Idiom Category: General, Page 24

Whole shebang

The whole shebang includes every aspect of something.

Wide berth

If you give someone a wide berth, you keep yourself well away from them because they are dangerous.

Will never fly

If an idea or project, etc, will never fly, it has no chance of succeeding.

Will-o'-the-wisp

Something that deceives by its appearance is a will-o’-the-wisp; it looks good, but turns out to be a disappointment.

Window dressing

If something is done to pretend to be dealing with an issue or problem, rather than actually dealing with it, it is window dressing.

Winner takes all

If everything goes to the winner, as in an election, the winner takes all.

With a heavy hand

If someone does something with a heavy hand, they do it in a strict way, exerting a lot of control.

With friends like that, who needs enemies?

This expression is used when people behave badly or treat someone badly that they are supposed to be friends with.

Without a hitch

If something happens without a hitch, nothing at all goes wrong.

Woe betide you

This is used to wish that bad things will happen to someone, usually because of their bad behaviour.

Woe is me

This means that you are sad or in a difficult situation. It's archaic, but still used.

Words fail me

If words fail you, you can't find the words to express what you are trying to say.

Work like a charm

If something works like a charm, it works perfectly.

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.

Worth a shot

If something is worth a shot, it is worth trying as there is some chance of success.

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.

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.

X factor

The dangers for people in the military that civilians do not face, for which they receive payment, are known as the X factor.

X marks the spot

This is used to say where something is located or hidden.

Yah boo sucks

Yah boo & yah boo sucks can be used to show that you have no sympathy with someone.

Yank my chain

If some one says this to another person (i.e. stop yanking my chain) it means for the other person to leave the person who said it alone and to stop bothering them.

Yell bloody murder

(USA) If someone yells bloody murder, they protest angrily and loudly, or scream in fear.

Yen

If you have a yen to do something, you have a desire to do it.

You can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family

Some things you can choose, but others you cannot, so you have to try to make the best of what you have where you have no choice.

You can say that again

If you want to agree strongly with what someone has said, you can say 'You can say that again' as a way of doing so.

You can't take it with you

Enjoy life, enjoy what you have and don't worry about not having a lot, especially money...because once you're dead, 'you can't take it with you.' For some, it means to use up all you have before you die because it's no use to you afterwards.

You reap what you sow

This means that if you do bad things to people, bad things will happen to you, or good things if you do good things.  It is normally used when someone has done something bad.

You said it!

Used to say you agree completely with something just said.

You what?

This is a very colloquial way of expressing surprise or disbelief at something you have heard. It can also be used to ask someone to say something again.

Your call

If something is your call, it is up to you to make a decision on the matter.

Your name is mud

If someone's name is mud, then they have a bad reputation.

Zigged before you zagged

If you did things in the wrong order, you zigged before you zagged.

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