A man went to the Police Station wishing to speak with the burglar who had broken into his house the night before.
"You"ll get your chance in court," said the sergeant.
"No, no no!" said the man. "I want to know how he got into the house without waking my wife. I"ve been trying to do that for years!"
- each of three equal parts of a thing. thirdly adv. [old english: related to *three]
- degree —n. Long and severe questioning, esp. By police to obtain information or a confession. —adj. (third-degree) denoting burns of the most severe kind, affecting lower layers of tissue.
- man n. Fielder positioned near the boundary behind the slips.
- party —n. - another party besides the two principals.
- bystander etc. —adj. (third-party) (of insurance) covering damage or injury suffered by a person other than the insured.
- person n. - = *third party.
- gram. See *person.
- reading n. Third presentation of a bill to a legislative assembly.
- reich n. Nazi regime, 1933-45.
- world n. (usu. Prec. By the) developing countries of asia, africa, and latin america.
THOLE
n. (in full thole-pin) 1 pin in the gunwale of a boat as the fulcrum for an oar.
- each of two such pins forming a rowlock. [old english]
THONG
n. Narrow strip of hide or leather. [old english]
THORN
n. - sharp-pointed projection on a plant.
- thorn-bearing shrub or tree. thorn in one's flesh (or side) constant nuisance. thornless adj. [old english]
THOSE
pl. Of *that.
THREE
adj. & n. - a one more than two. B symbol for this (3, iii, iii).
- size etc. Denoted by three. [old english]
- rs n.pl. (prec. By the) reading, writing, and arithmetic.
THREW
past of *throw.
THROB
—v. (-bb-) 1 pulsate, esp. With more than the usual force or rapidity.
- vibrate with a persistent rhythm or with emotion. —n. - throbbing.
- (esp. Violent) pulsation. [imitative]
THROE
n. (usu. In pl.) Violent pang, esp. Of childbirth or death. in the throes of struggling with the task of. [old english, alteration of original throwe, perhaps by association with woe]
THROW
—v. (past threw; past part. Thrown) 1 propel with force through the air.
- force violently into, or compel to be in, a specified position or state (thrown on the rocks; threw themselves down; thrown out of work).
- turn or move (part of the body) quickly or suddenly (threw an arm out).
- project or cast (light, a shadow, etc.).
- a bring to the ground in wrestling. B (of a horse) unseat (its rider).
- colloq. Disconcert (the question threw me).
- (foll. By on, off, etc.) Put (clothes etc.) Hastily on or off etc.
- a cause (dice) to fall on a table etc. B obtain (a specified number) by throwing dice.
- cause to pass or extend suddenly to another state or position (threw a bridge across the river). 10 operate (a switch or lever). 11 form on a potter's wheel. 12 have (a fit or tantrum etc.). 13 give (a party). —n. - act of throwing or being thrown.
- distance a thing is or may be thrown.
- (prec. By a) slang each; per item (sold at £10 a throw). throw away 1 discard as useless or unwanted.
- waste or fail to make use of (an opportunity etc.). Throw back 1 revert to ancestral character.
- (usu. In passive; foll. By on) compel to rely on. Throw in 1 interpose (a word or remark).
- include at no extra cost.
- throw (a football) from the edge of the pitch where it has gone out of play. Throw in the towel (or sponge) admit defeat. Throw off 1 discard; contrive to get rid of.
- write or utter in an offhand manner. Throw oneself at seek blatantly as a sexual partner. Throw oneself into engage vigorously in. Throw oneself on (or upon) rely completely on. Throw open (often foll. By to) 1 cause to be suddenly or widely open.
- make accessible. Throw out 1 put out forcibly or suddenly.
