| Idiom |
Where Used |
Meaning |
|---|
| waka-jumping |
NZ |
Used to describe elected politicians that transfer allegiance from one political party to another. (See also: jump ship) |
| wake up on the wrong side of the bed; get out of bed on the wrong side |
|
Be very grumpy. Usually used in response to discovering someone is very grumpy. "Whoa! Looks like you woke up on the wrong side of the bed today!" |
| walk the talk; walk one's talk |
AUS, USA |
To do what one said one could do, or would do -- not just making "empty promises". Variant of "walk the walk", arising out of challenge: "You talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?" To walk one's talk is to be innocent of hypocrisy. |
| walk the walk |
USA |
To prove oneself capable of following through with deeds and performance, so that one's claims may be seen not to have been mere idle boast. "You talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?" |
| walk on eggshells |
Global |
An idiomatic expression used to convey sensitivity in conversations. Originating from expressions such as "walking on thin ice.". 1800 Old English usage of eggshells being easily broken. |
| wash one's hands of something |
AUS, UK, USA |
To remove oneself from taking any further part in some endeavour, or to take no further responsibility for something. Alludes to the actions of Pontius Pilate as described in Matthew 27:24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. -- Matthew 27:24 King James Version, italics added}. [[Note that this was actually a Jewish custom, not a Roman one - see Ablution in the Hebrew Bible. However, the fact that this was a Jewish custom and not a Roman one does not necessarily discredit the possibility of the event's historical authenticity. For example, The Queen of Sheba ate of the spicy food that King Solomon's court provided in King Solomon's palace. This means that she would have had cultural sympathy and ate of the same type of food that King Solomon ate; probably as a sign of respect for the customs of his culture(see here: http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/biblepeople/a/60113-Makeda-Sheba-Szczepanski.htm). It is possible that in this particular instance Pilate was acting in a manner of cultural sympathy, utilizing a symbolic illustration the majority of the members of the gathered crowd would recognize.]]. |
| water under the bridge |
Global |
Something that has happened in the past and is no longer worth agonizing over. A dismissal of prior offenses or transgressions. Generally said after emotional conflicts |
| weekend warrior; weekend soldier |
USA |
Used to describe people in the National Army/Air Force Reserve. They work one weekend a month, hence referred to as a weekend warrior. |
| welch on a deal; welsh on a deal |
AUS, UK |
To not follow the terms of an agreement. Although many Welsh people regard this phrase as insulting towards the Welsh, the likely etymology is the reverse, as it apparently refers to the poor behaviour of King Edward I of England who refused to honour a treaty (the Treaty of Montgomery (1267)) concluded by his father (Henry III)with Llywelyn ap Gruffydd. |
| wet behind the ears |
Global |
Inexperienced because of youth, practically a newborn. A humorous exaggeration |
| (throw a) wet blanket (on...) |
|
When someone is said to be a wet blanket, that person is known for taking the fun out of things, or for bringing down the mood by unwillingness to participate or negativity. Similarly, to throw a wet blanket on, is to purposely bring to cessation an activity, event or practice. Taken from the idea that throwing a wet blanket on a fire will deaden if not extinguish the fire. |
| what is coming down the pike |
USA |
Events or happenings expected to come to pass in the near future |
| what goes around, comes around |
Global |
If a person does something bad, something bad will eventually happen to him. See: karma |
what's good for the goose is good for the gander; or (chiefly UK)
(What's) sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander; |
|
This expression demands equal treatment or equal sharing of a burden. It often (but not always) refers to equal treatment regardless of gender. See: "You can't make fish of one and fowl of the other."
Or, what you've had or put up with can equally well be had or put up with by me or somebody else.
Alternatively, you shouldn't complain about getting what you gave others (e.g., things, treatment, etc.). See "what goes around, comes around" above. |
| when Hell freezes over |
USA, UK |
Unlikely to occur, or impossible to occur (see "(a) snowball's chance in Hell".) |
| when in doubt, leave it out |
USA |
When unsure about something, leave it out. |
| when pigs fly |
USA |
Variation of "when Hell freezes over" |
| when in Rome; when in Rome, do as the Romans do |
Global |
To follow the majority when one is in a strange place or confused. |
| wheels spinning |
1. AUS, 1. and 2. USA |
1. When you are getting nowhere fast. Opposite of when the 'rubber hits the road'.
2. To think concretely, systematically and firmly (as in "the wheels are spinning in my/his/her mind".)
|
| when the gloves are off |
|
After the polite negotiations have failed, when false posturing is no longer plausible. Similar to 'when the chips are down' or 'when push comes to shove' |
| when Old Nick's wearing iceskates |
UK |
Never, or at least a very long time. 'Old Nick' is the Devil, so the phrase alludes to Hell freezing over. |
| where is Bucky, and what has he HAD? |
USA |
To question an unknown or perplexing circumstance, particularly the erratic behavior of an individual. |
| where there's smoke, there's fire |
AUS, CAN, USA |
If there is telltale evidence of some event, the event is probably occurring. A form of: no smoke without fire. |
| whistle Dixie |
USA |
Being unrealistically optimistic. Alternative variation: "whistling Dixie". |
| (To) whistle in the dark |
USA |
To speak of something despite having little knowledge of it. |
| (To) whistle past the graveyard |
USA |
- To attempt to stay cheerful in a dire situation; To proceed with a task, ignoring an upcoming hazard, hoping for a good outcome.
- To enter a situation with little or no understanding of the possible consequences.
|
| (the) whole kit and caboodle |
UK, USA |
Everything. The (entire) lot. All of it or all of something. (Alternative spelling "whole kit and kaboodle.") (The k or c in c/kaboodle may sometimes be capitolized.) The word "caboodle" has a complicated history. It’s been spelt throughout the years in many different ways, and is now typically listed in most dictionaries with an initial “c”. It means a collection of objects, sometimes of people. The phrase "the whole caboodle" meaning “the whole lot” is sometimes used as an alternative. It’s recorded in the USA from the middle of the nineteenth century. It’s probable that the word was originally "boodle", with the phrase being "the whole kit and boodle", but that the initial “k” sound was added to "boodle" for euphony. "Boodle" is familiar as the relatively modern USA word for money illegally obtained, particularly linked to bribery and corruption. This is usually suggested as coming from the Dutch "boedel" which means “inheritance, household effects; possessions”. But it’s uncertain whether it’s the same word as the one in the phrase "the whole kit and boodle" or if the word "boodle" in that phrase comes from another origin. Some writers suggest the latter comes from the English "buddle", meaning "a bundle or bunch" (closely connected with bindle, as in the North American bindlestiff for a tramp). |
| (the) whole nine yards |
Global |
The entire amount, everything. Frequently "Going the whole nine yards" to indicate completion to surfeit, sparing nothing, or employing procedures reserved for only the most important events. The etymology is ambiguous, with explanations ranging from the 9 yard machine gun belts used in some WWII military aircraft to an older use of 9 yards in the textile industry for ceremonious saris, normal saris comprising only 6 yards, dating back to English introduction to Indian tailoring in the 18th century.
Another explanation is that the term is a sarcastic reference to American football, where ten yards is the length of a first down. With running nine yards being no real achievement, to say that someone ran 'the whole nine yards' would be to say that they almost achieved something. Like many words with ambiguous etymology, this phrase may have more than one derivation.[1]
|
| wild-goose chase |
Global |
To send someone on a task that is impossible or completely irrelevant as a distraction to keep them occupied, out of your way, or away from something else. |
| window dressing |
Global |
To disguise something, by words or actions, in such a way as to hide one's real nature or intent. |
| (to) window shop |
Global |
To admire goods at a retail store without actually buying them. |
| word up |
USA (esp. Ebonics, street slang, and subculture) |
I understand, I agree, I concur, I approve, I know. This expression is actually a trope (specifically a synecdoche) (not an idiom), because the term "word" is used colloquially to refer to "speech", and "up" is used figuratively to emphasize one's sympathetic feelings toward the speech. However, despite this, the phrase is often referred to as an idiom. This phrase shows one's complete acknowledgement (in some fashion) of another's words or statements. Sometimes shortened to merely "word". Alternative meanings: "Hello."; "Greetings."; "Listen!"; "Pay attention!"; "How are you?" |
| (to) work one's arse off |
AUS, UK, (USA variant: "work one's ass off") |
Work especially hard and energetically, e.g. "We worked our arses off to get this project done." See: X one's Y off. |
| (to) work one's tail off; work one's butt off; |
USA |
USA equivalent of the above. See: X one's Y off. |
| work one's fingers to the bone. |
AUS, UK, USA |
Work especially hard, usually for an extended period. |
| (The) worm has turned |
|
Circumstances have changed. |
| (If) worst (worse) comes to worst |
|
If the least favorable thing happens; if the worst actually occurs. |
| wrestling blancmange |
Global |
Attempting to grapple with a hard to grasp or almost insoluble issue |
writing on the wall; or
handwriting on the wall |
Global |
Ominous signals of impending disaster, or of one's own unpleasant fate. "To see the (hand)writing..." is to note those signals and be prepared to act accordingly. AHDI lists both usages[2], MW only "handwriting..."[3]. OED[4] and ODI[5] both list "writing..." (although ODI mentions "handwriting" as a "North American variant"), and cite its origin in the Bible at Daniel 5:5 and 5:25-28, in which King Belshazzar of Babylon sees a ghostly hand writing on the wall, and the prophet Daniel interprets it to mean that he would lose his kingdom to the Medes and Persians[6] |
| (The) wrong end of the stick |
Global |
The wrong idea about something, often in the phrase "get (a hold of) the wrong end of the stick". AHDI cites an origin in the 1400s as "worse end of the staff", referring to holding a walking stick upside-down; it evolved to its current phraseology in the late 1800s[7]. |