tall (redirected from tallness)

*tall order

a request that is difficult to fulfill. (Typically: be ~; give someone ~.) That's a tall order. Do you think anyone can do it? Well, it's a tall order, but I'll do it.

See also: order

big drink of water and a tall drink of water 

1. Fig. a very tall person. Tim is sure a big drink of water. Kelly grew into a tall drink of water.

2. Fig. a boring person or thing. (A pun on "hard to take.") She is a big drink of water, but she could be worse. The lecture was a big drink of water.

See also: big, drink, water

head for (the) tall timber

Rur. to run away and hide. When we heard Pa's angry bellow, we headed for the tall timber. The bank robbers headed for tall timber with their loot.

See also: head, timber

in high cotton and in tall cotton

Rur. to be doing very well; successful. Jim's in high cotton ever since he got that raise. Tom: How's your sister? Mary: She's in high cotton. Just bought a nice new house. We were in tall cotton until the IRS caught up with us.

See also: cotton, high

stand tall

to be brave and proud. I can still stand tall. I'm innocent. Our athletes stand tall in the knowledge that they did their best.

See also: stand

tall timber(s)

some remote place in the country or the woods. Oh, Chuck lives out in the tall timbers somewhere. He only has a post office box number. You're not going to move me out into the tall timber somewhere!

See also: timber

walk tall

Fig. to be brave and self-assured. I know I can walk tall because I'm innocent. You go out on that stage and walk tall. There is no reason to be afraid.

See also: walk

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a tall story/tale

a story or a statement that is difficult to believe because it is too exciting or interesting He told me a tall story about having met some top models in a nightclub.

See also: story

be a tall order

if a piece of work or request is a tall order, it is very difficult to do 'They've given us three weeks to get the project finished.' 'That's a tall order.'

See also: order

stand/walk tall

to be proud of yourself and confident of your abilities For the first time in living memory, we have a leader who can stand tall in international gatherings.

See also: stand