English Idioms & Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List - W
(Idioms W, page 10 : worlds apart → written all over)
| worlds apart | When two people or things are very different, they are worlds apart. As regards our political opinions, we are worlds apart. |
| worm one's way out of | If a person
worms their way out of something, they
use artful or devious means in order to
avoid participating in it. You're not going to worm your way out of this. You must do your share! |
| even a worm will turn | This
expression means that even someone who never
complains will react to an intolerable
situation. Don't treat him so severely. He never protests, but even a worm will turn! |
| worm's eye view | To offer a
worm's eye view of a situation is to
give your opinion based on what you see at
close range from an inferior position, so it
is therefore not a general view. I'm not sure I can be of much help. I can only offer you a worm's eye view of the situation. |
| the worse for wear | If someone or
something is the worse for wear,
they are in poor condition, either worn,
damaged or tired. He came back from New York rather the worse for wear! |
| worth one's salt | Someone who
deserves respect because they do their job
well is a person who is worth their salt. Any inspector worth their salt would have checked the papers carefully. |
| worth its weight in gold | Someone or
something that is worth their weight in
gold is considered to be of great
value. We couldn't run the farm without him. He's worth his weight in gold. |
| worth your while | If something is
worth your while, it is a useful thing
to do and deserves the time spent on it. It would be well worth your while to attend the seminar. |
| wouldn't be caught dead | If someone says
that they wouldn't be seen or caught
dead in a particular place or doing
something, they mean that they would be too
ashamed or embarrassed. My seven-year-old son thinks he's a big boy. He wouldn't be caught dead holding my hand. |
| wound up | If someone is so
excited that they talk non-stop, they are
wound up. Claire had so much to tell us after her trip that she was wound up. |
| wrap your brain around | If you concentrate
on something in an effort to understand, you
wrap your brain around it. I need a translation of this report urgently, so wrap your brain around it fast! |
| wrapped up in | If you wrapped
up in an activity, you are totally
concentrated on it. Emma was so wrapped up in her work that she didn't realize her colleagues had all left. |
| wrapped up in cotton wool | Someone who is
wrapped up in cotton wool is
over-protected from dangers and risks. Their children are kept wrapped up in cotton wool. |
| writing on the wall | This refers to a
situation where there are signs showing that
a problem is going to occur. We all knew Larry was going to lose his job, but he refused to see the writing on the wall. |
| written all over your face | When someone's
feelings or thoughts are very clear, you can
say that they are written all over their
face. Her affection for her grandson was written all over the old lady's face. |
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alphabetical lists W ...
| W1 | W2 | W3 | W4 | W5 | W6 | W7 | W8 | W9 | W10 |
more alphabetical lists ...
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X-Y-Z |