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ORIGIN: The expression existed in the seventeenth century as part of a longer one: To tie a knot with one’s tongue that one cannot untie with one’s teeth. It remained in this form until the early twentieth century but was later abbreviated. till the cows come home до второго пришествия; до бесконечности M E A N I N G : going on for a very long time I’ll stand here till the cows come home unless you pay me back the money I lent you. ORIGIN: This late 16th century idiom probably refers to how cows take their sweet time to return from the fields to the barn. till / when hell freezes over после дождичка в четверг; когда рак свистнет M E A N I N G : forever I’ll believe you when hell freezes over. ORIGIN: This jocular expression was vivid until over used soon after it emerged at the start of the twentieth century. The writer Scott Fitzgerald used it to sign off letters: Yours till hell freezes over. tit for tat око за око, зуб за зуб M E A N I N G : an unpleasant action given in return for one received I forgot her birthday and so she didn’t send me a card either. It was just tit for tat. ORIGIN: In the 16th century tip and tap both meant a hit or a blow. The expression tip for tap therefore meant a blow in exchange for a blow. Over the time the spelling has altered to the current tit for tat. toe the line ходить по струнке; подчиняться правилам M E A N I N G : to obey orders; to accept the policy or ideas of a group 134