phrase turn someone on(coll.) cause a person to become inter- ested or (sexually) excited: I went to bed with him a couple of times. But he never really turned me on . Cf.: turn someone on to something—(coll.) cause smb. to become interested or involved in smth. (especially drugs): Someone in prison turned her on to heroin but she uses it rarely. turn to someone—go to smb. for help, advice, comfort, etc.: Bruce has always been really close with his Dad and has always turned to him for support. turn on the waterworks • turn someone’s water off turn on the waterworks—(coll.) begin to cry (also: turn on the water tap): Sally turned on the waterworks when she got yelled at. turn someone’s water off—(coll.) make a person appear more modest (usually of smb. who is acting too arrogant): It took a scolding from the coach to turn Tom’s water off . turn one’s back on someone • when someone’s back is turned turn one’s back on someone—abandon or ignore smb.; refuse to support a person: When he seemed to turn his back on me I felt bereft, really. But then one day he rang up and I could hear his voice shaking with emotion. when someone’s back is turned—do smth. when a person is not present or looking: If they’re saying this about Fred, what are they saying about me when my back is turned ? Note: Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase see the back of someone—be pleased when smb. leaves because one does not like the person: I wasn’t sorry to see the back of Suzy after what she did, but it really broke my heart to let Ziggy go. turn someone’s brain • turn someone’s head turn someone’s brain—1. cause mental disorder: The only possible explanation was that the poor girl’s illness and the loss of her lover had turned her brain . 2. make a person wildly agitated or distraught: Too much of this sort of work turns your brain . turn someone’s head—1. cause a person to have too high an opinion of oneself: She is a famous actress but she has not allowed success to turn her head . 2. cause a person to become infatuated: You have been making serious love to Patty, and have turned the poor girl’s head . 3. create a sensation of gid- diness: To look down from a great height is enough to turn one’s head . Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase turn headsstrongly impress people (by looking very attractive): Cher turned heads when she appeared at the cer- emony in a dress that left little to the imagination. turn something on its head • turn something upside down turn something on its head—(also: stand something on its head) cause a complete reversal of what is regarded as the norm: Suddenly, Jayne’s once sane life is turned on its head , and not even her closest friends are what they seem. turn something upside down—1. reverse smth. physically: Wolfe uncorked the bottle and turned it upside down . The water splashed the stones at Turrell’s feet. 2. = turn something on its head: That would have turned charity tax law upside down . 3. search everywhere in a place, especially roughly: The police turned his flat upside down looking for drugs. twin set • two-piece set twin set—a woman’s sleeveless sweater and cardigan of the same color and style that are worn together: I thought of wear- ing a twin set to a symphony concert. two-piece set—(also: two-piece) a set of clothes of similar or matching material: Pajamas are usually sold as a two piece set with matching tops and bottoms. twist someone’s arm • twist someone’s tail twist someone’s arm—1. persuade a person to do smth. by pressure: Nobody forced him to go there and nobody twisted his arm to make connections with dubious characters. 2. (joc.) “persuade” a person to have a drink, when no persuasion at all is needed: “That looks a nice pub over there.” “All right — you’ve twisted my arm enough,” admitted Boote. twist someone’s tail—(coll.) harass or maliciously annoy a person: Revenge seems to me least likely. Grown men don’t kill boys just because they’ve had their tails twisted by them. two bits • two-bit two bits —(U.S. coll.) twenty five cents; a quarter coin: Many saloons served the “choicest goods” and steam beer at two bits a glass. two-bit—(U.S. coll., attrib.) 1. of smth. that costs a quarter of a dollar: He smoked two-bit cigars and peered determinedly through steel-rimmed glasses. 2. (derog.) cheap; worthless: But people who took the time to vote have to feel like the whole process was a two-bit hoax. Cf.: ten-cent man—(U.S. derog.) a small, narrow-minded, trifling man: Do you want a ten-cent man to fill a hundred-dollar job? How big a problem is this that you have demonstrated right here to me tonight? U umbrella pine • umbrella tree umbrella pine—1. (also: stone pine) a species of pine tree (Pinus pinea) with branches at the top spreading like an umbrella: The umbrella pine has been growing here for at least two thousand years. 2. a tall Japanese evergreen conifer tree (Sciadopitus verticillata) with an umbrella-like ring of leaves: The English name “umbrella pine ” refers to the whorls of leaves resembling the spokes of an umbrella. umbrella tree —1. a small magnolia (Magnolia tripetala) with leaves in a spiral like an umbrella: The wood of the Umbrella Tree is more spongy than any of the other species of Magnolia. 2. one of a variety of trees whose leaves resemble an umbrella: Umbrella Tree : Schefflera actinophylla. This is a member of the family Araliaceae, widely cultivated in tropical and sub- tropical gardens. Uncle Tom • Uncle Tom Cobley Uncle Tom—(U.S.) a Black man who defers to white people and regarded as betraying his social loyalty: I know exactly what you think of me. Also, I know all the words, most of them stupid—white nigger, Uncle Tom —as well as you. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase Aunt Tom(sl.) a woman who does not agree with or support the Feminist movement: In a debate between Wolfgang and Friedan, things rapidly devolved into mutual name calling with each accusing the other of being an “Aunt Tom .” Uncle Tom Cobley—(also: Uncle Tom Cobley and all) a whole lot of other people (used at the end of a long list of names): We are exhorted to pant along behind the industrious Germans, Japanese, Russians, Americans and Uncle Tom Cobley . under arms • under the gun under arms—said of people who are armed and prepared for fighting: Japan still had millions of troops under arms and thousands of combat aircraft. – 327 – under arms