1. Home
2. Idioms
3. tinkle

tinkle

---

---

tickle the ivories

to play the piano. I used to be able to tickle the ivories real nice. She sat down to tickle the ivories for a while.

See also: ivory, tickle

tickle the ivories

to play the piano She writes and produces her own music, and also tickles the ivories on her new album.

Usage notes: usually refers to playing the piano informally rather than in a concert

Etymology: from the literal meaning of ivories (piano keys)

See also: ivory, tickle

tickle/tinkle the ivories

  (humorous)

to play the piano

Usage notes: The parts of a piano that you press to play it used to be made of a hard white substance called ivory.

Grandma could tickle the ivories like a professional.

See also: ivory, tickle

give somebody a tinkle

  (old-fashioned, informal)

to telephone someone Okay then, I'll give you a tinkle when I get home.

See tickle the ivories

See also: give, tinkle

tickle the ivories

Play the piano, as in He went on tickling the ivories until three in the morning. This expression alludes to a piano's keys, traditionally made of ivory. [Colloquial; first half of 1900s]

See also: ivory, tickle

tickle the ivories

tv. to play the piano. I used to be able to tickle the ivories real nice.

See also: ivory, tickle

tinkle

1. in. to urinate. (Mostly juvenile use. Usually objectionable.) Jimmy, be sure and tinkle before we leave.

2. n. urine. (Essentially juvenile. Usually objectionable.) There’s tinkle on the bathroom floor.