take the lid off
To let out in the open; divulge.
It's about time to take the lid off the question of how many prisoners of war are still in enemy hands.
To start to face an issue.
"The best way to deal with your divorce," the doctor said to Fran, "is to take the lid off of it."
take the offensive
To make oneself the attacking party.
After many months of preparation, the freedom fighters were ready to take the offensive.
take time off
have off
have time off
To have free time, not to have to work (also: to take time off.
To take time off is used when someone makes a decision to have free time, sometimes when others might not agree with the decision.
To take time off is used when someone makes a decision to have free time, sometimes when others might not agree with the decision.
If I had some time off this afternoon, I would finish writing the letters I promised to my family.
Every morning the company workers have time off for a coffee break.
Several workers took the afternoon off to go to a baseball game.
takeoff
Departure of an airplane; the act of becoming airborne.
The nervous passenger was relieved that we had such a wonderfully smooth takeoff.
The plane took off over an hour late. The passengers had to buckle their seatbelts during takeoff.
Imitation; a parody.
Vaughn Meader used to do a wonderful takeoff on President Kennedy's speech.
taper off
To come to an end little by little; become smaller toward the end.
The river tapers off here and becomes a brook.
To stop a habit gradually; do something less and less often.
Robert gave up smoking all at once instead of tapering off.
tee off
To hit the golf ball from a small wooden peg or tee to begin play for each hole.
We got to the golf course just in time to see the champion tee off.
To hit a ball, especially a baseball very hard or far.
He teed off on the first pitch.
To attack vigorously.
The governor teed off on his opponent's speech.
To make (someone) angry or disgusted.
It teed me off when Billy stole my candy.
Joe was teed off because he had to wait so long.
tell off
To name or count one by one and give some special duty to; give a share to.
Five boy scouts were told off to clean the camp.
To speak to angrily or sharply; attack with words; scold.
Mr. Black got angry and told off the boss.
Bobby kept pulling Sally's hair; finally she got angry and told him where to get off.
tell one where to get off
tell one where to head in
To talk angrily to; speak to or answer with rough language; scold.
Bob told Ted to get out of his way. Ted told Bob where to get off.
Mary laughed at Barbara's hairdo. Barbara told Mary where to head in.