[the powers that be]{n. phr.} Constituted authority; those in power. •/I have done all I can; the rest is up to the powers that be./

[there] See: ALL THERE, HERE AND THERE, NEITHER HERE NOR THERE, THEN AND THERE.

[There] or [here you are!] 1. Informal way to say, "Here is what you wanted." •/The doorman politely opened the door of the taxi and said, "There you are, sir!"/ •/The clerk wrapped up the package and handed it to the customer saying, "Here you are, ma’am!"/ 2. You have found the correct answer; you are correct. •/"The reason for the violent crime rate is the all too easy availability of handguns," he said. "Yeah, there you are!" Officer Maloney replied./

[there is more than one way to get a pig to market] or [flay a fox] or [skin a cat] There are always new and different ways to accomplish a difficult task. — A proverb. •/"'How did you get Tommy to study so hard?" Eleanor asked. "I simply disconnected the television set," Tommy’s mother answered. "There’s more than one way to get a pig to market."/

[there is nothing to it] Informal way to say, "It is easy." •/Cooking stir-fried Chinese food is really not difficult at all; in fact, there’s nothing to it./

[There you go!] 1. Informal way to say, "You are doing it already and you are doing it well." •/"Is roller skating hard?" Freddie asked. "No," Beth replied, "let me show you how to do it. There you go!"/ 2. See: THERE or HERE YOU ARE(2).

[the ropes]{n. plural}, {informal} Thorough or special knowledge of a job; how to do something; the ways of people or the world. •/On a newspaper a cub reporter learns his job from an older reporter who knows the ropes./ •/When you go to a new school it takes a while to learn the ropes./ •/Betty showed Jane the ropes when she was learning to make a dress./ •/Mr. Jones was an orphan and he had to learn the ropes when he was young to make his way in the world./ Compare: BE AROUND, INS AND OUTS, TRICK OF THE TRADE.

[the score]{n.}, {slang} The truth; the real story or information; what is really happening; the way people and the world really are. •/Very few people know the score in politics./ •/You are too young to know the score yet./ •/What’s the score anyhow? When will the program begin?/ Compare: KNOW ONE’S STUFF, KNOW ONE’S WAY AROUND, THE ROPES.

[these] See: ONE OF THESE DAYS or SOME OF THESE DAYS.

[the three R’s]{n. phr.} (W)riting, reading, and (a)rithmetic, the three basic skills of an elementary education. •/Barry has completed the three R’s, but otherwise he has had little formal education./

[the ticket]{n.} Exactly what is needed. — Often used with "just". •/This airtight locker is just the ticket for storing your winter clothes./

[the tracks]{n.} The line between the rich or fashionable part of town and the poor or unfashionable part of town. •/The poor children knew they would not be welcome on the other side of the tracks./ •/Mary’s mother did not want her to date Jack, because he came from across the tracks./ — Often used in the expression "the wrong side of the tracks". •/The mayor was born on the wrong side of the tracks, but he worked hard and became successful./

[the whole way] See: ALL THE WAY.

[the wiser]{adj.} Knowing about something which might be embarrassing of knowing. — Usually used with "nobody" or "no one". •/Mary took the teacher’s book home by mistake, but early the next morning she returned it with nobody the wiser./

[the works]{n. plural}, {slang} 1. Everything that can be had or that you have; everything of this kind, all that goes with it. •/When the tramp found $100, he went into a fine restaurant and ordered the works with a steak dinner./ 1b. See: SHOOT THE WORKS. 2. Rough handling or treatment; a bad beating or scolding; killing; murder. — Usually used with "get" or "give". •/The boy said that Joe was going to get the works if he ever came back to that neighborhood again./ •/The newspaper gave the police department the works when they let the burglars get away./ •/The gangster told his friend he would give him the works if he double-crossed him./ Compare: THE BUSINESS.

[they] See: LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY.

[thick] See: BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER, LAY IT ON or LAY IT ON THICK, THROUGH THICK AND THIN.

[thicker] See: BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER.

[thin] See: INTO THIN AIR, OUT OF THIN AIR, SIT ON THIN ICE, SPREAD ONESELF TOO THIN, THROUGH THICK AND THIN, WEAR THIN.

[thing] See: A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS A DANGEROUS THING, DO ONE’S THING or DO ONE’S OWN THING, FIRST THINGS COME FIRST, FOR ONE THING, SEE THINGS, SURE THING, TAKE IT EASY or TAKE THINGS EASY, TELL A THING OR TWO.

[thing or two]{n. phr.}, {informal} 1. Facts not generally known, or not known to the hearer or reader; unusual or important information. •/Mary told Joan a thing or two about Betty’s real feelings./ 2. A lot; much. •/Bob knows a thing or two about sailing./ Compare: TELL A THING OR TWO.

[Things are looking up!] Informal way to say that conditions are improving. •/Things are looking up at our university as the governor promised a 5% salary raise./

[think] See: COME TO THINK OF IT.

[think a great deal of] or [think a lot of] also [think much of] {v. phr.} To consider to be very worthy, valuable, or important; to esteem highly. •/Mary thinks a great deal of Tim./ •/The teacher thought a lot of Joe’s project./ — The phrase "think much of" is usually used in negative sentences. •/Father didn’t think much of Paul’s idea of buying a goat to save lawn mowing./ Contrast: THINK LITTLE OF.

[think a lot of] See: THINK A GREAT DEAL OF.

[think aloud] or [think out loud] {v.} To say what you are thinking. •/"I wish I had more money for Christmas presents," Father thought aloud. "What did you say?" said Mother. Father answered, "I’m sorry. I wasn’t talking to you. I was thinking out loud."/

[think better of]{v.} To change your mind about; to consider again and make a better decision about. •/John told his mother he wanted to leave school, but later he thought better of it./ Compare: SECOND THOUGHT, THINK TWICE.

[Think big!]{v. phr.}, {informal} To believe in one’s ability, purpose, or power to perform or succeed. •/Be confident; be positive; tell yourself you are the greatest; above all, think big!/

[think fit] See: FIT.

[thinking cap] See: PUT ON ONE’S THINKING CAP.

[think little of]{v. phr.} Think that (something or someone) is not important or valuable. •/John thought little of Ted’s plan for the party./ •/Joan thought little of walking two miles to school./ Contrast: THINK A GREAT DEAL OF.

[think much of] See: THINK A GREAT DEAL OF.

[think nothing of]{v. phr.} To think or consider easy, simple, or usual. •/Jim thinks nothing of hiking ten miles in one day./

[think nothing of it]{v. phr.}, {informal} Used as a courteous phrase in replying to thanks. /"Thank you very much for your help." "Think nothing of it."/ Compare: YOU’RE WELCOME.

[think on one’s feet]{v. phr.} To think quickly; answer or act without waiting; know what to do or say right away. •/A good basketball player can think on his feet./ •/Our teacher can think on his feet; he always has an answer ready when we ask him questions./