing figures./ Syn.: OF COURSE.

[to blame]{adj. phr.} Having done something wrong; to be blamed; responsible. •/John was to blame for the broken window./ •/The teacher tried to find out who was to blame in the fight./

[to boot]{adv. phr.} In addition; besides; as something extra. •/He not only got fifty dollars, but they bought him dinner to boot./ Compare: FOR GOOD MEASURE, IN THE BARGAIN, THROW IN.

[to date]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} Up to the present time; until now. •/To date twenty students have been accepted into the school./ •/The police have not found the runaway to date./ •/Jim is shoveling snow to earn money, but his earnings to date are small./ Syn.: SO FAR.

[to death]{adv. phr.}, {informal} To the limit; to the greatest degree possible. — Used for emphasis with verbs such as "scare", "frighten", "bore". •/Cowboy stories bore me to death, but I like mysteries./ •/Sara is scared to death of snakes./ •/John is tickled to death with his new bike./

[to do] See: HAVE TO DO WITH.

[toe] See: CURL ONE’S HAIR or CURL ONE’S TOES, ON ONE’S TOES, STEP ON THE TOES OF.

[toe the line] or [toe the mark] {v. phr.} To be very careful to do just what you are supposed to do; obey the rules and do your duties. •/The new teacher will make Joe toe the line./ •/Bill’s father is strict with him and he has to toe the mark./ Compare: WALK THE CHALK.

[to first base] See: GET TO FIRST BASE.

[together] See: GET IT ALL TOGETHER.

[together with]{prep.} In addition to; in the company of; along with. •/John, together with his brother, has gone to the party./ •/The police found a knife, together with the stolen money, hidden in a hollow tree./

[to grips] See: COME TO GRIPS WITH.

[to heart] See: TAKE TO HEART also LAY TO HEART.

[to heel]{adj. phr.} 1. Close behind. •/The dog ran after a rabbit, but Jack brought him to heel./ 2. Under control; to obedience. •/When Peter was sixteen, he thought he could do as he pleased, but his father cut off his allowance, and Peter soon came to heel./

[to hell with] or [the hell with] {prep. phr.}, {informal} Used to express disgusted rejection of something. •/It’s slop; the hell with what the cook calls it./ Compare: FED UP, GIVE A HANG.

[to it] See: PUT ONE’S BACK TO IT.

[to light] See: BRING TO LIGHT, COME TO LIGHT.

[toll] See: TAKE ITS TOLL.

[toll call]{n. phr.} A long distance telephone call for which one has to pay. •/We had several toll calls on last month’s telephone bill./

[toll free]{adv. phr.} Calling an (800) telephone number with the call paid by the business whose number one has dialed. •/You can call us day and night, seven days a week, toll free./

[Tom] See: PEEPING TOM.

[Tom, Dick, and Harry]{n. phr.} People in general; anyone; everyone. — Usually preceded by "every" and used to show scorn or disrespect. •/The drunk told his troubles to every Tom, Dick and Harry who passed by./

[tone down]{v.} To make softer or quieter; make less harsh or strong; moderate. •/He toned down the sound of the TV./ •/She wanted the bright colors in her house toned down./ •/When the ladies arrived, he toned down his language./ •/The strikers were asked to tone down their demands for higher pay so that there might be a quicker agreement and an end to the strike./

[tong] See: GO AT IT HAMMER AND TONGS.

[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.