change one’s tune








noun

  1. a succession of musical sounds forming an air or melody, with or without the harmony accompanying it.
  2. a musical setting of a hymn, poem, psalm, etc., usually in four-part harmony.
  3. the state of being in the proper pitch: to be in tune.
  4. agreement in pitch; unison; harmony.
  5. proper adjustment, as of radio instruments or circuits with respect to frequency.
  6. harmonious relationship; accord; agreement.
  7. Archaic. frame of mind; mood.
  8. Obsolete. a tone or sound.

verb (used with object), tuned, tun·ing.

  1. to adjust (a musical instrument) to a correct or given standard of pitch (often followed by up).
  2. to adapt (the voice, song, etc.) to a particular tone, to the expression of a particular feeling, or the like.
  3. to bring (someone or something) into harmony.
  4. to adjust (a motor, mechanism, or the like) for proper functioning.
  5. Radio and Television.
    1. to adjust (a circuit, frequency, or the like) so as to bring it into resonance with another circuit, a given frequency, or the like.
    2. to adjust (a receiving apparatus) so as to make it compatible in frequency with a transmitting apparatus whose signals are to be received.
    3. to adjust (a receiving apparatus) so as to receive the signals of a particular transmitting station.
  6. to put into or cause to be in a receptive condition, mood, etc.; bring into harmony or agreement.
  7. Archaic.
    1. to utter, sound, or express musically.
    2. to play upon (a lyre).

verb (used without object), tuned, tun·ing.

  1. to put a musical instrument in tune (often followed by up).
  2. to give forth a musical sound.
  3. to be in harmony or accord; become responsive.

Verb Phrases

  1. tune in, to adjust a radio or television set so as to receive (signals, a particular station, etc.).
  2. tune out,
    1. to adjust a radio or television set so as to stop or avoid receiving (a station or channel).
    2. Slang.to stop paying attention to a person, situation, etc.
  3. tune up,
    1. to cause a group of musical instruments to be brought to the same pitch.
    2. to begin to sing.
    3. to bring into proper operating order, as a motor: Before starting on our trip we should have the car tuned up.
Idioms
  1. call the tune, to decide matters of policy; control: He was technically running the business, but his father still called the tune.
  2. change one’s tune, to reverse one’s views; change one’s mind: She changed her tune about children when she married and had her own.
  3. sing a different tune, to be forced to change one’s ways, attitude, behavior, etc.: He will sing a different tune when he has to earn his own money.
  4. to the tune of, Informal. in or about the amount of: In order to expand, they will need capital to the tune of six million dollars.

noun

  1. a melody, esp one for which harmony is not essential
  2. the most important part in a musical texturethe cello has the tune at that point
  3. the condition of producing accurately pitched notes, intervals, etc (esp in the phrases in tune, out of tune)he can’t sing in tune
  4. accurate correspondence of pitch and intonation between instruments (esp in the phrases in tune, out of tune)the violin is not in tune with the piano
  5. the correct adjustment of a radio, television, or some other electronic circuit with respect to the required frequency (esp in the phrases in tune, out of tune)
  6. a frame of mind; disposition or mood
  7. obsolete a musical sound; note
  8. call the tune to be in control of the proceedings
  9. change one’s tune, sing another tune or sing another a different tune to alter one’s attitude or tone of speech
  10. to the tune of informal to the amount or extent ofcosts to the tune of a hundred pounds

verb

  1. to adjust (a musical instrument or a changeable part of one) to a certain pitch
  2. to adjust (a note, etc) so as to bring it into harmony or concord
  3. (tr) to adapt or adjust (oneself); attuneto tune oneself to a slower life
  4. (tr often foll by up) to make fine adjustments to (an engine, machine, etc) to obtain optimum performance
  5. electronics to adjust (one or more circuits) for resonance at a desired frequency
  6. obsolete to utter (something) musically or in the form of a melody; sing
  7. tune someone grief Southern African slang to annoy or harass someone
n.

late 14c., “a musical sound, a succession of musical notes,” unexplained variant of tone. Meaning “state of being in proper pitch” is from mid-15c.

v.

“bring into a state of proper pitch,” c.1500, from tune (n.). Non-musical meaning “to adjust an organ or receiver” is recorded from 1887. Verbal phrase tune in in reference to radio (later also TV) is recorded from 1913; figurative sense of “become aware” is recorded from 1926. Tune out “to eliminate radio reception” is recorded from 1908; figurative sense of “disregard, stop heeding” is from 1928. Related: Tuned; tuning.

Also, sing another or a different tune. Reverse one’s views or behavior, switch sides, as in When she realized she was talking to the bank president, she quickly changed her tune, or I bet Dan will sing a different tune when he finds out what the salary is. A version of this term, sing another song, dates from about 1300, and it has been theorized that it alludes to itinerant minstrels who changed the words of their songs to please their current audience. The first locution was already in use by 1600. Also see dance to another tune.

In addition to the idioms beginning with tune

  • tune in
  • tune out
  • tune up

also see:

  • call the tune
  • carry a tune
  • change one’s tune
  • dance to another tune
  • in tune
  • to the tune of
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