17-letter words containing b, o

the carboniferous — the Carboniferous period or rock system
the joke is on sb — If you say that the joke is on a particular person, you mean that they have been made to look very foolish by something.
the tabloid press — (considered as a whole) newspapers with pages about 30 cm (12 inches) by 40 cm (16 inches), usually characterized by an emphasis on photographs and a concise and often sensational style
the whole boiling — the whole lot
the whole shebang — The whole shebang is the whole situation or business that you are describing.
theory of numbers — number theory.
throat sweetbread — sweetbread (def 2).
throw the book at — a handwritten or printed work of fiction or nonfiction, usually on sheets of paper fastened or bound together within covers.
to be eaten alive — If you say that someone will be eaten alive, you mean that they will be completely destroyed or defeated by someone who is much stronger.
to be taken aback — If you are taken aback by something, you are surprised or shocked by it and you cannot respond at once.
to beat a retreat — If you beat a retreat, you leave a place quickly in order to avoid an embarrassing or dangerous situation.
to beat the clock — If you beat the clock, you finish doing something or succeed in doing something before the time allowed for doing it has ended.
to best advantage — If something is shown to good advantage or to best advantage, it is shown in a way that reveals its best features.
to break the bank — If you say that the cost of something will not break the bank, you mean that it will not cost a large sum of money.
to cook the books — If you say that someone has cooked the books, you mean that they have changed figures or a written record in order to deceive people.
to eat humble pie — If you eat humble pie, you speak or behave in a way which tells people that you admit you were wrong about something.
to get to know sb — If you get to know someone, you find out what they are like by spending time with them.
to hit the bottle — If someone hits the bottle, they drink a lot of alcohol.
to keep the books — to keep written records of the finances of a business or other enterprise
to knit your brow — If you knit your brows or knit your eyebrows, you frown because you are angry or worried.
to know no bounds — If you say that a feeling or quality knows no bounds, you are emphasizing that it is very strong or intense.
to play it by ear — If you play it by ear, you decide what to say or do in a situation by responding to events rather than by following a plan which you have decided on in advance.
to read sb's mind — If you can read someone's mind, you know what they are thinking without them saying anything.
to the bitter end — If you say that you will continue doing something to the bitter end, especially something difficult or unpleasant, you are emphasizing that you will continue doing it until it is completely finished.
tone control knob — a round switch on a radio, record player, etc that is turned to alter the tone control
toothbrush holder — a container or rack in a bathroom where toothbrushes are kept when not in use
torricellian tube — a vertical glass tube partly evacuated and partly filled with mercury, the height of which is used as a measure of atmospheric pressure
transferable vote — a vote that is transferred to a second candidate indicated by the voter if the first is eliminated from the ballot
transonic barrier — sound barrier.
triboluminescence — luminescence produced by friction, usually within a crystalline substance.
triskaidekaphobia — fear or a phobia concerning the number 13.
trobriand islands — a group of coral islands in the Solomon Sea, north of the E part of New Guinea: part of Papua New Guinea. Area: about 440 sq km (170 sq miles)
troilus butterfly — spicebush swallowtail.
trouble came back — (jargon) (TCB) An IBM term for an intermittent or difficult-to-reproduce problem that has failed to respond to neglect or shotgun debugging. Compare heisenbug.
turbinado (sugar) — a partially refined, granulated, pale-brown sugar obtained by washing raw sugar in a centrifuge until most of the molasses is removed
turbosupercharger — (formerly) a turbocharger.
ultramicrobalance — a balance for weighing precisely, to a hundredth of a microgram or less, minute quantities of material.
uncle tom's cabin — an antislavery novel (1852) by Harriet Beecher Stowe.
uncomfortableness — causing discomfort or distress; painful; irritating.
unreconstructible — not capable of being reconstructed.
urban development — the development or improvement of an urban area by building
urban exploration — a recreational activity in which people explore derelict urban structures such as abandoned sewers or underground railways or attempt to access areas which are closed to the public such as the roofs of skyscrapers
variable-geometry — denoting an aircraft in which the wings are hinged to give the variable aspect ratio colloquially known as a swing-wing
vertical mobility — movement from one social level to a higher one (upward mobility) or a lower one (downward mobility) as by changing jobs or marrying.
vibrofluidization — Vibrofluidization is when vibration is used to make particles move in a fluidized bed.
visible radiation — electromagnetic radiation that causes the sensation of sight; light. It has wavelengths between about 380 and 780 nanometres
vitamin b complex — an important group of water-soluble vitamins containing vitamin B 1 , vitamin B 2 , etc.
voidable contract — a contract or agreement that is capable of being made of no legal effect or made void
volleyball player — sportsperson: plays volleyball
wang laboratories — (body) Computer manufacturer, known for their office automation products and the Wang PC. Quarterly sales $208M, profits $3M (Aug 1994).

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