Meaning:
12-tone music 
n.
a type of serial music introduced by Arnold Schoenberg; uses a tone row formed by the twelve semitones of the chromatic scale (and inverted or backward versions of the row)
to Idiom, Proverb
a bite to eat
a lunch, a snack We can grab a bite to eat at the arena. They sell snacks there.
a bone to pick
something to argue about, a matter to discuss "Joe sounded angry when he said, ""I have a bone to pick with you."""
a fart in a windstorm
an act that has no effect, an unimportant event A letter to the editor of a paper is like a fart in a windstorm.
a fine-toothed comb
a careful search, a search for a detail She read the file carefully - went over it with a fine-toothed comb.
a hard row to hoe
a difficult task, many problems A single parent has a hard row to hoe, working day and night.
a hot potato
a situation likely to cause trouble to the person handling it The issue of the non-union workers is a real hot potato that we must deal with.
a hot topic
popular topic, the talk of the town Sex is a hot topic. Sex will get their attention.
a into g
(See ass into gear)
a little bird told me
someone told me, one of your friends told me """How did you know that I play chess?"" ""Oh, a little bird told me."""
a party to that
a person who helps to do something bad Jane said she didn't want to be a party to computer theft.
a pinch to grow an inch
on your birthday, guests pinch you to help you grow taller """Happy birthday, Sal. Here's a pinch to grow an inch!"" ""Ouch!"""
a score to settle
an argument to finish, a bone to pick I have a score to settle with him. He owes me a month's rent.
a sharp tongue
a tendency to reply sharply or sarcastically Karly is a beautiful girl, but her sharp tongue may be a problem.
a slip of the tongue
a spoken error or mistake, a word that slips out I said brew instead of blue. It was a slip of the tongue.
a soft touch
a person who will not refuse, an easy mark Barry's a soft touch. Let's ask him for a loan.
a stone's throw
a short distance, 25 metres A deer came into the yard, just a stone's throw from our door.
a sweet tooth
a need to eat candy, a craving for sugar After dinner we'll serve mints. Daddy has a sweet tooth, eh.
a talking to
a scolding, a personal lecture If he has a poor attitude, Dan will give him a talking to.
a token gesture
a small sign of thanks or recognition To thank us, they put our names in the paper - a token gesture.
a tongue-lashing
a scolding, a lecture, a talking to When Sis came home drunk, Dad gave her a tongue-lashing.
a total stranger
one you have never seen, a perfect stranger """Can I give you a ride home?"" ""No. You're a total stranger."""
a touch of
a little illness, minor symptoms Mary's not feeling well today. She has a touch of the flu.
a tough act to follow
a performance that is not easy to equal Gail danced very well. That is a tough act to follow.
a tough call
a difficult decision, a hard choice Was the goal scored before the game ended? It's a tough call.
a tough row to hoe
(See a hard row to hoe)
a tough time of it
a time of stress or bad luck, a rough time of it When Bev left home she had a tough time of it. She had no job.
a tower of strength
a person who helps you during a crisis, a brick When my parents were killed in an accident, Harry was a tower of strength to me.
a word to the wise is sufficient
a wise person understands when he hears a key word I can't discuss the plan, but a word to the wise is sufficient: progress.
about to do something
on the point of doing something She was about to leave when the phone rang.
according to Hoyle
according to the rules, if we follow the rules According to Hoyle, it's your turn to deal the cards.
add fuel to the fire
cause more anger, aggravate a problem He's angry. Telling him bad news will add fuel to the fire.
add insult to injury
add another negative, make it worse, put your foot in it If you say his answer is wrong, and then say he can't understand, you've added insult to injury.
all it's cracked up to be
as good as the ads say, live up to the reports The new computer isn't all it's cracked up to be. It's not so hot.
all things to all people
satisfy everyone, live up to Be yourself. Stop trying to be all things to all people.
an apple a day keeps the doctor away
eat one apple each day for good health "Mom gave me an apple, saying, ""An apple a day... ."""
an axe to grind
a point to discuss or argue about Jason had an axe to grind at the meeting - job security.
an eye for an eye (a tooth for a tooth)
equal punishment or revenge Canadian laws do not demand an eye for an eye.
angels fear to tread
(See where angels fear to tread)
armed to the teeth
fully armed, having many weapons The robbers were armed to the teeth when they robbed the bank.
ass into gear
moving, working, doing After holidays, I'll get my ass into gear and paint the house.
at the top of her game
at her best, playing as well as she can If Val's at the top of her game she can defeat Olga.
at the top of his voice
as loud as he can, shouting loudly "Ben called for help at the top of his voice. ""Help!"" he shouted."
at the top of one
as loud as one can, very loudly I yelled at the top of my lungs to get the attention of the man.
attend to someone
take care or deal with someone The doctor attended to the other patient before he got to my mother.
away to the races
going without a problem, smooth sailing When they approve our business loan, we'll be away to the races.
axe to grind
(See an axe to grind)
back to square one
back to where one started We were forced to go back to square one in our efforts to change the name of the company.
back to the drawing board
go back to start a project or idea from the beginning The boss doesn
back to the grind
return to the job, go back to work After New Year's, it's back to the grind - the old routine.
back to the salt mines
back to work, humorous expression to express going back to unpleasant work Well, lunch is over so let