Take it with a grain of salt.

If you 'take something with a grain of salt,' it means that you consider the source while deciding if something is true or not.

Examples:

-Sara didn't like the movie.  She said it was awful.

-yeah, but you have to take everything she says with a grain of salt.  She doesn't like most movies.

-The newspaper said the economy is sinking.

-It could be true, but you have to take it with a grain of salt.  That newspaper isn't very reliable.

Tied up

A person who is 'tied up' is busy and can't take on a new request from someone else. It can also be used as an apology to say that they couldn't get to something they were supposed to be doing because something unexpected happened to prevent them from doing it. To add emphasis, they can say they're 'all tied up.' this expression is often used in a work place or other professional environment.

Example:
-I'm sorry; I can't help you with that. I'm all tied up today with a project. Maybe tomorrow?
-Sounds good.

-Did you finish the Stevens case?
-No, I'm sorry. I was all tied up in meetings with my team and never got around to it.

T.M.I.

'T.M.I.' (each letter in pronounced separately) means 'Too much information.' It is used as a response after someone has said more than you wanted to know.

Example:
-We had sex on our first date!
-T.M.I.!

Thingamajig

A 'thingamajig' is the name you call something when you don't know or can't remember its name. Quite often, it is something with a complicated or unusual name.

Example:
-Hey, can you hand me that thingamajig over there?
-You mean the ratcheting box wrench? Here you go!

To go off on someone

'To go off on someone' means to tell someone how angry you are about something they did.

Example:
-So what did she say?
-She totally went off on me, saying how immature and irresponsible I am.

Tightwad

A 'tightwad' is a person who likes to hold on to their money and not spend it. The term is not a compliment, but is pejorative, and the person is often considered to be 'cheap.'

Example:
-My favorite kids' store is Gymboree. Where do you get your girls' clothes?
-I love Gymboree, too, but my husband is a total tightwad.

Ticking time bomb

A 'ticking time bomb' is a person who has poor anger management skills and could do something violent at any moment.

Example:
-Did you hear about the guy who shot the manager at the job he'd just been fired from?
-Yes. All his coworkers said on the news that he was a ticking time bomb. Luckily, the manager wasn't seriously hurt.

Tear-jerker

A 'tear-jerker' is usually movie or tv show that causes you to suddenly cry.

Example:
-Have you seen the new Meryl Streep movie?
-Not yet, but I heard it's a real tear-jerker!

To tweak

'To tweak' something is corporate-speak for basic editing or making other minor changes.

Example:
-This document needs to be tweaked before we can send it out.

"Trick-or-Treat!"

"Trick-or-Treat" is what kids say when they go trick-or-treating on Halloween (October 31st), which is traditionally going door-to-door in your neighborhood, dressed in a costume, asking for candy. Some communities hold trick-or-treating on a weekend night that is closest to Halloween. In the interest of safety, it is now common to see trick-or-treating offered by malls or in other shared, public spaces. Some churches or other organizations also hold a 'Trunk-or-Treat,' where kids go from car-to-car in a parking lot, collecting candy from people who have have their trunks open to show off their Halloween-decorated interiors.

Traditionally, 'trick-or-treat' meant 'Give me a treat or I'm going to play a trick on you." Tricks included such things as soaping windows and egging houses. Now it just means, "Look at me, all cute in my costume, and may I have some candy, please?"

Example:
-Trick-or-treat!
-Here you go! Please, take two!

He took another opportunity.

Saying that someone "took another opportunity" is a way of saying someone no longer works in a place. Since it is a vague response, there is no way to know if the person quit or was fired.

-Does Michael still work here?
-No, he took another opportunity.
-Oh, that's too bad! I really liked him!
-Yeah, we miss him, too.