- tail wagging the dog: cliché (avoid)
- take action on, change to: act (wordiness) [We will act on the matter. Not: We will take action on the matter.]
- take into consideration, change to: consider (wordiness) [She will consider the matter. Not: She will take the matter into consideration]
- take the bull by the horns: cliché (avoid)
- take the gloves off: cliché (avoid)
- taking the reins: cliché (avoid)
- talk is cheap: cliché (avoid)
- telling effect: cliché (avoid)
- tell it like it is: cliché (avoid)
- temporary reprieve: delete temporary (redundancy) [The convict was given a reprieve. Not: The convict was given a temporary reprieve.]
- tender mercies: cliché (avoid)
- tense standoff: cliché (avoid)
- terror-stricken: cliché (avoid)
- thanking one's lucky stars: cliché (avoid)
- thanking you in advance: cliché (avoid)
- thanks: not grateful thanks (redundancy) [They offered thanks. Not: They offered grateful thanks.]
- there’s the rub: cliché (avoid)
- thinking: not thinking to myself or thinking to one's self (redundancy) [Unless one thinks out loud, one always thinks to one's self. Elaborate only when the reader or listener will gain new information.]
- this day and age: cliché (avoid)
- this mortal coil: cliché (avoid)
- this same: delete same (redundancy) [We want this model. Not: We want this same model.]
- those present: cliché (avoid)
- thought: not was of the opinion (wordiness) [The judge thought the testimony was complete. Not: The judge was of the opinion that the testimony was complete.]
- threesome of triplets: delete threesome of (redundancy) [The triplets kept their parents busy. Not: The threesome of triplets kept their parents busy.]
- throughout the length and breadth: delete length and breadth (redundancy) [She was known through the state. Not: She was known throughout the length and breadth of the state.]
- throw a monkey wrench into the works: cliché (avoid)
- throw a party: cliché (avoid)
- throw caution to the winds: cliché (avoid)
- thunderous applause: cliché (avoid)
- tie that binds: cliché (avoid)
- tie the knot: cliché (avoid)
- tilting at windmills: cliché (avoid)
- time: not point in (redundancy) [We will meet at some time. Not: We will meet at some point in time.]
- time flies: cliché (avoid)
- time immemorial: cliché (avoid)
- time is ripe: cliché (avoid)
- timeless classic: cliché (avoid)
- time of one’s life: cliché (avoid)
- time period: delete period (redundancy) [The time it took was insignificant. Not: The time period it took was insignificant.]
- tinsel town (for Hollywood or Los Angeles): cliché (don't use)
- tip of the tongue: cliché (avoid)
- tip of the iceberg: cliché (avoid)
- tired but happy: cliché (avoid)
- tit for tat: cliché (avoid)
- today: not in this day and age (wordiness) [Today we have improved methods. Not: In this day and age we have improved methods.]
- today’s modern: delete modern (redundancy) [Today's method is best. Not: Today's modern method is best.]
- toe the line: cliché (avoid)
- toil in the vineyard: cliché (avoid)
- tongue in cheek: cliché (avoid)
- too numerous to mention: cliché (avoid)
- total annihilation: delete total (redundancy) [Nuclear arsenals threaten annihilation. Not: Nuclear arsenals threaten total annihilation.]
- total destruction: delete total (redundancy) [The fire led to destruction. Not: The fire led to total destruction.]
- total extinction: delete total (redundancy) [Global warming threatens multiple extinction. Not: Global warming threatens multiple today extinction.]
- total reversal: delete total (redundancy) [The decision represented a reversal. Not: The decision represented a total reversal.]
- tough nut to crack: cliché (avoid)
- tower of strength: cliché (avoid)
- travelers’ mecca: cliché (avoid)
- trials and tribulations: cliché (avoid)
- trite. See cliché
- true blue: cliché (avoid)
- true colors: cliché (avoid)
- true facts: delete true (redundancy) [The facts were clear. Not: The true facts were clear.]
- true original: cliché (avoid) [and probably redundancy]
- tumultuous applause: cliché (avoid)
- turn of the century: needs to be written with meaning absolutely clear in context. Example: It was a turn-of-the-century attitude in the vein of the march up San Juan Hill. Or: We have soon forgotten the turn of the century and the Y2K scare?
- turn over a new leaf: cliché (avoid)
- two peas in a pid: cliché (avoid)
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