English Idioms - Alphabetical list U-Z

	Idiom	Meaning
W	On the wagon	Someone who is on the wagon is no longer drinking alcohol. "No wine for me please. I'm on the wagon."
	Wait for the cat to jump	If you wait for the cat to jump, or to see which way the cat jumps, you delay taking action until you see how events will turn out. "Let's wait for the cat to jump before we decide."
	Wait for a raindrop in the drought	When someone is waiting for a raindrop in the drought, they are waiting or hoping for something that has little chance of happening. "For many people finding a job these days is like waiting for a raindrop in the drought! "
	Waiting game	A person who plays a waiting game delays taking any action or making any decisions because they prefer to wait and see how things develop, usually in the hope that this will put them in a stronger position.
	Waiting in the wings	If someone is waiting in the wings, they are waiting for an opportunity to take action, especially to replace someone else in their job or position. "There are many young actors waiting in the wings, ready to show their talent."
	Walk on air	When you are happy and excited because of a pleasant event that makes you feel as if you are floating, you are walking on air. "Sophie has been walking on air since her painting won the first prize."
	Walk and chew gum (at the same time)	If you can walk and chew gum, you are able to do more than one thing at a time. This expression is often used negatively to indicate incompetence. "Why did you hire that guy? He can't walk and chew gum at the same time!"
	Walk on eggshells	If you walk on eggshells with someone, you are careful not to hurt or offend them. "She's so sensitive, you have to walk on eggshells with her all the time."
	Walk into the lion's den	If you walk into the lion's den, you find yourself in a difficult situation in which you have to face unfriendly or aggressive people. "After the failure of the negotiations, he had to walk into the lion's den and face the Press."
	Walk a tightrope	If a person is walking a tightrope, they are in a difficult or delicate situation where they must act carefully. "The management is walking a tightrope in their efforts both to keep the costs down and satisfy the trade unions."
	Walking encyclopaedia	This term refers to a person who is very knowledgeable about a particular subject. "The origin of Halloween? Ask Jill - she's a walking encyclopaedia!"
	Walking papers	If you are given your walking papers, your contract or a relationship is ended. "After causing a diplomatic incident, Carter got his walking papers."
	Want someone's head on a platter	If someone makes you so angry that you want them to be punished, you want their head on a platter. "He was so angry when he read the article about his family that he wanted the journalist's head on a platter."
	Been in/through the wars	If a person or thing has been in (or through) the wars, they show signs of rough treatment, injury or damage. "He arrived in a car that looked as if it had been in the wars.'
	Watch one's step	If you tell someone to watch their step, you are advising them to be careful how they behave or speak in order to avoid getting into trouble. "There is zero tolerance in this school for bad behaviour so watch your step! "
	Watch someone like a hawk	If you watch someone like a hawk, you keep your eyes on them or watch them very carefully. "Sarah watches the children like a hawk when she takes them swimming."
	First water	Something that is of the first water is of the finest or most exceptional quality (like being compared to a diamond). "The violinist gave a performance that was of the first water.
	Hot water	To say that somebody is in hot water means that they have done something wrong and people are angry with them. "John has been in hot water since his boss discovered that he had been using the Internet for personal purposes."
	Water down	If you water down something such as a proposal, report or declaration, you try to make it weaker or less effective, or less likely to cause anger. "When announcing the rejection of the proposal, he tried to water down the committee's unfavourable comments."
	Water off a duck's back	Criticism or comments which have no effect on someone is referred to as being "like water off a duck's back".
	Water under the bridge	If something difficult or unpleasant took place in the past but is no longer important, it is referred to as water under the bridge. "They had a serious disagreement in the past but that's water under the bridge."
	Wave a dead chicken	When faced with a serious problem, if you take steps that you know in advance will be futile, but will show that you made an effort, you wave a dead chicken. "The TV set was permanently damaged, but the technician decided to wave a dead chicken to satisfy the old lady before announcing the bad news."
	On the same wavelength	To say that two people are on the same wavelength means that they understand each other well because they share the same interests and opinions. "I get on very well with Alice. We're always on the same wavelength."
	Ways and means	To say that there are ways and means of obtaining or achieving something means that there are several methods which will produce the result you want. "All ways and means will be used to provide assistance to the survivors."
	Weak at the knees	If a person is weak at the knees, they are temporarily barely able to stand because of emotion, fear or illness. "The shock of the announcement made me go weak at the knees."
	Weal and woe	This expression refers to the good and bad times, joys and sorrows, or prosperity and misfortune. "We all get our share of weal and woe in life."
	Wear many hats	Someone who wears many hats has to do many different types of tasks or play a variety of roles. "Our company is small so the employees need to be flexible and accept to wear many hats.
	Wear your heart on your sleeve	If you wear your heart on your sleeve, you allow others to see your emotions or feelings. "You could see she was hurt - she wears her heart on her sleeve."
	Wear the trousers	The partner in a couple who wears the trousers is the one who makes the important decisions. "The salesman hesitated. It was difficult to see who wore the trousers in the couple.
	Wear out one's welcome	If someone wears out their welcome, they stay too long as a guest, causing inconvenience to their host. "Alan and Sue invited us to stay on for a few days but we didn't want to wear out our welcome."
	Under the weather	If you are under the weather, you are not feeling very well. "You look a bit under the weather. What's the matter?"
	Weather the storm	If you weather the storm, you succeed in surviving a difficult period or situation. "Given the current recession, the company is weathering the storm better than some others."
	Weigh the pros and cons	If you weigh the pros and cons, you consider the advantages and disadvantages, the arguments for or against something. "We'd better weigh the pros and cons before deciding."
	Weigh your words	If you weigh your words, you choose your words carefully in order to express exactly what you mean and avoid any misunderstanding. "At the press conference he spoke very clearly, weighing his words."
	Pull your weight	If you pull your weight, you work as hard as everyone else in a team, a group or a company.
	Wet the baby's head	This expression means to have to drink to celebrate the birth of a baby. "When his first child was born, Tom invited his colleagues to a local bar to wet the baby's head."
	A wet blanket	A person who is a wet blanket is so boring or unenthusiastic that they prevent other people from enjoying themselves. "Come on! Don't be such a wet blanket!"
	A whale of a time	When people have a whale of a time, they enjoy themselves very much. "We had a whale of a time at the party last night."
	What goes around comes around	This expression means that if you do something bad, something bad will happen to you eventually. "He felt guilty about what he did, with a feeling that what goes around comes around."
	Whatever floats your boat	This expression means that although you don't quite agree with the other person, it's their choice and you think they should do whatever makes them happy. "You're going to spend your honeymoon in Alaska? Well, whatever floats your boat!"
	Wheeling and dealing	Someone accused of wheeling and dealing is thought to be involved in complicated, if not dishonest, deals in business or politics. "Since the beginning of the election campaign, there's been a lot of wheeling and dealing going on."
	The wheels fall off	When a situation gets out of control and everything starts to go wrong, the wheels fall off. "The wheels fell off her career when she started taking drugs and cancelling concerts."
	When the going gets tough...	This expression means that when faced with a difficult or dangerous situation, strong people take action in order to solve the problem. "Tom has a positive attitude. He often says "when the going gets tough, the tough get going".
	When the rubber hits the road	This expression refers to the moment when you put a theory into practice or actually apply what you have learned. "The plan sounds good. I'd like to be there when the rubber hits the road."
	While the going is good	If you take an action while the going is good, you do something before the situation changes and it becomes impossible. "There's a 50% discount on subscriptions this month. I think I'll subscribe while the going is good."
	Whistle in the dark	If you whistle in the dark, you try to hide your fear in a frightening or dangerous situation. "Tom looks confident but he's just whistling in the dark; he knows he's going to lose his job."
	White Christmas	A white Christmas is when it snows at Christmas and the ground is white. "We haven't had a white Christmas in twenty years."
	White as a ghost	A person who is as white as ghost looks very pale and frightened.
	White lie	To tell a white lie means to tell a harmless lie in order to avoid hurting somebody.
	Whiz-kid	A whiz kid is someone, usually young, who is very talented and successful at doing something. "Apparently the new engineer knows what he's doing - a real whiz-kid from what I've heard."
	Why buy a cow when you can get milk for free?	This expression refers to not paying for something that you can obtain for free. (Sometimes used to refer to a decision not to marry when you can have the benefits of marriage without any commitment.) Rent is high so Bobby is still living with his parents. He says: Why buy a cow when you can get milk for free?
	Whys and wherefores	To talk about the whys and wherefores means to talk about the reasons. "We need to discuss the whys and wherefores of our failure/success."
	Wide berth	If you give someone or something a wide berth, you stay at a prudent distance from them in order to avoid unwanted consequences. "The only way to avoid traffic jams is to give the town centre a wide berth."
	Wide of the mark	If something is (or falls) wide of the mark, it is incorrect or inadequate, or it is not what is required or expected. "The price offered was wide of the mark - it was sold for ten times more!"
	Wild goose chase	If you say that you were sent on a wild goose chase, you mean that you wasted a lot of time looking for something that there was little chance of finding. "They tried to discover who sent the anonymous complaint, but it turned out to be a wild goose chase."
	At will	When it is possible to do something at will, you can do it as and when you please, wherever or whenever you wish, without restriction or limit. "He's so rich, he can travel the world at will."
	Win by a nose	When there is a very slight difference between the winner and the other competitors, victory is won by a nose. "One second ahead of the others, he won the race by a nose."
	Win-win	The term win-win refers to a situation or proposition where both or all parties benefit from the outcome. "There were smiles all round when the contract was signed - it was a win-win situation."
	Wind up in the wrong hands	If something winds up in the wrong hands, it comes into the possession of someone undesirable, for example an opponent or a competitor. "Put the plans away carefully. We don't want them to wind up in the wrong hands."
	Wind someone up/be wound up	When someone is so excited that they talk non-stop, they are wound up. "Claire had so much to tell us after her trip that she was wound up."
	Get wind of something	If you get wind of something, you hear about something you were unaware of, usually a private or secret matter. "The chairman didn't want the press to get wind of the takeover before the agreement was signed."
	Window on the world	When something provides an opportunity to observe and learn about people and life in other countries, it is called a window on the world. "The Internet has become a window on the world."
	Window shopping	When people go window shopping, they look at things in shop windows, without actually purchasing anything. "I haven't been paid yet, so I can only go window shopping."
	Go out the window	If a quality, principle or opportunity goes out the window, it disappears, is lost or abandoned. "When the plant closed down, all hopes of finding a job went out the window."
	(You can't put) new wine in old bottles	This expression means that you should not try to combine new concepts or innovations with an old or long-established framework or system. "You'll never get that program to work on your father's old computer- you can't put new wine in old bottles!"
	Wing it	To wing it means to improvise or to deal with a situation without any preparation. "She didn't expect to be interviewed so she just had to wing it."
	Take someone under your wing	If you offer protection and guidance to someone younger or less experienced, you take them under your wing. "I owe a lot to Tom who took me under his wing when I first arrived."
	Wink of sleep	If someone doesn't get a wink of sleep, they don't sleep at all. "It was so noisy in the hotel, I didn't get a wink of sleep."
	Winning ways	If a person has winning ways, they have a charming or persuasive manner of gaining the affection of others or obtaining what they want. "My grandson is hard to resist - he's got such winning ways."
	Wipe the slate clean	If you wipe the slate clean, you make a fresh start and forget all past offences, disagreements or mistakes. "When their father died, Bob and his brother decided to wipe the slate clean and forget the old family quarrels."
	Wipe that smile off your face!	This expression is often used by parents, or people in authority, to indicate that the situation is not considered amusing at all. "This is a very serious matter, so wipe that smile off your face!"
	Get one's wires crossed	If people get their wires crossed, they misunderstand each other or are confused about what was said. "We must have got our wires crossed. I thought we were to meet in front of the station."
	Wise up/get wise to something	If you wise up or get wise to something, you become fully aware of a situation, finally accept the facts and are no longer fooled. "When Mike finally wised up to the methods being used, he resigned from the company."
	Wish the ground would swallow you up	When you are so embarrassed by something that you would like to disappear, you wish the ground would swallow you up. "When I realized I was reading the wrong report, I stood there in front of the group wishing the ground would swallow me up."
	Your wish is my command!	This is a humoristic way of saying that you are willing to do whatever the other person asks. "Breakfast in bed? Your wish is my command!"
	Wishful thinking	Wishful thinking means believing that something that you want to happen is happening or will happen, even though it is neither true nor likely. "I think his health is improving a little, but perhaps that's just wishful thinking on my part."
	Wither on the vine	If something withers on the vine, it comes to an end or dies because people do nothing to support or encourage it. "Let's hope that the recent efforts towards peace will not wither on the vine."
	Without a hitch	If something happens without a hitch, it takes place exactly as planned, without any difficulties. "The ceremony went off without a hitch, to our great relief!."
	At your wits end.	If you are at your wits' end, you are very anxious or worried about something and do not know what to do. "When her son dropped out of school for the second time, Susan was at her wits' end."
	A wolf in sheep's clothing	To describe someone as a wolf in sheep's clothing means that although the person looks harmless, they are really very dangerous. "Be careful. He looks kind but in fact he's a wolf in sheep's clothing."
	Wonders will never cease!	This saying is used to express pleasure or surprise at something. "Idioms are increasingly popular with learners of English. Wonders will never cease!"
	Can't see the wood for the trees	If someone can't see the wood for the trees, they are so concentrated on the details that they can't see the situation as a whole. "The new manager found the situation so complicated that he couldn't see the wood for the trees."
	Touch wood/knock on wood	This humorous expression, based on superstition, is used to avoid bad luck, often while touching something made of wood. "The order will be confirmed shortly - touch wood!"
	Wooden spoon	The person who finishes last in a race or competition receives an imaginary prize called the wooden spoon. "Our team got the wooden spoon in this year's tournament."
	Come out of the woodwork	When things, or people, come out of the woodwork, they appear or emerge unexpectedly, as if from nowhere, and usually in large numbers. "As soon as we added the swimming pool, our children had "friends" coming out of the woodwork."
	Word of mouth	Information passed on through conversation is transmitted by word of mouth "No announcement was necessary - the news had already spread by word of mouth."
	From the word go	From the word go means right from the start of an event or activity. "She was unhappy about the situation from the word go."
	(Not) get a word in edgeways	During a discussion, if you can't get a word in edgeways, you can't say something because someone else is talking so much. "I tried to give my opinion, but I couldn't get a word in edgeways!"
	Put in a good word (for someone)	If you put in a good word for someone, you say positive things in support of that person in order to help them. "If you want to apply for the job, I'll put in a good word for you."
	Put words in somebody's mouth	If you claim, wrongly, that someone has said something, or suggest what they should say, you are putting words in their mouth. "You're putting words in my mouth. I did not say I saw Mr. Brown; I said I saw his car!"
	Words fail me!	This expression is often used when someone is so shocked, surprised or touched by something that they don't know what to say. "What do you think of Bob's attitude?" "Words fail me!"
	Words of one syllable	If you explain something in words of one syllable, you use very simple language. "No so fast! Tell me in words of one syllable."
	Have your work cut out	If you have to face a difficult task or deal with a challenging situation, you have your work cut out for you. "I've got a month to reorganize the accounts department. I have my work cut out for me!"
	Work like a charm	If something, such as a product or a method, works like a charm, it functions very well or has the desired effect. "I tried cleaning it with vinegar and it worked like a charm."
	Work your fingers to the bone	A person who works their fingers to the bone is extremely hardworking. "He deserves his success; he worked his fingers to the bone when he started the business."
	Work to rule	During a conflict, when employees decide to do only the minimum amount of work required by company rules, and refuse any overtime etc., they work to rule. "In protest against the new measures, the employees decided to work to rule."
	Work the system	People who work the system learn how a state or public organization works in order to benefit as much as possible from the system. "He hasn't changed his lifestyle since he lost his job - he must know how to work the system!"
	A world of difference	When comparing two things or situations, the expression a world of difference means that there is a vast difference between them. "A swimming pool would make a world of difference in this hot climate."
	Be in a world of your own	If you are in a world of your own, you are so preoccupied by your own concerns that you are unaware of what is happening around you. "Dad's out there in the garden in a world of his own."
	Be/mean all the world to somebody	When you are or mean all the world to someone, you are very important or precious to them. "His daughter means all the world to Mr. Jones. He says he couldn't live without her."
	Best of both worlds.	To have the best of both worlds means to have the benefits and advantages of two different things or situations, without the problems.
	Come up in the world	A person who has come up in the world is richer than before and has a higher social status. "My old school friend has bought an apartment overlooking Central Park. She has certainly come up in the world!"
	Do a world of good	If something does you a world of good, it is beneficial and makes you feel you a lot better. "Why don't you go away for a few days? It'll do you a world of good to get a break."
	Have the world at your feet	If you have the world at your feet, you are extremely successful and greatly admired. "The talented young actress has the world at her feet."
	The world is your oyster	This expression means that you are free and able to enjoy the pleasures and opportunities that life has to offer. "She left college feeling that the world was her oyster."
	Not for (all) the world	If you say that you would *not* do something for (all) the world, you mean that you would never do it, not matter what you were offered. "I would not live in that building for the world."
	Out of this world.	Something that you describe as out of this world is something that you think is extremely good or beyond compare.
	Worlds apart	When two people are very different, they are said to be worlds apart. "As regards our political opinions, we're worlds apart."
	Worm one's way into/out of something	If a person worms their way into or out of something, they use artful or devious means in order to participate or avoid participating in something. "You're not going to worm yourself out of this. You must do your share!"
	Even a worm will turn	This expression means that even someone who never complains will react in an intolerable situation. "Don't treat him so severely. He never protests, but even a worm will turn!"
	Worm's-eye view	To offer a worm's-eye view of a situation is to give your opinion based on what you see at close range from an inferior position, so it is therefore not a general view. "I'm not sure I can be of much help. I can only offer you a worm's-eye view of the situation.
	The worse for wear	If someone or something is the worse for wear, they are in poor condition, either worn, damaged or tired. "He came back from New York rather the worse for wear."
	Worth one's salt	This expression is used to say that a person who does their job well would or would not do certain things. "Any inspector worth his salt would have the checked the papers carefully."
	Worth one's/its weight in gold	Someone or something that is worth its weight in gold is considered to be extremely helpful or useful and therefore of great value. "We couldn't run the farm without Tom. He's worth his weight in gold."
	Wrap your brain around something	If you concentrate on something so as to try to understand it, you wrap your brain around it. "I need a translation of that report urgently, so wrap you brain round it fast!"
	Wrapped up in something	If you are wrapped up in an activity, you are totally concentrated on it. "Emma was so wrapped up in her work that she didn't realize her colleagues had all left."
	Wrapped up in cotton wool	To say that someone is wrapped up in cotton wool means that they are over-protected from dangers and risks. "Their children are kept wrapped up in cotton wool."
	Writing on the wall	This expression refers to a situation in which there are signs showing that a problem is going to occur. "We all knew that Tom was going to lose his job, but Tom refused to see the writing on the wall."
	Written all over (someone's) face	When someone's feelings or thoughts are very clear, you can say that they are written all over their face. "Her affection for her grandson was written all over the old lady's face."
X	Xerox subsidy	This term refers to the habit of using the photocopier at work for personal use. "A certain percentage of photocopies are in fact xerox subsidies."
Y	Yoke around one's neck	An obligation, commitment or restraint that becomes an oppressive burden is called a yoke around one's neck. "When John lost his job, the repayments on the house became a yoke around his neck."
	You don't know the half of it	This expression is used to tell someone that they know some of the facts but they don't know how bad the situation is. "You don't know the half of it. He was beating her and terrorizing the children. That's why she left him."
	Your guess is as good as mine	When talking to another person, your guess is as good as mine means that neither of you knows the answer. "What happened between Bill and Harry?" "Your guess is as good as mine!"
	Your wish is my command!	This is a humoristic way of saying that you are willing to do whatever the other person asks. "Breakfast in bed? Your wish is my command!"
Z	Zero in on something	If you zero in on something, you focus all your attention on that particular thing. "The boss immediately zeroed in on the sales figures."