25-letter words containing i, s, r

stress corrosion cracking — Stress corrosion cracking is a type of corrosion that can happen when a stress is present, resulting in cracks in the surface of metal.
stretch one's imagination — If you say that something stretches your imagination, you mean that it is good because it makes you think about things that you had not thought about before.
strong accumulation point — a point such that every neighborhood of the point contains infinitely many points of a given set.
subordinating conjunction — a conjunction introducing a subordinate clause, as when in They were glad when I finished.
subscriber trunk dialling — a service by which telephone subscribers can obtain trunk calls by dialling direct without the aid of an operator
sulphate-resisting cement — a type of Portland cement that resists normal concentrations of sulphates: used in concrete for flues and underwater work
sympathetic introspection — a study of human conduct in which the investigator imagines himself or herself engaged in that conduct.
take sth under advisement — If someone in authority takes a matter under advisement, they decide that the matter needs to be considered more carefully, often by experts.
tess of the d'urbervilles — a novel (1891) by Thomas Hardy.
tetragonal trisoctahedron — Geometry. a trisoctahedron the faces of which are quadrilaterals; trapezohedron.
the ball is in sb's court — If you say that the ball is in someone's court, you mean that it is his or her responsibility to take the next action or decision in a situation.
the ball is in your court — you are obliged to make the next move
the empire state building — a very high skyscraper in New York City
the first epistle of john — an epistle attributed to the apostle John which counters claims that Jesus Christ came only in spirit and not in the flesh
the high priestess of sth — if you call a woman the high priestess of a particular thing, you are saying in a slightly mocking way that she is considered by people to be expert in that thing
the industrial revolution — the transformation in the 18th and 19th centuries of first Britain and then other W European countries and the US into industrial nations
the knives are out for sb — If a lot of people want something unpleasant to happen to someone, for example if they want them to lose their job, you can say that the knives are out for that person.
the leaning tower of pisa — the bell tower of Pisa Cathedral
the mother of parliaments — the British Parliament: the model and creator of many other Parliaments
the protestant work ethic — a belief in the moral value of work, associated with Protestant Christianity
the sands are running out — there is not much time left before death or the end
the scholastic profession — the profession of teaching
the third epistle of john — an epistle attributed to the apostle John and addressed to a man called Gaius, who is praised in the letter
the trash heap of history — a figurative or imaginative place where forgotten things or people go
there are no flies on him — he is no fool
thermoluminescence dating — a method of dating archaeological specimens, chiefly pottery, by measuring the radiation given off by ceramic materials as they are heated.
through the looking-glass — a story for children (1871) by Lewis Carroll: the sequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
throw dust in the eyes of — to confuse or mislead
throw one's weight around — the amount or quantity of heaviness or mass; amount a thing weighs.
throw one's weight behind — If you throw your weight behind a person, plan, or campaign, you use all your influence and do everything you can to support them.
to be in the catbird seat — to be in a very good situation
to be in the driving seat — If you say that someone is in the driving seat, you mean that they are in control in a situation.
to be on first-name terms — (of two people) knowing each other well enough to call each other by their first names, rather than having to use a more formal title.
to drink someone's health — When you drink to someone's health or drink their health, you have a drink as a sign of wishing them health and happiness.
to get on your high horse — to adopt a superior or pretentious attitude
to give someone free rein — If you give free rein to someone, you give them a lot of freedom to do what they want.
to go on a shooting spree — (of a fanatic)to shoot a number of people
to go on a shopping spree — to shop excessively; to buy a lot of things in an extravagant way
to have irons in the fire — If someone has a lot of irons in the fire, they are involved in several different activities or have several different plans.
to keep your options open — If you keep your options open or leave your options open, you delay making a decision about something.
to live beyond your means — If someone is living beyond their means, they are spending more money than they can afford. If someone is living within their means, they are not spending more money than they can afford.
to mind your own business — If you say to someone 'mind your own business' or 'it's none of your business', you are rudely telling them not to ask about something that does not concern them.
to monitor sb's movements — to monitor a person's location and activities during a specific time
to read between the lines — If you read between the lines, you understand what someone really means, or what is really happening in a situation, even though it is not said openly.
to sing someone's praises — If you sing someone's praises, you praise them in an enthusiastic way.
to take something as read — If you take something as read, you accept it as true or right and therefore feel that it does not need to be discussed or proved.
to tear someone to pieces — If someone tears you to pieces, pulls your work to pieces, or picks your work to pieces, they criticize you or your work very severely.
to try someone's patience — If someone tries your patience or tests your patience, they annoy you so much that it is very difficult for you to stay calm.
track and field athletics — a collection of sporting events that involve running, sprinting, throwing, jumping and walking
trading standards officer — a person who works for a trading standards office

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