| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
| tied up |
busy, unable to help
|
I'm tied up right now. I'm busy with a client.
|
| tight-ass [B] |
stingy person; tight fisted
|
Mason is a tight-ass! He collects rent from his old grandmother.
|
| tight race |
close race, down to the wire
|
It was a tight race for the mayor's position. Kutz won by ten votes.
|
| tight spot |
uncomfortable position, between a rock and a hard place
|
At the interview Vic was in a tight spot. They asked him, "Why were you dismissed from three jobs?"
|
| tight/tight fisted |
not generous, unwilling to spend, cheap
|
People say he's so tight he'd sell a gift and bank the money.
|
| tighten our belts |
not spend as much, be careful with our money
|
We'll have to tighten our belts when Stan goes on pension.
|
| till hell freezes over |
until the end of time, until the end of the world
|
You can wait till hell freezes over but they won't pay their bill.
|
| till the cows come home |
for a long time, for days or weeks
|
A letter from Dave? You'll be waiting till the cows come home!
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| till you're blue in the face |
until you are very tired, until you look sick
|
You can train a flea till you're blue in the face, but he won't learn.
|
| time and again |
many times, repeatedly
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I've told that boy time and again not to fight, but he won't listen.
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