Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц) - неизвестен Автор

[win in a walk] or [win in a breeze] <v. phr.>, <informal> To win very easily; win without having to try hard. * /Joe ran for class president and won in a walk./ * /Our team won the game in a breeze./ Compare: HANDS DOWN.

[wink] See: FORTY WINKS, SLEEP A WINK.

[wink at] <v.> To allow and pretend not to know about (a rule or law being broken). * /John was not allowed to stay out late at night, but his parents winked at his being five minutes late./ * /A judge should never wink at any law-breaking./

[winning streak] <n.> A series of several wins one after the other. * /The team extended their winning streak to ten./

[win one's spurs] <v. phr.> 1. In old times, to be named a knight with the right to wear little sharp spikes on your heels. * /A young squire won his spurs in battle./ 2. To win fame or honor. * /The young lieutenant won his spurs by leading an attack on enemy machine guns./ * /Edison won his spurs as an inventor while rather young./ * /He has yet to win his spurs as a big league ball player./

[win out] <v. phr.> To win after a rather protracted struggle. * /The lawsuit lasted a long time, but we finally won out./

[win over] <v. phr.> To convert to one's position or point of view. * /The Democrats offered him a high-level executive position and thus way won him over to their side./

[wipeout] <n.> A total failure. * /The guy is so bad at his job that he is a total wipeout./

[wipe out] <v.> 1. To remove or erase by wiping or rubbing. * /The teacher wiped out with an eraser what she had written on the board./ Compare: RUB OUT. 2. <informal> To remove, kill, or destroy completely. * /The earthquake wiped out the town./ * /Doctors are searching for a cure that will wipe out cancer./ * /The Indians wiped out the soldiers who were sent to stop their attacks./ Compare: RUB OUT, STAMP OUT.

[wipe out an old score] See: SETTLE A SCORE.

[wipe the floor with] or [wipe up the floor with] See: MOP THE FLOOR WITH.

[wire] See: ACROSS THE WIRE, DOWN TO THE WIRE, PULL STRINGS or PULL WIRES.

[wise] See: GET WISE, PENNY WISE AND POUND FOOLISH, PUT WISE, THE WISER.

[wisecrack] <n.> A joke or witty remark usually made at someone else's expense. * /The comedians kept up a steady stream of wisecracks./

[wise guy] <n. phr.>, <informal> A person who acts as if he were smarter than other people; a person who jokes or shows off too much * /Bill is a wise guy and displeases others by what he says./

[wise up to] <v. phr.>, <slang> To finally understand what is really going on after a period of ignorance. * /Joe immediately quit his job when he wised up to what was really going on./

[wish on] <v.> 1. To use as a lucky charm while making a wish. * /Mary wished on a star that she could go to the dance./ * /Bob wished on his lucky rabbit's foot that he could pass the test./ 2. or [wish off on] <informal> To get rid of (something unwanted) by passing it on to someone else. * /Martha did not like to do the dishes and wished the job on to her little sister./ * /Tom got a very ugly tie for his birthday and when Billy's birthday came, Tom wished the tie off on Billy./

[wit] See: AT ONE'S WITS' END, KEEP ONE'S HEAD or KEEP ONE'S WITS ABOUT ONE, SCARE OUT OF ONE'S WITS.

[witch-hunt] <n. phr.> A hysterical movement during which people are persecuted for having views (political or religious) considered different or unpopular. * /During the McCarthy era many innocent Americans were accused of being Communists, as Republican patriotism deteriorated into a witch-hunt./

[with a free hand] See: FREE HAND.

[with a grain of salt] or [with a pinch of salt] See: TAKE WITH A GRAIN OF SALT.

[with all one's heart] See: FROM THE BOTTOM OF ONE'S HEART.

[with an eye to] See: EYE TO.

[with a silver spoon in one's mouth] See: BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON IN ONE'S MOUTH.

[with a whole skin] also [in a whole skin] <adv. phr.> With no injury; unhurt; safely. * /The boy was lucky to escape with a whole skin when the car went off the road./ * /Jack came through the game with a whole skin./ * /The horse threw him off, but he got away in a whole skin./ Syn.: SAFE AND SOUND.

[with bad grace] or [with a bad grace] <adv. phr.> In an unpleasant or discourteous way; unwillingly, * /Fred takes defeat with bad grace./ * /Tom shouted "Hello" to Bill. Bill was in a sour mood and replied with a bad grace./ Contrast: WITH GOOD GRACE.

[with bells on] <adv. phr.>, <informal> With enthusiasm; eager or ready and in the best of spirits for an event. * /"Will you come to the farewell party I'm giving for Billy?" asked Jerry. "I'll be there with bells on," replied Ed./

[with child] <adv. phr.>, <literary> Going to have a baby; pregnant. * /The angel told Mary she was with child./ Compare: IN A FAMILY WAY or IN THE FAMILY WAY.

[wither on the vine] See: DIE ON THE VINE.

[with fire] See: PLAY WITH FIRE.

[with flying colors] <adv. phr.> With great or total success; victoriously. * /Tow finished the race with flying colors./ * /Mary came through the examination with flying colors./

[with good grace] <adv. phr.> With pleasant and courteous behavior; politely; willingly; without complaining. * /The boys had been well-coached; they took the loss of the game with good grace./ * /The principal scolded Nora, who accepted his criticism with good grace./ Contrast: WITH BAD GRACE.

[with heart and soul] See: HEART AND SOUL.

[within an ace of] <informal> or [within an inch of] <adv. phr.> Almost but not quite; very close to; nearly. * /Tim came within an ace of losing the election./ * /John was within an inch of drowning before he was pulled out of the water./ Compare: BY THE SKIN OF ONE'S TEETH.

[within an inch of one's life] <adv. phr.> Until you are almost dead; near to dying. * /The bear clawed the hunter within an inch of his life./ Often used after "to". * /The prize fighter was beaten to within an inch of his life./

[within bounds] <adv.> or <adj. phr.> 1. Inside of the boundary lines in a game; on or inside of the playing field. * /You must hit the ball inside the lines of the tennis court or it will not be within bounds./ * /If you kick the football over a side-line, it will not be in bounds./ 2. Inside of a place where one is allowed to go or be. * /The soldiers are within bounds on one side of the city, but are out of bounds on the other side./ 3. Inside of safe or proper limits; allowable. * /If you ask Father for a quarter, he might give it to you, but a dollar would not be within bounds./ * /He succeeded in keeping his temper within bounds./ Contrast: OUT OF BOUNDS.

[within call] or [within hail] <adv. phr.> 1. Near enough to hear each other's voices. * /When the two ships were within hail, their officers exchanged messages./ * /Billy's mother told him to stay within call because supper was nearly ready./ 2. In a place where you can be reached by phone, radio, or TV and be called. * /The sick man was very low and the doctor stayed within call./ * /The soldiers were allowed to leave the base by day, but had to stay within call./

[within reason] <adv.> or <adj. phr.> Within the limits of good sense; in reasonable control or check; moderate. * /I want you to have a good time tonight, within reason./ * /If Tom wants to go to the fair, he must keep his expenses within reason./ * /Jean's plans are quite within reason./

[with it] See: GET WITH IT.

[with might and main] <adv. phr.> With full strength or complete effort. * /The sailors pulled the rope with might and main./ * /John tried with all his might and main to solve the problem./

[with one's boots on] See: DIE IN ONE'S BOOTS or DIE WITH ONE'S BOOTS ON.

[with one's pants down] See: CATCH ONE WITH ONE'S PANTS DOWN.

[with open arms] <adv. phr.> 1. With the arms spread wide for hugging or catching. * /When Father came home from work, little Sally ran out to meet him with open arms./ * /Dick stood under the window with open arms, and Jean dropped the bag of laundry down to him./ 2. With words or actions showing that you are glad to see someone; gladly, warmly, eagerly. * /When Grandmother came to visit us at Christmas, we welcomed her with open arms./ * /After his pioneering flight in the Friendship VII, Col. John Glenn was welcomed with open arms' by the people of his hometown./

[without] See: DO WITHOUT or GO WITHOUT, MAKE BRICKS WITHOUT STRAW, RECKON WITHOUT.

[without a paddle] See: UP THE CREEK or UP THE CREEK WITHOUT A PADDLE.

[without batting an eye] or [without batting an eyelash] See: BAT AN EYE.

[without fail] <adv. phr.> Without failing to do it or failing in the doing of it; certainly, surely. * /Be here at 8 o'clock sharp, without fail./ * /Ben promised to return the bike at a certain time without fail./

[without number] See: BEYOND NUMBER.

[without rhyme or reason] See: RHYME OR REASON.

[with reference to] See: IN REFERENCE TO.

[with regard to] See: IN REFERENCE TO.

[with relation to] See: IN RELATION TO.

[with respect to] See: IN RESPECT TO.

[with the best] or [with the best of them] <adv. phr.> As well as anyone. * /Bob could horseback ride with the best of them, but he never boasted about it./ * /John can bowl with the best of them./

[with the Joneses] See: KEEP UP WITH THE JONESES.

[wolf] See: CRY WOLF, KEEP THE WOLF FROM THE DOOR, LONE WOLF, THROW TO THE WOLVES.

[wolf in sheep's clothing] <n. phr.> A person who pretends to be good but really is bad. * /Mrs. Martin trusted the lawyer until she realized that he was a wolf in sheep's clothing./ * /Mr. Black was fooled by the salesman's manners until he showed that he was really a wolf in sheep's clothing by selling Mr. Black a car that was falling apart./

[wonder] See: NO WONDER also SMALL WONDER.

[woo] See: PITCH WOO.

[wood] See: CAN'T SEE THE WOOD FOR THE TREES, KNOCK ON WOOD, SAW WOOD.

[woodpile] See: NIGGER IN THE WOODPILE.

[woods] See: BABE IN THE WOODS, CROW BEFORE ONE IS OUT OF THE WOODS, NECK OF THE WOODS, TAKE TO THE WOODS.

[wool] See: ALL WOOL AND A YARD WIDE, PULL THE WOOL OVER ONE'S EYES.

[word] See: ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS, AS GOOD AS ONE'S WORD, BY WORD OF MOUTH, EAT ONE'S WORDS, FROM THE WORD "GO", GET A WORD IN, GET THE MESSAGE or GET THE WORD, HANG ON THE WORDS OF, IN BRIEF or IN A WORD, IN SO MANY WORDS, LAST WORD, MAN OF FEW WORDS, MAN OF HIS WORD, MUM IS THE WORD, PLAY ON WORDS, PUT WORDS INTO ONE'S MOUTH, SAY THE WORD, SWALLOW ONE'S WORDS, TAKE AT ONE'S WORD, TAKE THE WORDS OUT OF ONE'S MOUTH, WEASEL WORD, WEIGH ONE'S WORDS.

[word for word] <adv. phr.> In exactly the same words. * /Mary copied Sally's composition word for word./ * /Joan repeated the conversation word for word./ * /She learned the poem many years ago but she recited it word for word./

[word of mouth] <n. phr.> Communication by oral rather than written means. * /The merchant told us that the best customers he had were recommended to him by word of mouth./

[words of one syllable] <n. phr.> Language that makes the meaning very clear; simple, or frank language. - Usually used after "in". * /Mary explained the job to Ann in words of one syllable so that she would be sure to understand./ * /Some people say that John is cute and mischievous, but in words of one syllable, he's just a brat./ Compare: IN SO MANY WORDS, SPELL OUT.

[word to the wise] <n. phr.> A word of warning or advice which the intelligent person is expected to follow. - A proverb. * /I had once spoken to him about being late all the time, and thought that a word to the wise was enough./

[work] See: ALL IN A DAY'S WORK, ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY, AT WORK, BUSY WORK, IN THE WORKS, MAKE SHORT WORK OF, MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK, SHOOT THE WORKS, THE WORKS, IN THE WORKS.

[work cut out] See: CUT OUT(2).

[worked up] also [wrought up] <adj.>, <literary> Feeling strongly; excited; angry; worried. * /Mary was all worked up about the exam./ * /John got worked up when they blamed him for losing the game./ Compare: ON EDGE.

[work in] <v.> 1. To rub in. * /The nurse told Mary to put some cream on her skin and to work it in gently with her fingers./ 2. To slip in; mix in; put in; * /When Mary was planning the show, she worked a part in for her friend Susan./

[working girl] <n.>, <slang> 1. (<vulgar>, <avoidable>) A prostitute. * /I didn't know Roxanne was a working girl./ 2. A girl, usually single, who supports herself by working in an honest job, such as in an office, etc. * /The average working girl can't afford such a fancy car./

[work into] <v.> 1. Force into little by little. * /John worked his foot into the boot by pushing and pulling./ 2. Put into; mix into. * /Mary worked some blue into the rug she was weaving./

[work off] <v.> To make (something) go away, especially by working. * /John worked off the fat around his waist by doing exercise every morning./ * /Mr. Smith worked off his anger by chopping wood./

[work on] also [work upon] <v.> 1. Have an effect on; influence. * /Some pills work on the nerves and make people feel more relaxed./ 2. To try to influence or convince. * /Senator Smith worked on the other committee members to vote for the bill./

[work one's fingers to the bone] <v. phr.> To work very hard. * /"I have to work my fingers to the bone for a measly pittance of a salary," Fred complained./

[workout] <n.> A physical exercise session. * /My morning workout consists of sit-ups and push-ups./

[work out] <v. phr.> 1. To find an answer to. * /John worked out his math problems all by himself./ * /Mary had trouble getting along with her roommate, but they worked it out./ Compare: FIGURE OUT. 2. To plan; develop. * /Mary worked out a beautiful design for a sweater./ * /Alice worked out a new hair-do./ 3. To accomplish; arrange. * /The engineers worked out a system for getting electricity to the factory./ 4. To be efficient; get results. * /If the traffic plan works out, it will be used in other cities too./ 5. To exercise. * /John works out in the gym two hours every day./

[work over] <v. phr.>, <slang> To beat someone up very roughly in order to intimidate him or extort payment, etc. * /Matthew was worked over by the hoodlums in the park right after midnight./

[work through channels] <v. phr.> To go through the proper procedures and officials. * /At a state university everybody must work through channels to get things done./

[work up] <v.> 1. To stir up; arouse; excite. * /I can't work up any interest in this book./ * /He worked up a sweat weeding the garden./ 2. To develop; originate. * /He worked up an interesting plot for a play./

[work upon] See: WORK ON.

[world] See: COME UP IN THE WORLD or RISE IN THE WORLD, DEAD TO THE WORLD, FOR ALL THE WORLD, IN A WORLD OF ONE'S OWN or IN A WORLD BY ONESELF, IN THE WORLD, LOOK AT THE WORLD THROUGH ROSE-COLORED GLASSES, NOT FOR THE WORLD, ON TOP OF THE WORLD or SITTING ON TOP OF THE WORLD, OUT OF THIS WORLD, SET THE WORLD ON FIRE, THIRD WORLD.