English Idioms & Idiomatic Expressions

Wag the dog

To 'wag the dog' means to purposely divert attention from what would otherwise be of greater importance, to something else of lesser significance. By doing so, the lesser-significant event is catapulted into the limelight, drowning proper attention to what was originally the more important issue.The expression comes from the saying that 'a dog is smarter than its tail', but if the tail were smarter, then the tail would 'wag the dog'. The expression 'wag the dog' was elaborately used as theme of the movie. 'Wag the Dog', a 1997 film starring Robert de Niro and Dustin Hoffman, produced and directed by Barry Levinson.

Wait for a raindrop in the drought

When someone is waiting for a raindrop in the drought, they are waiting or hoping for something that is extremely unlikely to happen.

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 and smell the coffee

When someone doesn't realise what is really happening or is not paying enough attention to events around them, you can tell them to wake up and smell the coffee.

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 mile in my shoes

This idiom means that you should try to understand someone before criticising them.

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 on eggshells

If you have to walk on eggshells when with someone, you have to be very careful because they get angry or offended very easily.('Walk on eggs' is also used.) 

Walk the green mile

Someone or something that is walking the green mile is heading towards the inevitable.

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 air

If you are walking on  air, you are so happy that you feel as if you could float.

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

(UK) A woman politician given an unimportant government position so that the government can pretend it takes women seriously is a wallflower.

Wallflower

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

Walter Mitty

A Walter Mitty character is an unexceptional person who is prone to daydreaming of personal triumphs.

War chest

A war chest is a fund that can be used to finance a campaign like and election or for use in emergencies or unexpected times of difficulty.

War of words

A war of words is a bitter argument between people or organisations, etc.

Warm and fuzzy

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

Warm the cockles of your heart

If something warms the cockles of your heart, it makes you feel happy.

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.

Warts and all

If you like someone warts and all, you like them with all their faults.

Wash your hands of something

If you wash your hands of something, you disassociate yourself and accept no responsibility for what will happen.

Waste not, want not

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

Waste of skin

If a person is referred to as a 'waste of skin', it means he is not worth very much.

Watch grass grow

If something is like watching grass grow, it is really boring.

Watch your back

If someone is after your job, or wants to harm you in any way, you need to "watch your back" to metaphorically see what is going on behind you

Watch your six

(USA) This idiom means that you should look behind you for dangers coming that you can't see.

Watching paint dry

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

Water off a duck's back

If criticism or something similar is like water off a duck's back to somebody, they aren't affected by it in the slightest.

Water over the dam

(USA) If something has happened and cannot be changed, it is water over the dam.

Water under the bridge

If something belongs to the past and isn't important or troubling any more, it is water under the bridge.

Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink

This is from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, a poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and is used to suggest that despite being surrounded by something, you cannot benefit from it.

Watering hole

(UK) A watering hole is a pub.

Watery grave

If someone has gone to a watery grave, they have drowned.

Way to go

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

Weak at the knees

If people go weak at the knees, they have a powerful emotional reaction to something and feel that they might fall over.

Wear many hats

If someone wears many hats, they have different roles or tasks to perform.

Wear sackcloth and ashes

If someone displays their grief or contrition publicly, they wear sackcloth and ashes.

Wear the trousers

The person who  wears the trousers is the dominant or controlling person in a relationship, especially the woman.

Wear your heart on your sleeve

Someone who wears their heart on their sleeve shows their emotions and feelings publicly.

Weasel words

If somebody uses vaque and unspecific terms to try to avoid being clear about their position or opinion, they are using weasel words.

Weather a storm

If you weather a storm, you get through a crisis or hard times.

Wedge politics

(USA) In wedge politics, one party uses an issue that they hope will divide members of a different party to create conflict and weaken it.

Wee buns

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

Wee hours

Wee hours are the first hours after midnight.

Weight off your shoulders

If something is a weight off your shoulders, you have relieved yourself of a burden, normally a something that has been troubling you or worrying you.

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