English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - W, page 4
from: 'whale of a time'
to: 'white as a ghost'
- whale of a time
- When people have a whale of a time, they enjoy themselves a lot.
"We had a whale of a time at the party last night."
- When people have a whale of a time, they enjoy themselves a lot.
- what goes round comes round
- This expression means that if you do something bad, something bad will happen to you eventually.
"He felt guilty about what he did, feeling that what goes round comes round."
- This expression means that if you do something bad, something bad will happen to you eventually.
- what makes someone tick
- When you try to understand what motivates someone or makes
them behave the way they do, you want to know what makes them tick.
"He's a strange man.It's hard to figure out what makes him tick."
- When you try to understand what motivates someone or makes
them behave the way they do, you want to know what makes them tick.
- what's done is done
- This expression means that you cannot change something that is already done.
"I forgot to put a photo on my resume before sending it. Well, never mind. What’s done is done!"
- This expression means that you cannot change something that is already done.
- whatever floats your boat
- Although you don't quite agree with someone, it's their choice and you think they should so whatever makes them happy.
"You're going to spend your honeymoon in Alaska? Well, whatever floats your boat!"
- Although you don't quite agree with someone, it's their choice and you think they should so whatever makes them happy.
- fifth wheel
- This expression refers to a person who find themselves in a
situation where their presence is unnecessary and as a result they feel useless.
"Everyone seemed to have a specific role except me. I felt like a fifth wheel."
- This expression refers to a person who find themselves in a
situation where their presence is unnecessary and as a result they feel useless.
- 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."
- Someone accused of wheeling and dealing is thought to be
involved in complicated, if not dishonest, deals in business or politics.
- 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 a situation gets out of control and everything starts to go wrong, the wheels fall off.
- when the going gets tough, the tough get going
- When faced with a difficult or dangerous situation, and the going gets tough, strong people take action to solve the problem.
"Tom has a positive attitude. He often says 'When the going gets tough, the tough get going!'."
- When faced with a difficult or dangerous situation, and the going gets tough, strong people take action to solve the problem.
- when the rubber hits the road
- The moment when you put a theory into practice, or actually apply what you have learned, is when the rubber hits the road.
"The plan sounds good. I'd like to be there when the rubber hits the road."
- The moment when you put a theory into practice, or actually apply what you have learned, is when the rubber hits the road.
- while the going is good
- If you take action while the going is good, you do something while a good opportunity lasts or is available.
"There's a 50% discount on subscriptions this month. I think I'll subscribe while the going is good."
- If you take action while the going is good, you do something while a good opportunity lasts or is available.
- whistle in the dark
- If you whistle in the dark, you try to hide your fear and pretend to be brave in a scary or dangerous situation.
"Bob looks confident but he's just whistling in the dark; he knows he's going to lose his job."
- If you whistle in the dark, you try to hide your fear and pretend to be brave in a scary or dangerous situation.
- whistle-blower
- If you report an illegal or socially harmful activity to the
authorities, and give information about those responsible for it, you are a whistle-blower.
"The poor working conditions were reported by a whistle-blower."
- If you report an illegal or socially harmful activity to the
authorities, and give information about those responsible for it, you are a whistle-blower.
- 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."
- A white Christmas is when it snows at Christmas and the ground is white.
- white elephant
- If you call something a white elephant, you consider it useless although it may have cost a lot of money.
"The new cultural centre is a real white elephant. It's so isolated that nobody goes there!"
- If you call something a white elephant, you consider it useless although it may have cost a lot of money.
- white as a ghost
- A person who is as white as a ghost looks very pale and frightened.
"She went as white as a ghost when she saw the gun."
- A person who is as white as a ghost looks very pale and frightened.
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