tower (redirected from towering)

*in an ivory tower

Fig. in a place, such as a university, where one can be aloof from the realities of living. (Typ—ically: be ~; dwell ~; live ~; work ~.) If you didn't spend so much time in your ivory tower, you'd know what people really think! Many professors are said to live in ivory towers. They don't know what the real world is like.

See also: ivory

tower above someone or something

to stand or be much taller than someone or something. (Often used in exaggeration.) The basketball player towered above everyone else in the room. The new building towered above all the others in town.

See also: above

tower head and shoulders above someone or something 

1. Lit. [for someone] to stand much taller than someone or something. (Often used in exaggeration.) Bob towers head and shoulders above both his parents. The boys towered head and shoulders above the walls of the maze. They found their way around easily.

2. Fig. to be far superior to someone or a group. The new vice president towers head and shoulders above the old one. The chairman towered head and shoulders above the rest of the committee.

See also: above, and, head, shoulder

tower of strength

Fig. a person who can always be depended on to provide support and encouragement, especially in times of trouble. Mary was a tower of strength when Jean was in the hospital. She looked after her whole family. Jack was a tower of strength during the time that his father was unemployed.

See also: strength

tower over someone or something

to stand much taller than someone or something. Tom towers over his older brother, Stan. Tom towered over the little desk he had been assigned to.

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a pillar/tower of strength

someone who gives a lot of support to someone else who is in a difficult situation Roger was a tower of strength when my parents died.

See also: pillar, strength

an ivory tower

if you are in an ivory tower, you are in a place or situation where you are separated from ordinary life and its problems How much of the research done by academics in their ivory towers is ever read or published?

See also: ivory

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a pillar of strength

someone who is emotionally very strong Roger was a pillar of strength when my father died.

See also: pillar, strength