19-letter words containing it

the (three) unities — the three principles of dramatic construction derived by French neoclassicists from Aristotle's Poetics, holding that a play should have one unified plot (unity of action) and that all the action should occur within one day (unity of time) and be limited to a single locale (unity of place)
the bitter/very end — If you do something to the bitter end or to the very end, you continue to do it for as long as you can, although it may be very unpleasant or dangerous.
the british disease — the pattern of strikes and industrial unrest in the 1970s and early 1980s supposed by many during this time to be endemic in Britain and to weaken the British economy
the executive suite — the offices of the top managers
the little corporal — a nickname of Napoleon Bonaparte
the open university — (in Britain) a university founded in 1969 for mature students studying by television and radio lectures, correspondence courses, local counselling, and summer schools
think nothing of it — If something happens and you think nothing of it, you do not pay much attention to it or think of it as strange or important, although later you realize that it is.
to be going on with — If you say that something is enough to be going on with, you mean that it is enough for your needs at the moment, although you will need something better at some time in the future.
to be reckoned with — of considerable importance or influence
to be up shit creek — to be in an extremely bad situation
to cast a/its spell — If something or someone casts their spell on you or casts a spell on you, you are fascinated or charmed by them.
to fit like a glove — If you say that something fits like a glove, you are emphasizing that it fits exactly.
to grin and bear it — If you grin and bear it, you accept a difficult or unpleasant situation without complaining because you know there is nothing you can do to make things better.
to have it off/away — To have it off with someone or have it away with someone means to have sex with them.
to sit on the fence — If you sit on the fence, you avoid supporting a particular side in a discussion or argument.
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.
too little too late — If you describe a situation as too little too late, you are blaming someone for not doing enough to prevent a problem and for taking action only after the problem had become very bad.
transitional relief — a form of tax relief, designed to smooth large changes in liability, which operates by restricting the proportion by which liability may change per year, both upwards and downwards
triangle inequality — the theorem that the absolute value of the sum of two quantities is less than or equal to the sum of the absolute values of the quantities.
unconstitutionality — not constitutional; unauthorized by or inconsistent with the constitution, as of a country.
unit of measurement — physical quantity
united presbyterian — a member of the United Presbyterian Church of North America, founded in Pittsburgh in 1858 by a union of two Presbyterian groups.
university entrance — an examination taken by pupils of postprimary schools
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
unlimited liability — liability that is not restricted to any unpaid portion of nominal capital invested in a business
valencian community — region comprising three provinces of E Spain: 8,998 sq mi (23,305 sq km); pop. 4,029,000; cap. Valencia
vapor recovery unit — A vapor recovery unit is a system for recovering vapors from inside sealed crude oil or condensate tanks, with a scrubber (= a device for removing unwanted substances) and compressor (= a device that raises pressure).
velocity microphone — a microphone in which the output varies according to the instantaneous velocity of the air molecules in the incident sound waves.
velocity modulation — the modulation in velocity of a beam of electrons or ions caused by passing the beam through a high-frequency electric field, as in a cavity resonator
vigilance committee — an unauthorized committee of citizens organized for the maintenance of order and the summary punishment of crime in the absence of regular or efficient courts.
visual display unit — video display terminal. Abbreviation: VDU.
vitamin b (complex) — a group of unrelated water-soluble vitamins found in liver, yeast, etc., including: a) vitamin B1 (see thiamine) b) vitamin B2 (see riboflavin) c) vitamin B6 (see pyridoxine) d) nicotinic acid e) pantothenic acid f) biotin g) inositol h) para-aminobenzoic acid i) choline j) folic acid k) vitamin B12 a complex vitamin, C63H90N14O14PCo, containing trivalent cobalt, essential for the normal maturation of erythrocytes, and for normal growth and neurological function, and used esp. in treating pernicious anemia and as an animal feed supplement
voltaic electricity — electric current; moving electric charges.
waste disposal unit — an electrically operated fitment in the plughole of a kitchen sink that breaks up food refuse so that it goes down the waste pipe
what-do-you-call-it — whachamacallit.
white-collar worker — office employee, clerical worker
white-fronted goose — a grayish-brown wild goose, Anser albifrons, of Eurasia and western North America, having a white patch on the front of the face.
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.
white-water rafting — White-water rafting is the activity of riding on a raft over rough, dangerous parts of a fast-flowing river.
white-winged scoter — a blackish North American duck, Melanitta deglandi, having a white patch on each wing.
with flying colours — If you pass a test with flying colours, you have done very well in the test.
with the gloves off — (of a dispute, argument, etc) conducted mercilessly and in earnest, with no reservations
with your eyes open — If you say that you did something with your eyes open or with your eyes wide open, you mean that you knew about the problems and difficulties that you were likely to have.
withdrawal symptoms — When someone has withdrawal symptoms, they feel ill after they have stopped taking a drug which they were addicted to.
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 one's rights — If you say that someone is within their rights to do something, you mean that they are morally or legally entitled to do it.
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.
world heritage site — a natural or manmade area or structure which is recognized as being of international importance and therefore deserving special protection
writ of prohibition — a command by a higher court that a lower court shall not exercise jurisdiction in a particular case.

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