25-letter words containing s, t, a, e

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.
structured query language — SQL
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 advantage of someone — If someone takes advantage of you, they treat you unfairly for their own benefit, especially when you are trying to be kind or to help them.
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.
take the queen's shilling — to enlist in the army
take the sting out of sth — If something takes the sting out of a situation, it makes it less unpleasant.
take up the cudgels (for) — to come to the defense (of)
tetragonal trisoctahedron — Geometry. a trisoctahedron the faces of which are quadrilaterals; trapezohedron.
thank one's (lucky) stars — to be thankful for what appears to be good luck
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 calm before the storm — You can use the calm before the storm to refer to a quiet period in which there is little or no activity, before a period in which there is a lot of trouble or intense activity.
the department of defense — the United States federal department concerned with national security
the empire state building — a very high skyscraper in New York City
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 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 one's weight around — the amount or quantity of heaviness or mass; amount a thing weighs.
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 be on the naughty step — to experience public disfavour, usually because of perceived wayward behaviour
to call something to mind — If something brings another thing to mind or calls another thing to mind, it makes you think of that other thing, usually because it is similar in some way.
to catch sight of someone — If you catch sight of someone, you suddenly see them, often briefly.
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 give someone a bunk-up — to give someone a competitive advantage in order to help them get on better than they would otherwise have done
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 hold someone to ransom — If a kidnapper is holding someone to ransom or holding them ransom in British English, or is holding a person for ransom in American English, they keep that person prisoner until they are given what they want.
to lay claim to something — If you lay claim to something you do not have, you say that it belongs to you.
to lay siege to something — If police, soldiers, or journalists lay siege to a place, they surround it in order to force the people there to come out or give up control of the place.
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 pull out all the stops — If you pull out all the stops, you do everything you can to make something happen or succeed.
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 sail close to the wind — If you sail close to the wind, you take a risk by doing or saying something that may get you into trouble.
to sing someone's praises — If you sing someone's praises, you praise them in an enthusiastic way.
to someone's satisfaction — If you do something to someone's satisfaction, they are happy with the way that you have done it.

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