toe (redirected from turning up toes)

*on one's toes

Fig. alert. (*Typically: be ~; keep ~; keep one ~; stay ~.) You have to be on your toes if you want to be in this business. I have to stay on my toes to keep from getting fired.

from head to toe

Fig. from the top of one's head to one's feet. She was decked out in flowers from head to toe. The huge parka covered the small child from head to toe, assuring that she would be well-protected against the cold.

See also: head

from tip to toe

Fig. from the top to the bottom. She is wearing all new clothes from tip to toe. The house needs to be cleaned thoroughly from tip to toe.

See also: tip

step on someone's toes and tread on someone's toes 

1. Lit. to step down onto someone's toes, causing pain. Please don't step on my toes as you walk by.

2. Fig. to offend or insult someone, as if causing physical pain. You're sure I won't be stepping on her toes if I talk directly to her supervisor? I didn't mean to tread on your toes.

See also: step

stub one's toe against something and stub one's toe on something

to ram one's toe accidentally against some hard object. Don't stub your toe against that brick in the path. Claire stubbed her toe against one of the legs of the sofa. I stubbed my toe on the bottom step.

See also: against, stub

toe the mark and toe the line

Fig. to do what one is expected to do; to follow the rules. You'll get ahead, Sally. Don't worry. Just toe the mark, and everything will be okay. John finally got fired. He just couldn't learn to toe the line.

See also: mark

toing and froing (on something)

moving back and forth on an issue, first deciding one way and then changing to another. The boss spent most of the afternoon toing and froing on the question of who was to handle the Wilson account. I wish you would stop toing and froing and make up your mind.

See also: and

turn up one's toes

Sl. to die. When I turn up my toes, I want a big funeral with lots of flowers. Our cat turned up his toes during the night. He was nearly ten years old.

See also: turn, up

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from top to toe

on every part of a person's body He gazed at her across the room, dressed in black leather from top to toe.

See also: top

keep somebody on their toes

to force someone to continue giving all their attention and energy to what they are doing He gave me a couple of extra things to do just to keep me on my toes.

See also: keep

make somebody's toes curl  (British & Australian)

if an experience makes your toes curl, it makes you feel extremely embarrassed and ashamed for someone else The very thought of what she said makes my toes curl. (British & Australian)

See also: curl, make

make somebody's toes curl  (American) also curl somebody's toes (American)

to frighten or shock someone A loud scream from the next room made her toes curl.

See also: curl, make

step/tread on somebody's toes

to say or do something which upsets someone, especially by becoming involved in something which is their responsibility I'd like to make some changes to the working procedures, but I don't want to tread on anyone's toes.

See keep on toes

See also: step

toe/tow the line

to do what you are ordered or expected to do He might not like the rules but he'll toe the line just to avoid trouble. Ministers who refused to toe the Party line were swiftly got rid of.

See take the line of least resistance, cross the line, draw a line under, draw the line, draw the line at, drop a line, fall in line, feed a line, lay it on the line, step out of line

See also: line

toing and froing 

1. going backwards and forwards between places (often + between ) The job involves a lot of toing and froing between London and New York.

2. going from one method, idea, or plan to another in a way that wastes time when you are trying to achieve something The legal toing and froing will delay payment to Horden of the £10 million due on the contract.

See also: and

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(from) head to toe also (from) head to foot

completely (from) top to toe Each person was scrubbed head to toe with antibacterial soap. She was tall and thin, and dressed head to toe in black.

See also: head

(from) top to toe See: (from) head to toe

See also: top

on your toes

aware and energetic Acting classes and occasional work in clubs keep the actor on her toes. Bob always looked for difficult assignments because he believed that challenging work helped him stay on his toes professionally.

step on (somebody's) toes

to upset someone, esp. by getting involved in something that is their responsibility It's hard to make changes in the department without stepping on a lot of toes. He's willing to step on toes to get things done.

See also: step

toe the line

to do what you are ordered or expected to do Not everyone was happy with the plan, but most of us toed the line.

Usage notes: sometimes used with a noun describing whose orders are being followed: They promised to toe the party line and vote with the leadership.

See also: line