Idiom Category: General, Page 23

U-turn

If a government changes its position radically on an issue, especially when they have promised not to do so, this is a U-turn.

Uncalled for

If someone does something bad and unnecessary without consideration for anothers feelings, what they do is uncalled for.

Under a flag of convenience

If a ship sails under a flag of convenience, it is registered in a country where taxes, etc, are lower than in the country it comes from, so if someone does something under a flag of convenience, they attempt to avoid regulations and taxes by a similar means.

Under fire

If someone is being attacked and cricitised heavily, they are under fire.

Under the radar

If something slips under the radar, it isn't detected or noticed.

Under the wire

(USA) If a person does something under the wire, they do it at the last possible moment.

Under your breath

If you say something under your breath, you whisper or say it very quietly.

Unwavering loyalty

Unwavering loyalty does not question or doubt the person or issue and supports them completely.

Up for grabs

If something is up for grabs, it is available and whoever is first or is successful will get it.

Up in the air

If a matter is up in the air, no decision has been made and there is uncertainty about it.

Up stakes

If you up stakes, you get ready to leave a place.

Up sticks

(UK) If you up sticks, you leave somewhere, usually permanently and without warning- he upped sticks and went to work abroad.

Up the ante

If you up the ante, you increase the importance or value of something, especially where there's an element of risk as the term comes from gambling, where it means to increase the stake (the amount of money bet).

Up the creek

If someone or something is up the creek, they are in real trouble. 'Up the creek without a paddle' is an alternative, and 'up shit creek (without a paddle)' is a ruder form.

Up the spout

(UK) If something has gone up the spout, it has gone wrong or been ruined.

Up to scratch

If something doesn't come up to scratch, it doesn't meet the standard required or expected.

Up to snuff

If something isn't up to snuff, it doesn't meet the standard expected.

Up to speed

If you bring someone up to speed, you update them on something.

Vicious circle

A vicious circle is a sequence of events that make each other worse- someone drinks because they are unhappy at work, then loses their job... 'Vicious cycle' is also used.

Waiting in the wings

If someone is waiting in the wings, or in the wings, they are in the background, but nearby, ready to act on short notice.

Wake-up call

A wake-up call is a warning of a threat or a challenge, especially when it means that people will have to change their behaviour to meet it.

Walk a fine line

If you have to walk a fine line, you have to be very careful not to annoy or anger people or groups that are competing. ('Walk a thin line' is an alternative.)

Walk a tightrope

If you walk a tightrope, you have to be very careful not to annoy or anger people who could become enemies.

Walk in the park

An undertaking that is easy is a walk in the park. The opposite is also true - "no walk in the park".

Walk the plank

If someone walks the plank, they are going toward their own destruction or downfall

Walking encyclopedia

A very knowledgeable person is a walking encyclopedia.

Walking on broken glass

When a person is punished for something. e.g. 'She had me walking on broken glass.'

Walking time-bomb

A person whose behaviour is erratic and totally unpredictable is a walking time-bomb.

Wallflower

(USA) A shy person who is not asked to dance is a wallflower.

Warm and fuzzy

Meaning the feeling evoked as though you were enclosed in a warm and fuzzy blanket.

Warpath

If someone is on the warpath, they are very angry about something and will do anything to get things sorted the way they want.

Waste not, want not

If you don't waste things, you are less likely to end up lacking.

Watching paint dry

If something is like watching paint dry, it is really boring.

Watering hole

(UK) A watering hole is a pub.

Way to go

This  is used to congratulate someone when they achieve something.   It can be used sarcastically when then mess up.

Wee buns

(Irish) If a task was wee buns, it means it was very easy. It is similar to "piece of cake"

What can sorry do?

This means that it is not enough to apologise.

What goes around comes around

This saying means that of people do bad things to other people, bad things will happen to them.

What goes around, comes around

The good or bad you do to others is requited.

What will be will be

The expression what will be will be is used to describe the notion that fate will decide the outcome of a course of events, even if action is taken to try to alter it.

What's up?

This can be used to ask 'What's wrong?' or 'How are you?'.

What's your poison?

This is a way of asking someone what they would like to drink, especially alcohol.

What's your take on that?

This idiom is way of asking someone for their opinion and ideas.

When the dust clears

"When the dust clears" is a way to say when everything's finished and the results are seen.  ("When the dust settles" is also used)

Where there's a will, there's a way

This idiom means that if people really want to do something, they will manage to find a way of doing it.

Where there's muck, there's brass

You can make money doing dirty jobs nobody else wants to do. "Where there's muck, there's money" is also used.

Whet your appetite

If something whets your appetite, it interests you and makes you want more of it.

Who will ring the bell?

'Who will ring the bell?' asks who will assume the responsibility to help us out of a difficult situation. 

Whole ball of wax

(USA) The whole ball of wax is everything.

Whole kit and caboodle

The whole kit and caboodle means 'everything' required or involved in something. ('Kaboodle' is an alternative spelling.)

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