English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - W, page 7
from: 'wise for one's years'
to: 'can't see the wood'
- wise for one's years/wise beyond your years
- Someone who is wise for their years or wise beyond their years has
more knowledge and experience that most people at their age.
"She's still a child but she's wise beyond her years."
- Someone who is wise for their years or wise beyond their years has
more knowledge and experience that most people at their age.
- wise up/get wise to something
- If you wise up or get wise to something, you become fully aware of the facts and are no longer fooled.
"When Mike finally wised up to the methods being used, he resigned from the company."
- If you wise up or get wise to something, you become fully aware of the facts and are no longer fooled.
- none the wiser
- If you do not know more about something after hearing or reading an
explanation, or if you fail to find information on the subject, you are none the wiser.
"I tried to understand the voting system but I was none the wiser after reading the explanation."
- If you do not know more about something after hearing or reading an
explanation, or if you fail to find information on the subject, you are none the wiser.
- 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!"
- When you are so embarrassed by something that you would like
to disappear, you wish the ground would swallow you 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!"
- This is a humoristic way of saying that you are willing to do whatever the other person asks.
- wishful thinking
- Wishful thinking means believing that something that you want
to happen is really 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."
- Wishful thinking means believing that something that you want
to happen is really happening or will happen, even though it is neither true nor likely.
- wither on the vine
- If something withers on the vine, it comes to an end
or ceases to exist because people do not support or encourage it.
"Let's hope the recent efforts towards peace will not wither on the vine."
- If something withers on the vine, it comes to an end
or ceases to exist because people do not support or encourage it.
- 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!"
- If something happens without a hitch, it takes place exactly as planned, without any difficulties.
- at your wits' end
- If you are at your wits' end, you are very worried about something and do not know what to do.
"When her son dropped out of school, Susan was at her wit's end."
- If you are at your wits' end, you are very worried about something and do not know what to do.
- throw a wobbly/wobbler
- When someone, usually a capricious person, throws a wobbly,
they have a fit of nerves or bad temper and lose all self-control.
"He's very calm - not the sort of man to throw a wobbly if he doesn't have a clean shirt! "
- When someone, usually a capricious person, throws a wobbly,
they have a fit of nerves or bad temper and lose all self-control.
- wolf down something (food)
- If you wolf down food, you eat it very quickly or ravenously.
"The boy was so hungry that he wolfed down the whole pizza in no time!"
- If you wolf down food, you eat it very quickly or ravenously.
- wolf in sheep's clothing
- To describe someone as a wolf in sheep's clothing means
that although they look harmless, they are really very dangerous.
"Be careful. He looks kind but in fact he's a wolf in sheep's clothing."
- To describe someone as a wolf in sheep's clothing means
that although they look harmless, they are really very dangerous.
- cry wolf
- To cry wolf is to call for help when you are not really in danger. As a result, nobody believes you when you really need help.
"There's Mary screaming again! Does she really need help or is she just crying wolf again?"
- To cry wolf is to call for help when you are not really in danger. As a result, nobody believes you when you really need help.
- keep the wolf from the door
- To keep the wolf from the door you need to have enough money to buy food and other basic essentials in order to survive.
"My grandparents earned barely enough to keep the wolf from the door."
- To keep the wolf from the door you need to have enough money to buy food and other basic essentials in order to survive.
- wonders will never cease
- This saying is used to express pleasure or surprise at something.
"The price of petrol has dropped! Wonders will never cease!"
- This saying is used to express pleasure or surprise at something.
- 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."
- 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.
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