19-letter words containing h, o, e, t, a

to change your tune — If you say that someone has changed their tune, you are criticizing them because they have changed their opinion or way of doing things.
to fight for breath — If you fight for breath, you try to breathe but find it very difficult.
to hang by a thread — If you say that something is hanging by a thread, you mean that it is in a very uncertain state and is unlikely to survive or succeed.
to have and to hold — to possess for life
to have it off/away — To have it off with someone or have it away with someone means to have sex with them.
to have sth in mind — If you ask someone what they have in mind, you want to know in more detail about an idea or wish they have.
to hold your breath — If you hold your breath, you make yourself stop breathing for a few moments, for example because you are under water.
to lay down the law — If you say that someone lays down the law, you are critical of them because they give other people orders and they think that they are always right.
to make like sth/sb — If you make like you are doing something, you act as if you are doing it, and if you make like someone, you act as if you are that person.
to play hard to get — If someone plays hard to get, they pretend not to be interested in another person or in what someone is trying to persuade them to do.
to ring the changes — If you say that someone rings the changes, you mean that they make changes or improvements to the way something is organized or done.
to run the gauntlet — If you run the gauntlet, you go through an unpleasant experience in which a lot of people criticize or attack you.
to take the biscuit — If someone has done something very stupid, rude, or selfish, you can say that they take the biscuit or that what they have done takes the biscuit, to emphasize your surprise at their behaviour.
to this/that effect — You use to this effect, to that effect, or to the effect that to indicate that you have given or are giving a summary of something that was said or written, and not the actual words used.
touch all the bases — to deal with all related details
trahison des clercs — a compromising of intellectual integrity, esp. for political reasons
tricks of the trade — expert techniques
trisodium phosphate — sodium phosphate (def 3).
tuamotu archipelago — a group of about 80 coral islands in the S Pacific, in French Polynesia. Pop: 15 973 (2002; including the Gambier Islands). Area: 860 sq km (332 sq miles)
turn someone's head — the upper part of the body in humans, joined to the trunk by the neck, containing the brain, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.
typographical error — an error in printed or typewritten matter resulting from striking the improper key of a keyboard, from mechanical failure, or the like.
ultramicrochemistry — the branch of microchemistry dealing with minute quantities of material weighing one microgram or less.
under the banner of — If someone does something under the banner of a particular cause, idea, or belief, they do it saying that they support that cause, idea, or belief.
under the shadow of — in danger of; apparently fated for
university hospital — a hospital that is affiliated with a university. University hospitals provide clinical education and training to future and current doctors, nurses, and other health professionals, in addition to delivering medical care to patients
valley of the kings — a valley on the west bank of the Nile near the site of Thebes: the necropolis of many of the kings and queens of the 18th and 19th dynasties of ancient Egypt, c1350–c1200 b.c.
wage-push inflation — an inflationary trend caused by wage increases that in turn cause rises in production costs and prices.
waste heat recovery — the use of heat that is produced in a thermodynamic cycle, as in a furnace, combustion engine, etc, in another process, such as heating feedwater or air
wearable technology — a small computer or advanced electronic device that is worn or carried on the body: the trendiest wearable technologies.
welsh mountain pony — a small sturdy but graceful breed of pony used mostly for riding, originally from Wales
wesleyan methodists — a branch of the Methodist Church in its original form
west dunbartonshire — a council area of W central Scotland, on Loch Lomond and the Clyde estuary: corresponds to part of the historical county of Dunbartonshire; part of Strathclyde Region from 1975 to 1996: engineering industries. Administrative centre: Dumbarton. Pop: 92 320 (2003 est). Area: 162 sq km (63 sq miles)
what makes one tick — a slight, sharp, recurring click, tap, or beat, as of a clock.
what possessed you? — If you ask what possessed someone to do something, you are emphasizing your great surprise that they have done something which you consider foolish or dangerous.
white-collar worker — office employee, clerical worker
white-handed gibbon — a gibbon, Hylobates lar, inhabiting Thailand, the Malay Peninsula, and northern Sumatra, varying from black to light buff in color, and having white hands and feet: an endangered species.
whorfian hypothesis — Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.
withdrawal syndrome — a spectrum of physical and behavioral symptoms following cessation from the continuous use of an addictive drug, the character and severity of the symptoms depending upon the particular drug and the daily dose.
within rocket range — able to be reached by rockets
without further ado — If you do something without further ado or without more ado, you do it at once and do not discuss or delay it any longer.
woman in the street — the average woman: a new magazine for the woman in the street.
won't have a bar of — cannot tolerate; dislike
work sb/os to death — If you say that someone works another person to death, you are emphasizing that they make them work very hard indeed, especially in a way that seems cruel or unfair.
world heritage site — a natural or manmade area or structure which is recognized as being of international importance and therefore deserving special protection
writing on the wall — writing done with a pen or pencil in the hand; script.
yellowtail kingfish — a large carangid game fish, Seriola grandis, of S Australian waters
yeoman of the guard — a member of the bodyguard of the English sovereign, instituted in 1485, which now consists of 100 men, including officers, having purely ceremonial duties.
your hands are tied — If you say that your hands are tied, you mean that something is preventing you from acting in the way that you want to.
zenithal projection — a type of map projection in which part of the earth's surface is projected onto a plane tangential to it, either at one of the poles (polar zenithal), at the equator (equatorial zenithal), or between (oblique zenithal)
zero-hours contract — an employment contract which does not oblige the employer to provide regular work for the employee, but requires the employee to be on call in the event that work becomes available

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