tall



be in tall cotton

To be in a time or period of great success or wellbeing; to be doing very well. We were in tall cotton after my wife's late uncle left us his fortune. I hear Jeff's in tall cotton out in New York City.
See also: cotton, tall

tall drink

A mixed beverage in a tall or large glass containing little or no alcohol. I have an early start tomorrow, so I'm just on the tall drinks tonight.
See also: drink, tall

a tall drink of water

1. A tall, typically slender person. Who's that tall drink of water who just walked in?
2. A rather boring, plain, or uninteresting person. Sheesh, Sarah's new boyfriend sure is a tall drink of water, huh?
See also: drink, of, tall, water

be tall in (one's)/the saddle

To be or remain proud, stoical, or august in one's manner or composure. Even after two years of a losing war, the general was still tall in his saddle before his troops. I'll have nothing to do with your schemes or plot. One day, you're going to be locked up and lose everything, and I'll be tall in the saddle when you do.
See also: saddle, tall

ride tall in the/(one's) saddle

To be or remain proud, stoical, or august in one's manner or composure. Even after two years of a losing war, the general still rode tall in his saddle before his troops. I'll have nothing to do with your schemes or plot. One day, you're going to be locked up and lose everything, and I'll be riding tall in the saddle when you do.
See also: ride, saddle, tall

sit tall in the/(one's) saddle

To be or remain proud, stoical, or august in one's manner or composure. Even after two years of a losing war, the general still sat tall in his saddle before his troops. I'll have nothing to do with your schemes or plot. One day, you're going to be locked up and lose everything, and I'll be sitting tall in the saddle when you do.
See also: saddle, sit, tall

tall story

A story that is greatly exaggerated or particularly imaginative, such that it is difficult to believe; a tall tale. My uncle has always been fond of telling tall stories about his time overseas. I used to believe him when I was a kid, but now I've learned to just laugh along.
See also: story, tall

take to the tall timber

To leave quickly and covertly. Primarily heard in US. I think Adam took to the tall timber—no one has seen or heard from him in weeks
See also: take, tall, timber

be a tall order

To be a difficult task to complete or accomplish. The boss wants me to compile 300 pages of data today, which is a tall order. Baking hundreds of cupcakes in one night is a tall order.
See also: order, tall

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, of, 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, tall, 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

*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, tall

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: tall, 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: tall, walk

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, tall

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, tall

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, tall

tall order

A goal that is hard to fulfill or achieve, as in Getting a thousand new subscribers is a tall order indeed. This expression uses tall in the sense of "impressively great" or "difficult." [c. 1900]
See also: order, tall

tall tale

A fanciful or greatly exaggerated story, as in Some youngsters love tall tales about creatures from outer space coming to earth. This idiom uses tall in the sense of "exaggerated." [Mid-1800s]
See also: tale, tall

walk tall

Show pride and self-confidence, as in The most important thing she taught us was to walk tall. [Colloquial; mid-1900s]
See also: tall, walk

big drink of water

1. n. a very tall person. (Folksy.) Tim is sure a big drink of water.
2. n. a boring person or thing. (A pun on hard to take.) The lecture was a big drink of water.
See also: big, drink, of, water

in tall cotton

mod. successful; on easy street. (Folksy.) I won some money at the track, and I’m really in tall cotton.
See also: cotton, tall

long-tall-Sally

n. a tall girl or woman. Isn’t she a gorgeous long-tall-Sally?

stand tall

in. to be brave and proud. I can still stand tall. I’m innocent.
See also: stand, tall

tall

1. mod. high on drugs; intoxicated with marijuana. (Drugs.) When Jerry gets a little tall, he gets overwhelmed with a sense of guilt.
2. mod. high-quality. You’re bringing in some tall ideas, man.

tall in the saddle

mod. proud. (Often with sit.) I’ll still be tall in the saddle when you are experiencing the results of your folly.
See also: saddle, tall

tall one

n. a large drink; a long drink. (Compare this with short one.) She ordered a tall one and sat back to cool off.
See also: one, tall

tall order

n. a request that is difficult to fulfill. That’s a tall order. Do you think anyone can do it?
See also: order, tall

tall timbers

n. some remote well-forested place; the boondocks. Oh, Chuck lives out in the tall timbers somewhere. He only has a post office box number.
See also: tall, timber

walk tall

in. to be brave and self-assured. (see also stand tall.) I know I can walk tall because I’m innocent.
See also: tall, walk

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Thanos-Greek
Annettaahn-NET-tahItalian
Margalita-Hebrew
CindraSIN-drəEnglish (Rare)
LeslyLEZ-lee, LES-leeEnglish (Modern)
Afanasyah-fah-NAH-seeRussian