English Idioms & Idiomatic Expressions
results for letter 'W
- Worm's eye view
- A worm's eye view of something is the view from below, either physically or socially.
- Worse for wear
- If something's worse for wear, it has been used for a long time and, consequently, isn't in very good condition. A person who's worse for wear is drunk or high on drugs and looking rough.
- Worse things happen at sea
- This idiomatic expression is used as a way of telling someone not to worry so much about their problems.
- Worth a shot
- If something is worth a shot, it is worth trying as there is some chance of success.
- Worth its weight in gold
- When something is worth its weight in gold, it is extremely valuable.
- Worth your salt
- Someone who is worth their salt deserves respect.
- Wouldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding
- If something isn't powerful: This bus wouldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding.
- Wouldn't touch it with a bargepole
- (UK) If you wouldn't touch something with a bargepole, you would not consider being involved under any circumstances.
(In American English, people say they wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole)
- Wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole
- (USA) If you wouldn't touch something with a ten-foot pole, you would not consider being involved under any circumstances.
(In British English, people say they wouldn't touch it with a bargepole)
- Wrap yourself in the flag
- If someone wraps themselves in the flag, they pretend to be doing something for patriotic reasons or out of loyalty, but their real motives are selfish.
('Drape yourself in the flag' is an alternative form of this idiom)
- Wrench in the works
- (USA) If someone puts or throws a wrench, or monkey wrench, in the works, they ruin a plan.
In British English, 'spanner' is used instead of 'wrench'.
- Writ large
- If something is writ large, it is emphasised or highlighted.
- Write your own ticket
- If you write your own ticket, you control the terms and conditions for something and have them exactly the way you want.
- Writing on the wall
- If the writing's on the wall for something, it is doomed to fail.
- Written all over your face
- If someone has done something wrong or secret, but cannot hide it in their expression, it is written all over their face.
- Written in stone
- If something is written in stone, it is permanent and cannot be changed.
- Wrong end of the stick
- If someone has got the wrong end of the stick, they have misunderstood what someone has said to them.
- Wrong foot
- If you start something on the wrong foot, you start badly.
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