thick (redirected from gave a thick ear)

*thick as a short plank and *thick as two short planks

exceptionally dim-witted. (*Also: as ~.) Dumb? He's as thick as a short plank, more like. Oh, I'd not say she was stupid. As thick as two short planks, yes, but stupid? Never!

See also: plank, short

*thick as pea soup

[of fog] very thick. (*Also: as ~.) This fog is as thick as pea soup. You can't see ten feet in front of you.

See also: pea, soup

*thick as thieves

Cliché very close-knit; friendly; allied. (Thick = close and loyal. *Also: as ~.) Mary, Tom, and Sally are as thick as thieves. They go everywhere together. Those two families are thick as thieves.

See also: thief

*thick-skinned

Fig. not easily upset or hurt; insensitive. (The opposite of thin-skinned. Typically: be ~; become ~; grow ~.) Tom won't worry about your insults. He's completely thick-skinned. Jane's so thick-skinned she didn't realize Fred was being rude to her.

get something through someone's thick skull and get something into someone's thick head

Fig. to manage to get someone, including oneself, to understand something. He can't seem to get it through his thick skull that he has to study to pass the exam. If I could get this into my thick head once, I'd remember it.

See also: get, skull, through

lay it on thick and lay it on with a trowel; pour it on thick; spread it on thick

Fig. to exaggerate or over-state praise, excuses, or blame. Sally was laying it on thick when she said that Tom was the best singer she had ever heard. After Bob finished making his excuses, Sally said that he was pouring it on thick. Bob always spreads it on thick.

See also: lay

spread something on thick 

1. to distribute a thick layer of something. This paint will cover well if you spread it on thick. If you spread the paint on thick, you will only need one coat.

2. Go to lay it on thick.

See also: spread

thick and fast

in large numbers or amounts and at a rapid rate. The enemy soldiers came thick and fast. New problems seem to come thick and fast.

See also: and, fast

through thick and thin

Cliché through good times and bad times. We've been together through thick and thin, and we won't desert each other now. Over the years, we went through thick and thin and enjoyed every minute of it.

See also: and, thin, through

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be as thick as thieves  (old-fashioned)

if two people are thick as thieves, they are close friends I'm sure she tells Ruth what's going on - they're as thick as thieves, those two.

See also: thief

be as thick as two short planks  (British informal) also be as thick as shit (British taboo!)

to be very stupid He might be good-looking but he's as thick as two short planks. Most of the people who read these papers are as thick as shit anyway.

See also: plank, short, two

be in the thick of something

to be very involved at the busiest or most active stage of a situation or activity A fierce debate ensued and he found himself in the thick of it. I can't talk right now - I'm in the thick of things. When you're in the thick of the action, you don't always have time to think.

give somebody a thick ear  (british informal)

to hit someone (usually a child) as a punishment If I was cheeky at mealtimes my Dad would give me a thick ear.

See also: ear, give

lay it on thick  (informal) also lay it on with a trowel (informal)

to make an emotion or experience seem more important or serious than it really is He'd injured his hand slightly but he was laying it on a bit thick about how painful it was. They must have told us ten times how wonderful their daughter was - they were really laying it on with a trowel.

See also: lay

thick-skinned

if you are thick-skinned, you do not notice or get upset when people criticize you You have to be a bit harsher than that with Caroline to offend her - she's pretty thick-skinned.

through thick and thin

if you stay with or support someone through thick and thin, you always stay with or support them, even in difficult situations That's what relationships are about - you stick with someone through thick and thin. She remained loyal to the party through thick and thin.

See lay it on thick

See also: and, thin, through

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(have) a thick skin

able to ignore personal criticism People will tell you they don't like your clothes or your voice or the color of your eyes, so you need to have a thick skin to survive. During the two years he was the spokesperson for the police, he developed a very thick skin.

See also: skin

in the thick of it also in the thick of something

completely involved in an activity or a situation At first George didn't want to have anything to do with planning our wedding, but he's in the thick of it now. Although he denies it, the company's treasurer was in the thick of the illegal activities.

through thick and thin

including both good times and bad times Dogs are real friends because they are loyal to you through thick and thin and don't expect more than food and approval in return.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form stick together through thick and thin (to support one another in good or bad times): The brothers promised they would stick together through thick and thin.

See also: and, thin, through