[turn the trick]{v. phr.}, {informal} To bring about the resultyou want; succeed in what you plan to do. •/Jerry wanted to win both theswimming and diving contests, but he couldn’t quite turn the trick./ Compare:DO THE TRICK.

[turn thumbs down]{v. phr.} To disapprove or reject; say no. — Usually used with "on". •/The company turned thumbs down on Mr. Smith’s salesplan./ •/The men turned thumbs down on a strike at that time./

[turn to]{v.} To begin working with much energy. •/All the boysturned to and cleaned the cabin in a few minutes./ •/Mary turned to andstudied for the test./ Syn.: FALL TO.

[turn turtle]{v. phr.} To turn upside down. •/The car skidded on theice and turned turtle./

[turn up]{v.} 1. To find; discover. •/The police searched the househoping to turn up more clues./ 2. To appear or be found suddenly orunexpectedly. •/The missing boy turned up an hour later./ •/A man withouttraining works at whatever jobs turn up./ Compare: SHOW UP(3).

[turn up one’s nose at]{v. phr.} To refuse as not being good enoughfor you. •/He thinks he should only get steak, and he turns up his nose athamburger./

[turn up one’s toes]{v. phr.}, {slang} To die. •/One morning thechildren found that their pet mouse had turned up his toes, so they had afuneral for him./ Compare: PUSH UP THE DAISIES.

[turtle] See: TURN TURTLE.

[tut-tut]{interj.}, {informal} Used to express mild disapproval.•/"Tut-tut," said the teacher. "You shouldn’t cross the street withoutlooking."/ •/Tut-tut, put that piece of candy back. You’ve already hadthree pieces./

[twice] See: BIG AS LIFE(2), LIGHTNING NEVER STRIKES TWICE IN THE SAMEPLACE, THINK TWICE, ONCE BITTEN, TWICE SHY and BURNT CHILD DREADS THE FIRE.

[twice as natural] See: BIG AS LIFE or BIG AS LIFE AND TWICE AS NATURAL.

[twiddle one’s thumbs]{v. phr.} To do nothing; be idle. •/I’d ratherwork than stand around here twiddling my thumbs./

[twist one around one’s little finger] also [turn one around one’s littlefinger] or [wrap one around one’s finger] {v. phr.} To have completecontrol over; to be able to make (someone) do anything you want. •/Sue cantwist any of the boys around her little finger./ Compare: JUMP THROUGH AHOOP.

[twist one’s arm]{v. phr.}, {informal} To force someone; threatensomeone to make him do something. — Usually used jokingly. •/Will you dancewith the prettiest girl in school? Stop, you’re twisting my arm!/ •/I hadto twist Tom’s arm to make him eat the candy!/

[two] See: BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA or BETWEEN TWO FIRES,TWO CENTS, BIRD IN THE HAND IS WORTH TWO IN THE BUSH, CUT BOTH WAYS or CUT TWOWAYS, HAVE TWO STRIKES AGAINST ONE, IN TWO, KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE, NOTWO WAYS ABOUT IT, PUT TWO AND TWO TOGETHER, STAND ON ONE’S OWN FEET or STANDON ONE’S OWN TWO FEET, TELL A THING OR TWO, THING OR TWO.

[two bits]{n.}, {slang} Twenty-five cents; a quarter of a dollar.•/A haircut only cost two bits when Grandfather was young./ Compare: FOURBITS, SIX BITS.

[two cents]{n.}{informal} 1. Something not important or verysmall; almost nothing. •/Paul was so angry that he said for two cents hewould quit the team./ •/When John saw that the girl he was scolding waslame, he felt like two cents./ 2. or [two cents worth] Something you wantto say; opinion. — Used with a possessive. •/The boys were talking aboutbaseball, and Harry put in his two cents worth, even though he didn’t know muchabout baseball./ •/If we want your two cents, we’ll ask for it./

[two-faced]{adj.} Insincere; disloyal; deceitful. •/Don’t confidetoo much in him as he has the reputation of being two-faced./ Compare: SPEAKWITH A FORKED TONGUE.

[two’s company; three’s a crowd] An informal way to express a situationwhen two people desire privacy and a third one is present. — A proverb.•/Beth and Carl wanted to be alone so when Maggie joined them they said,"Two’s company; three’s a crowd."/

[two strikes against one]{n. phr.}-From baseball. Two opportunitieswasted in some undertaking, so that only one chance is left. •/Poor John hastwo strikes against him when it comes to his love for Frances: first, he is toofat, and, second, he is bald./

[two-time]{v.}, {slang} To go out with a second boy or girlfriendand keep it a secret from the first. •/Joan was two-timing Jim with Fred./•/Mary cried when she found that Joe was two-timing her./ Compare:DOUBLE-CROSS.

[two to one] See: TEN TO ONE.

[two ways about it] See: NO TWO WAYS ABOUT IT.

U

[U.F.O.]{n. phr.} Unidentified Flying Object. •/Some people thinkthat the U.F.O.s are extraterrestrial beings of higher than human developmentwho pay periodic visits to Earth to warn us of our self-destructivetendencies./

[ugly duckling]{n.} An ugly or plain child who grows up to be prettyand attractive. •/Mary was the ugly duckling in her family, until she grewup./

[uh-huh] or [um-hum] {adv.}, {informal} Yes. — Used only inspeech or when recording dialogue. •/Are you going to the Fair? Uh-huh./•/We were in Alaska, um-hum, but that was long before the earthquakes./•/When I asked for an appointment, the nurse said, "Um-hum, I have an openingat four o’clock on Friday."/ Contrast: HUH-UH.

[um-hum] See: UH-HUH.

[unbosom oneself]{v. phr.} To confess one’s personal thoughts orfeelings; disclose private information to a confidante. •/Once she was athome with her mother, she unbosomed herself of all her troubles./

[uncertain] See: IN SO MANY WORDS(2). or IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS.

[uncle] See: SAY UNCLE also CRY UNCLE.

[under] See: CUT THE GROUND FROM UNDER, GO UNDER, OUT FROM UNDER, SNOWUNDER.

[under a bushel] See: HIDE ONE’S LIGHT UNDER A BUSHEL.

[under a cloud]{adj. phr.} 1. Under suspicion; not trusted. •/Joycehas been under a cloud since her roommate’s bracelet disappeared./ •/Thebutcher is under a cloud because the inspectors found his scales were nothonest./ 2. Depressed, sad, discouraged. •/Joe has been under a cloud sincehis dog died./

[under age]{adj. phr.} Too young; not old enough; below legal age.•/He could not enlist in the army because he was under age./ •/Rose wasnot allowed to enroll in the Life Saving Course because she was under age./Contrast: OF AGE(1).

[under arrest]{adj. phr.} Held by the police. •/The man believed tohave robbed the bank was placed under arrest./ •/The three boys were seenbreaking into the school building and soon found themselves under arrest./

[under construction]{adv. phr.} In the process of being built orrepaired. •/It is a good idea to take the train to work while the expresswayis under construction./

[under cover]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} Hidden; concealed. •/Theprisoners escaped under cover of darkness./ •/He kept his invention undercover until it was patented./ Compare: UNDER WRAPS.

[under false colors] See: SAIL UNDER FALSE COLORS.

[under fire]{adv. phr.} Being shot at or being attacked; hit byattacks or accusations; under attack. •/The soldiers stood firm under fire ofthe enemy./ •/The principal was under fire for not sending the boys homewho stole the car./