to the last minute] {adv. phr.} Until the last possible moment; until the very end. * /When I try to send in an important eyewitness report from the scene of a major accident, I must keep working up to the last minute./ Compare: TO THE BITTER END, UNDER THE WIRE. [up to the mark] See: UP TO PAR(2). [up-to-the-minute] See: UP-TO-DATE. [urban homesteading] {n.}, {informal} Renovation and occupation through cooperative ownership by tenants of previously abandoned city apartment buildings. * /Urban homesteading is on the rise in many big American cities these days./ [use] See: NO USE, PUT TO USE. [used to(1)] {adj. phr.} In the habit of or familiar with. * /People get used to smoking and it is hard for them to stop./ * /Farmers are used to working outdoors in the winter./ * /After my eyes became used to the dim light in the cave, I saw an old shovel on the ground./ * /On the hike Bob soon got tired, but Dick did not because he was used to walking./ [used to(2)] or [did use to] {v. phr.} Did formerly; did in the past. - Usually used with an infinitive to tell about something past. * /Uncle Henry used to have a beard, but he shaved it off./ * /Did your father use to work at the bank?/ * /People used to say that tomatoes were poison./ - Sometimes used without the infinitive. * /I don't go to that school any more, but I used to./ * /We don't visit Helen as much as we used to./ * /I used to go to the movies often. Did you use to?/ [used to be] or [did use to be] {v. phr.} Formerly or once was. * /Mary used to be small; but she has grown up./ * /Dick used to be the best pitcher on the team last year; now two other pitchers are better than he is./ [use every trick in the book] {v. phr.}, {informal} To avail oneself of any means at all in order to achieve one's goal, not exclusive of possibly immoral or illegal acts. * /Algernon used every trick in the book to get Maxine to go out with him, but she kept refusing./ [use one's head] or {slang} [use one's bean] or {slang} [use one's noodle] or {slang} use [one's noggin] {v. phr.} To use your brain or mind; think; have common sense. - Often used as a command. * /If you used your bean you wouldn't be in trouble now./ * /Never point a gun at anybody, John. Use your head!/ [use up] {v. phr.} 1. To use until nothing is left; spend or consume completely. * /Don't use up all the soap. Leave me some to wash with./ * /Jack used up his last dollar to see the movies./ Compare: GIVE OUT(5). 2. {informal} To tire completely; make very tired; exhaust; leave no strength or force in. - Usually used in the passive. * /After rowing the boat across the lake, Robert was used up./ Compare: GIVE OUT(4), WEAR OUT. [utility room] {n.} A room in a house or building for machinery and other things important in the daily use of the building and the work of the people in it. * /There is a utility room upstairs where Mother does the laundry./ * /The oil burner is kept in the utility room in the basement./ V [vain] See: IN VAIN, TAKE ONE'S NAME IN VAIN. [valor] See: DISCRETION IS THE BETTER PART OF VALOR. [value] See: FACE VALUE. [vanish into thin air] See: DISAPPEAR INTO THIN AIR. [vanishing cream] {n.} A cosmetic cream for the skin that is used chiefly before face powder. * /Mrs. Jones spread vanishing cream on her face before applying her face powder./ [vanity case] {n.} 1. A small case containing face powder, lipstick, and other things and usually carried in a woman's handbag; a compact. * /She took out her vanity case and put lipstick on./ 2. A handbag or a small bag carried by a woman and holding various toilet articles. * /She had the porter carry her big bags and she herself carried her vanity case./ [variety show] {n.} A program that includes several different kinds of entertainment (as songs, dances, comic skits and little dramas). * /Jane's father was the master of ceremonies of a variety show on TV./ [variety store] {n.} A store that sells many different kinds of things, especially items that are fairly small and in everyday use. * /I went into a variety store and bought some paint./ * /Five-and-ten cent stores are a kind of variety store./ [vein] See: FREEZE ONE'S BLOOD or FREEZE THE BLOOD IN ONE'S VEINS, FREEZE ONE'S VEINS. [verbal diarrhea] {n. phr.} The inability to keep silent; over-talkativeness. * /Archibald is a nice guy but he's got verbal diarrhea and he can't shut up for a single minute./ [very] See: ALL VERY WELL. [very well] {interj.}, {formal} Agreed; all right. - Used to show agreement or approval. * /Very well. You may go./ * /Very well, I will do as you say./ Compare: ALL RIGHT(2). [vibrations] or [vibes] {n.} Psychic emanations radiating from an object, situation, or person. * /I don't think this relationship will work out - this guy has given me bad vibes./ [vicious circle] {n. phr.} A kind of circular or chain reaction in which one negative thing leads to another. * /Some people take so many different kinds of medicine to cure an illness that they develop other illnesses from the medicine and are thus caught in a vicious circle./ [Vietnam syndrome] {n.}, {informal} An attitude in government circles that diplomacy may be more effective in solving local political problems in other countries than the use of military force, stemming from the failure of the U.S. military intervention in Vietnam. * /The pundits of Foggy Bottom display the Vietnam syndrome these days when it comes to Iran./ [view] See: IN VIEW, IN VIEW OF, TAKE A DIM VIEW OF. [vine] See: DIE ON THE VINE or WITHER ON THE VINE, CLINGING VINE. [virtue] See: BY VIRTUE OF, MAKE A VIRTUE OF NECESSITY. [visiting nurse] {n.} A nurse who goes from home to home taking care of sick people or giving help with other health problems. * /After John returned home from the hospital, the visiting nurse came each day to change his bandages./ [voice] See: AT THE TOP OF ONE'S VOICE, GIVE VOICE. [voice box] {n.} The part of the throat where the sound of your voice is made; the larynx. * /Mr. Smith's voice box was taken out in an operation, and he could not talk after that./ [voiceprint] {n.}, {technological}, {colloquial} The graphic pattern derived from converting an individual's voice into a visible graph used by the police for identification purposes, much as fingerprints. * /They have succeeded in identifying the murderer by using a voiceprint./ [volcano] See: SIT ON A VOLCANO. [volume] See: SPEAK VOLUMES. [vote a straight ticket] {v. phr.} To not differentiate one's ballot according to individual names and posts, but to vote for all candidates for all positions of the same party. * /"I never have time.to study the ballot in detail," Marie said, "and so I tend to vote a straight Republican ticket."/ [vote in] {v. phr.} To elevate to the status of "Law of the Land" by special or general ballot. * /Congress has finally voted in the Brady Law that requires that prospective gun owners wait a special period of time before making their purchase./ [vote one out] {v. phr.} To terminate one's elected office by casting a negative vote about that person (judge, congressman, etc.), mostly so that someone else might occupy the same position. * /Congressman Smith was voted out last November in favor of Congresswoman Bradley./ W [wade in] or [wade into] {v.}, {informal} 1. To go busily to work. * /The house was a mess after the party, but Mother waded in and soon had it clean again./ 2. To attack. * /When Bill had heard Jim's argument, he waded in and took it apart./ * /Jack waded into the boys with his fists flying./ [wade through] {v. phr.} To read through something long and laborious. * /It took John six months to wade through Tolstoy's War and Peace in the original Russian./ [wag] See: TONGUES TO WAG or TONGUES WAG. [wagon] See: FIX SOMEONE'S WAGON, HITCH ONE'S WAGON TO A STAR, JUMP ON THE BAND WAGON, OFF THE WAGON, ON THE WAGON. [wag one's chin] See: BEAT ONE'S GUMS, CHEW THE FAT, CHEW THE RAG, SHOOT THE BREEZE. [wait] See: LIE IN WAIT. [wait at table] or [wait on table] or [wait table] {v. phr.} To serve food. * /Mrs. Lake had to teach her new maid to wait on table properly./ * /The girls earn spending money by waiting at table in the school dining rooms./ [waiting list] {n.} A list of persons waiting to get into something (as a school). * /The nursery school enrollment was complete, so the director put our child's name on the waiting list./ * /The landlord said there were no vacant apartments available, but that he would put the Rogers' name on the waiting list./ [waiting room] {n. phr.} The sitting area in a doctor's, lawyer's, accountant's, etc. office, or in a hospital, or other workplace, where people wait their turn. * /Some doctor's offices have elegantly furnished waiting rooms with magazines, newspapers, and coffee for the patients./ [wait on] or [wait upon] {v.} 1. To serve. * /Sue has a summer job waiting on an invalid./ * /The clerk in the store asked if we had been waited upon./ 2. {formal} To visit as a courtesy or for business. * /We waited upon the widow out of respect for her husband./ * /John waited upon the President with a letter of introduction./ 3. To follow. * /Success waits on hard work./ [wait on hand and foot] {v. phr.} To serve in every possible way; do everything for (someone). * /Sally is spoiled because her mother waits on her hand and foot./ * /The gentlemen had a valet to wait on him hand and foot./ Compare: HAND AND FOOT. [wait on table] See: WAIT AT TABLE. [wait up] {v. phr.} To not go to bed until a person one is worried about comes home (said by parents and marriage partners). * /My mother always waited up for me when I went out as a young student./ * /She always waits up for her husband when he's out late./ [wait upon] See: WAIT ON. [wake] See: IN THE WAKE OF. [walk] See: WIN IN A WALK. [walk all over] See: WALK OVER. [walk a tightrope] {v. phr.} To be in a dangerous or awkward situation where one cannot afford to make a single mistake. * /"When we landed on the moon in 1969," Armstrong explained, "we were walking a tightrope till the very end."/ [walk away with] or [walk off with] {v.} 1. To take and go away with; take away; often: steal. * /When Father went to work, he accidentally walked off with Mother's umbrella./ * /How can a thief walk off with a safe in broad daylight?/ 2. To take, get, or win easily. * /Jim walked away with all the honors on Class Night./ * /Our team walked off with the championship./ [walking dictionary] {n. phr.} A person highly knowledgeable in matters of language use. * /If you want to know what "serendipity" means, ask my Uncle Fred. He is a professor of English and is also a walking dictionary./ [walking encyclopedia] {n. phr.} A polymath; a person very well versed in a number of different disciplines. * /My uncle is a veritable walking encyclopedia when it comes to the history of World War II./ Contrast: WALKING DICTIONARY. [walking papers] or [walking orders] also [walking ticket] {n.}, {informal} A statement that you are fired from your job; dismissal. * /The boss was not satisfied with Paul's work and gave him his walking papers./ * /George is out of work. He picked up his walking ticket last Friday./ [walk off with] See: WALK AWAY WITH. [walk of life] {n. phr.} Way of living; manner in which people live. * /Many rich people have yachts; people in their walk of life can afford them./ * /The banker did not want his son to marry a girl in a different walk of life./ * /People from every walk of life enjoy television./ Compare: THE TRACKS. [walk on air] {v. phr.}, {informal} To feel happy and excited. * /Sue has been walking on air since she won the prize./ * /His father's compliment left Jed walking on air./ Compare: ON CLOUD NINE, ON TOP OF THE WORLD. [walk on eggs] {v. phr.} To act with utmost caution due to being in a precarious position. * /Tom has been walking on eggs ever since he started working for a new boss in Cincinnati./ [walk out] {v.} 1. To go on strike. * /When the company would not give them higher pay, the workers walked out./ 2. To leave suddenly; especially to desert. * /He didn't say he wasn't coming back; he just walked out./ - Often used informally with "on". * /The man walked out on his wife and children./ Compare: LEAVE FLAT, LEAVE IN THE LURCH. [walk over] or [walk all over] or [step all over] {v. phr.} {informal} To make (someone) do whatever you wish; make selfish use of; treat like a slave; impose upon. * /Jill is so friendly and helpful that people walk all over her./ * /We wanted the man's business, so we let him step all over us./ Compare: TAKE ADVANTAGE OF. [walk the chalk] or [walk the chalk line] or [walk the chalk mark] To act exactly as you are supposed to; behave properly; obey. * /That new teacher really makes the students walk the chalk./ * /In some classes the students play and talk, but Mr. Parker makes them walk the chalk./ * /That theater owner wants his place to be orderly, and if boys and girls don't walk the chalk, he puts them out./ (From the fact that sailors used to be asked to walk a chalk line along the deck of the ship to prove they were not drunk.) Compare: TOE THE MARK. [walk the floor] {v. phr.} To walk one direction and then the other across the floor, again and again; pace. * /Mr. Black walked the floor, trying to reach a decision./ * /The sick baby had his mother walking the floor all night./ * /Mrs. Black's toothache hurt so much that she got up and walked the floor./ [walk the plank] {v. phr.} 1. To walk off a board extended over the side of a ship and be drowned. * /The pirates captured the ship and forced the crew to walk the plank./ 2. {informal} To resign from a job because someone makes you do it. * /When a new owner bought the store, the manager had to walk the plank./ [wall] See: BACK TO THE WALL, BEAT ONE'S HEAD AGAINST A WALL, CLIMB THE WALL, FORWARD WALL, HANDWRITING ON THE WALL, HOLE-IN-THE-WALL, STONE WALL or BRICK WALL, TO THE WALL. [wallflower] {n.} A girl who has to sit out dances because nobody is asking her to dance. * /"I used to be a wallflower during my high school days," Valerie complained, "but my luck changed for better once I got into college."/ [wallop] See: PACK A PUNCH or PACK A WALLOP. [walls have ears] Sometimes one's most confidential conversations are overheard. * /"Be careful what you say," he whispered. "Remember that walls have ears."/ [want ad] {n.} A small advertisement on a special page in a newspaper that offers employment opportunities and merchandise. * /"You want a temporary job?" he asked the recent arrival in town. "Go and look at the want ads!"/ [war] See: COLD WAR, TUG OF WAR. [war baby] {n.}, {informal} A person born during a war. * /War babies began to increase college enrollments early in the 1960s./ * /The war babies forced many towns to build new schools./ [ward off] {v. phr.} To deflect; avert. * /Vitamin C is known to ward off the common cold./ [warmer] See: BENCH WARMER. [warm one's blood] {v. phr.} To make you feel warm or excited. * /When the Bakers came to visit on a cold night, Mr. Harmon offered them a drink to warm their blood./ [warm the bench] {v. phr.}, {informal} To act as a substitute on an athletic team. * /Bill has been warming the bench for three football seasons; he hopes that the coach will let him play this year./ - [bench warmer] {n.}, {informal} A substitute player. * /Last year Ted was only a bench warmer, but this year he is the team's star pitcher./ [warm up] {v.} 1. To reheat cooked food. * /Mr. Jones was so late that his dinner got cold; his wife had to warm it up./ * /When the children had left for school, their mother warmed up the breakfast coffee./ 2. To become friendly or interested. * /It takes an hour or so for some children to warm up to strangers./ * /As he warmed up to his subject, Tom forgot his bashfulness./ 3. To get ready for a game or other event by exercising or practicing. * /The dancers began to warm up fifteen minutes before the performance./ * /The coach told us to warm up before entering the pool./ [warm-up] {n.} A period of exercise or practice in preparation for a game or other event. * /During the warm-up the baseball players were throwing the ball around and running up and down the side of the field./ * /Before the television quiz program, there was a warm-up to prepare the contestants./ [warpath] See: ON THE WARPATH. [warrant] See: SIGN ONE'S OWN DEATH WARRANT. [wash and wear] {adj.} Not needing to be ironed. - Refers especially to synthetic and synthetic blend fabrics. * /Dick bought three wash and wear shirts to take on his trip./ * /Sally's dress is made of a wash and wear fabric./ [washed out] {adj.} Listless in appearance; pale, wan. * /Small wonder Harry looks so washed out; he has just recovered from major surgery./ [washed up] {adj.} Ruined; finished; a failure. * /Harry is looking awfully sad. I hear his business has collapsed and he is all washed up./ [wash one's dirty linen in public] See: AIR ONE'S DIRTY LINEN IN PUBLIC. [wash one's hands of] {v. phr.} To withdraw from or refuse to be responsible for. * /We washed our hands of politics long ago./ * /The school washed its hands of the students' behavior during spring recess./ [washout] {n.} A dismal failure. * /As far as investments were concerned, Dick and his precious advice turned out to he a total washout./ [wash out] {v. phr.} To disappear; vanish. * /Do you think this stain will wash out?/ [waste] See: GO TO WASTE, LAY WASTE. [waste away] {v.} To become more thin and weak every day. * /Jane is wasting away with tuberculosis./ * /After Mrs. Barnes died, her husband wasted away with grief./ [waste one's breath] {v. phr.} To speak or to argue with no result; do nothing by talking. * /The teacher saw that she was wasting her breath; the children refused to believe her./ * /I know what I want. You're wasting your breath./ [watch] See: BIRD WATCHER, BEAR WATCHING, ON THE WATCH. [watched pot never boils] If you watch or wait for something to get done or to happen, it seems to take forever. - A proverb. * /Jane was nine months pregnant and Tom hovered over her anxiously. She said, "You might as well go away and play some golf. A watched pot never boils, you know!"/ [watcher] See: CLOCK WATCHER. [watch every penny] See: PINCH PENNIES. [watch it] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be careful. - Usually used as a command. * /You'd better watch it. If you get into trouble again, you'll be expelled./ * /Watch it - the bottom stair is loose!/ [watch one's dust] or [watch one's smoke] {v. phr.}, {slang} To notice your quick action; watch you do something quickly. * /Offer Bill a dollar to shovel your sidewalk, and watch his smoke!/ * /"We'll have your yard cleaned in a jiffy," the Boy Scouts told Mr. Truitt. "Watch our smoke!"/ * /"I can go to the store and be back in five minutes," bragged Tom. "Just watch my dust."/ [watch one's language] {v. phr.} To be careful of how one speaks; avoid saying impolite or vulgar things. * /"You boys watch your language," Mother said, "or you won't be watching television for a whole week!"/ [watch one's step] {v. phr.} To mend one's ways; exercise prudence, tact, and care. * /I have to watch my step with the new boss as he is a very proud and sensitive individual./ [watch out] See: LOOK OUT. [watch over] {v. phr.} To guard; take care of. * /The museum guards carefully watch over the world-famous paintings./ [water] See: BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER, COME HELL OR HIGH WATER, DEEP WATER, FISH OUT OF WATER, GO THROUGH HELL AND HIGH WATER, HEAD ABOVE WATER, HOLD WATER, HELL AND HIGH WATER, HOT WATER, LIKE WATER, LIKE WATER OFF A DUCK'S BACK, MAKE ONE'S MOUTH WATER, OF THE FIRST WATER, POUR OIL ON TROUBLED WATERS, THROW COLD WATER ON, TREAD WATER. [water down] {v.} To change and make weaker; weaken. * /The Senator argued that the House should water down the bill before passing it./ * /The African American did not accept watered down Civil Rights legislation./ * /After talking with the management about their demands, the workers agreed to water them down./ * /The teacher had to water down the course for a slow-learning class./ [watered down] {adj.} Weakened; diluted. * /The play was a disappointing, watered down version of Shakespeare's Othello./ [waterfront] See: COVER THE WATERFRONT. [watering hole] or [place] {n. phr.} A bar, pub, or nightclub where people gather to drink and socialize. * /I like "The Silver Dollar" - it is my favorite watering hole in all of Sidney, Nebraska./ [Waterloo] See: MEET ONE'S WATERLOO. [water over the dam] or [water under the bridge] {n. phr.} Something that happened in the past and cannot be changed. * /Since the sweater is too small already, don't worry about its shrinking; that's water over the dam./ Compare: CRY OVER SPILLED MILK. [water under the bridge] See: WATER OVER THE DAM. [water wagon] See: ON THE WAGON. [way] See: ALL THE WAY or THE WHOLE WAY, BY THE WAY, BY WAY OF, COME A LONG WAY, CUT BOTH WAYS or CUT TWO WAYS, EVERY WHICH WAY, FROM WAY BACK, GO OUT OF ONE'S WAY, HARD WAY, HAVE A WAY WITH, IN A BAD WAY, IN A BIG WAY, IN A FAMILY WAY, IN A WAY, IN ONE'S WAY or IN THE WAY, KNOW ONE'S WAY AROUND or KNOW ONE'S WAY ABOUT, LEAD THE WAY, MAKE ONE'S WAY, MAKE WAY, NOT KNOW WHICH WAY TO TURN, NO TWO WAYS ABOUT IT, ON THE WAY or ON ONE'S WAY, PARTING OF THE WAYS, PUT IN THE WAY OF or PUT IN ONE'S WAY, PUT OUT OF THE WAY, RUB THE WRONG WAY, SEE ONE'S WAY CLEAR. [way off] {adj. phr.} At a great distance from a particular point (said of a discrepancy). * /We were way off on our calculations; the house cost us twice as much as we had thought./ [wayside] See: FALL BY THE WAYSIDE. [way the wind blows] or [how the wind blows] {n. phr.} The direction or course something may go; how things are; what may happen. * /Most senators find put which way the wind blows in their home state before voting on bills in Congress./ [ways and means] {n. plural} Methods of getting something done or getting money; how something can be done and paid for. * /The boys were trying to think of ways and means to go camping for the weekend./ * /The United States Senate has a committee on ways and means./ [wear] See: IF THE SHOE FITS - WEAR IT, WASH AND WEAR, WORSE FOR WEAR. [wear and tear] {n. phr.} Deterioration through use. * /After 75,000 miles there is usually a lot of wear and tear on any car./ [wear away] See: WEAR DOWN. [wear blinders] or [blinkers] {v. phr.} To refuse or be unable to consider alternative ways of thinking or acting. * /Anybody who disputes the importance of learning languages is wearing blinders./ [wear down], [wear off] or [wear away] {v.} 1. To remove or disappear little by little through use, time, or the action of weather. * /Time and weather have worn off the name on the gravestone./ * /The eraser has worn off my pencil./ * /The grass has worn away from the path near the house./ 2. To lessen; become less little by little. * /The people went home as the excitement of the fire wore off./ * /John could feel the pain again as the dentist's medicine wore away./ 3. To exhaust; tire out, win over or persuade by making tired. * /Mary wore her mother down by begging so that she let Mary go to the movies./ Compare: DIE OUT. [wear on] {v.} 1. To anger or annoy; tire. * /Having to stay indoors all day long is tiresome for the children and wears on their mother's nerves./ 2. To drag on; pass gradually or slowly; continue in the same old way. * /Johnny tried to wait up for Santa Claus but as the night wore on, he couldn't keep his eyes open./ * /As the years wore on, the man in prison grew old./ * /The boys' quarrel wore on all afternoon./ [wear one's heart on one's sleeve] also [pin one's heart on one's sleeve] {v. phr.} To show your feelings openly; show everyone how you feel; not hide your feelings. * /She wears her heart on her sleeve. It's easy to see if she is sad or happy./ * /Sometimes it is better not to pin your heart on your sleeve./ Compare: OPEN ONE'S HEART. [wear out] {v.} 1a. To use or wear until useless. * /Bobby got a toy truck that would run on a battery, and he used it so much that he soon wore it out./ * /The stockings are so worn out that they can't be mended any more./ Compare: GIVE OUT(4), USE UP. 1b. To become useless from use or wear. * /The old clock finally wore out./ * /One shoe wore out before the other./ 2. or [tire out] To make very tired; weaken. * /The children played inside when it rained, and they soon wore out their mother./ * /When Dick got home from the long walk, he was all worn out./ - Often used with "oneself". * /Don't wear yourself out by playing too hard./ Compare: GIVE OUT(4). 3. To make by rubbing, scraping, or washing. * /The waterfall has worn out a hole in the stone beneath it./ [wear out one's welcome] {v. phr.}, {informal} To visit somewhere too long or come back too often so that you are not welcome any more. * /The Smith children have worn out their welcome at our house because they never want to go home./ * /This hot weather has worn out its welcome with us./ [wear the trousers] or [wear the pants] {v. phr.}, {informal} To have a man's authority; be the boss of a family or household. * /Mr. Wilson is henpecked by his wife; she wears the trousers in that family./ * /Mrs. Jones talks a lot but Mr. Jones wears the pants in their house./ Compare: RULE THE ROOST. [wear thin] {v.} 1. To become thin from use, wearing, or the passing of time. * /My old pair of pants has worn thin at the knees./ * /This old dime has worn very thin./ 2. To grow less, or less interesting; decrease. * /The joke began to wear thin when you heard it too many times./ * /The teacher's patience began to wear thin when he saw that no one knew the lesson./ [wear well] {v.} 1. To continue to be satisfactory, useful, or liked for a long time. * /My old overcoat has worn very well./ * /Their marriage has worn well./ * /That author wears well./ Compare: STAND UP(2). 2. To carry, accept, or treat properly or well. * /Grandfather wears his years well./ * /Tommy has won many honors but he wears them well./ [weasel out] {v. phr.} To renege on a previous promise; not keep an obligation for some not always straight reason. * /I'm so tired I think I am going to weasel my way out of going to that meeting this afternoon./ [weasel word] {n.}, {informal} A word which has more than one meaning and may be used to deceive others. * /When the thief was being questioned by the police, he tried to fool them with weasel words./ [weather] See: FAIR-WEATHER FRIEND. [weather eye] {n.} 1. Eyes that can tell what the weather will be. * /Grandfather's weather eye always tells him when it will rain./ 2. Eyes ready or quick to see; careful watch. - Usually used in phrases like "keep a weather eye on", "open", or "out for". * /Mrs. Brown kept a weather eye on the children so they wouldn't hurt each other./ * /Keep a weather eye out for Uncle George at the store./ * /Keep a weather eye open for deer./ * /The police have a weather eye out for the robbers./ Compare: LOOK OUT. [weather the storm] {v. phr.} To survive some disaster. * /When Peter and Sue started their business they had very little money, but in a year they weathered the storm./ [wedge] See: FLYING WEDGE. [wedlock] See: BORN OUT OF WEDLOCK. [wee hours] The crack of dawn, or just before it, usually between 1 A.M. and 4 A.M. or 2 A.M. and 5 A.M. * /He stayed up all night when they were expecting their first child; finally, a boy was born in the wee hours of the morning./ Compare: SMALL HOURS. [weeper] See: FINDERS KEEPERS or FINDERS KEEPERS LOSERS WEEPERS. [weed out] {v.} 1. To remove what is unwanted, harmful, or not good enough from. * /Mother weeded out the library because there were too many books./ * /Many colleges and universities weed out their freshman classes to make room for better students./ 2. To take (what is not wanted) from a collection or group; remove (a part) for the purpose of improving a collection or group; get rid of. * /The coach is weeding out the weak players this week./ * /The teacher told Elizabeth to read over her English composition and weed out every sentence that was not about the subject./ [wee folk] or [little folk] or [little people] {n. phr.} Fairy people; brownies; elves; fairies; or goblins. * /Mother read me a story about the wee folk who lived in the forest and came out at night./ * /There are many stories about little people dancing in the moonlight./ [week in, week out] See: DAY IN, AND DAY OUT. [week of Sundays] {n. phr.} A long time; seven weeks. * /I haven't seen them in a week of Sundays./ [weigh anchor] {v. phr.} To set sail; get going. * /After a week in Hawaii, we weighed anchor and sailed south toward Tahiti./ [weigh down] also [weight down] 1. To make heavy; cause to go down or bend with weight; overload. * /The evergreens are weighed down by the deep snow./ - Often used with "with" or "by". * /There are so many children in the back seat that they are weighing down the back of the car./ 2a. To overload with care or worry; make sad or low in spirits. - Usually used in the passive. * /The family is weighed down by sorrow./ * /The company is weighed down by debt./ 2b. To make heavy, hard, or slow; make dull or uninteresting. - Often in the passive used with "by" or "with". * /The book is weighted down with footnotes./ * /The TV program is weighed down by commercials./ [weigh in] {v.} 1a. To take the weight of; weigh. * /The man at the airport counter weighed in our bags and took our plane tickets./ * /A doctor weighed in the wrestlers./ 1b. To have yourself or something that you own weighed. - Often used with "at". * /I weighed in at 100 pounds on the scale today./ * /We took our bags to the airport counter to weigh in./ 1c. To have yourself weighed as a boxer or wrestler by a doctor before a match. - Often used with "at". * /The champion didn't want to weigh in at more than 160 pounds./ 2. {slang} To join or interfere in a fight, argument, or discussion. * /We told Jack that if we wanted him to weigh in with his opinion we would ask him./ Compare: TAKE PART. [weigh on] or [weigh upon] {v.} 1. To be a weight or pressure on; be heavy on. * /The pack weighed heavily on the soldier's back./ 2. To make sad or worried; trouble; disturb; upset. * /Sadness weighed on Mary's heart when her kitten died./ * /John's wrongdoing weighed upon his conscience./ * /The teacher's advice weighed upon Tom's mind./ 3. To be a burden to. * /His guilt weighed heavily upon him./ [weigh on one's mind] See: WEIGH ON(2). [weigh one's words] {v. phr.} To choose your words carefully; be careful to use the right words. * /When a teacher explains about religion, he must weigh his words because his pupils may be of several different faiths./ * /When old Mr. Jones talked to the students about becoming teachers, he spoke slowly, weighing his words./ * /In a debate, a political candidate has little time to weigh his words, and may say something foolish./ [weight] See: PULL ONE'S WEIGHT, SWING ONE'S WEIGHT, THROW ONE'S WEIGHT AROUND. [weight down] See: WEIGH DOWN. [weight of the world on one's shoulders] or [world on one's shoulders] or [world on one's back] {n. phr.} A very heavy load of worry or responsibility; very tired or worried behavior, as if carrying the world; behavior as if you are very important. * /Don't look as if you had the weight of the world on your shoulders, Henry, just because you have to mow the lawn./ * /John acts as if he were carrying the world on his back because he has a paper route./ [weigh upon] See: WEIGH ON. [welcome] See: WEAR OUT ONE'S WELCOME. [welcome mat] {n.} 1. A mat for wiping your shoes on, often with the word "welcome" on it, that is placed in front of a door. * /Mother bought a welcome mat for our new house./ 2. {informal} A warm welcome; a friendly greeting. - Used in such phrases as "the welcome mat is out" and "put out the welcome mat". * /Our welcome mat is always out to our friends./ * /Spread out the welcome mat, children, because Uncle Bill is visiting us tonight./ Syn.: LATCH STRING(2). Compare: ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET, WITH OPEN ARMS. [welcome with open arms] See: WITH OPEN ARMS. [well] See: ALL VERY WELL, AS WELL, AS WELL AS, HAIL FELLOW WELL MET, LET WELL ENOUGH ALONE, PLAY ONE'S CARDS RIGHT or PLAY ONE'S CARDS WELL, VERY WELL, WEAR WELL. [well and good] {adj. phr.} Good; satisfactory. * /If my daughter finishes high school, I will call that well and good./ - Often used without a verb to show agreement or understanding. * /Well and good; I will come to your house tomorrow./ Compare: ALL RIGHT, ALL VERY WELL, VERY WELL. [well-heeled] {adj.}, {slang} Wealthy; having plenty of money. * /Bob's father, who is well-heeled, gave him a sports car./ Compare: IN CLOVER, ON EASY STREET. [well-off] {adj. phr.} 1. Rich. * /They may not be millionaires, but they are sufficiently well-off./ 2. In good condition; free of problems or difficulties./ * /He is pleased that his business is well-off./ [well put] {adj. phr.} Well expressed or defined. * /His remarks about too much violence on television were extremely well put./ [well-to-do] {adj.} Having or making enough money to live comfortably; prosperous. * /John's father owns a company and his family is well-to-do./ - Often used with "the" like a plural noun. * /This is the part of town where the well-to-do live./ Compare: IN THE LAP OF LUXURY, IN THE CHIPS, ON EASY STREET. [wet] See: ALL WET, GET ONE'S FEET WET, MAD AS A WET HEN, WRINGING WET. [wet behind the ears] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Not experienced; not knowing how to do something; new in a job or place. * /The new student is still wet behind the ears; he has not yet learned the tricks that the boys play on each other./ Compare: DRY BEHIND THE EARS. [wet blanket] {n.}, {informal} A person or thing that keeps others from enjoying life. * /The teenagers don't invite Bob to their parties because he is a wet blanket./ * /The weatherman throws a wet blanket on picnic plans when he forecasts rain./ Compare: CREPE HANGER. [wet one's whistle] {v. phr.}, {slang} To have a drink, especially of liquor. * /Uncle Willie told John to wait outside for a minute while he went in to the cafe to wet his whistle./ [whack] See: OUT OF WHACK. [whale away] {v.}, {informal} 1. To beat or hit hard; strike again and again. - Often used with "at". * /The boxer is whaling away at his opponent with both fists./ 2. To attack severely or again and again; go on without stopping or with great force; pound away. * /Mary has been whaling away on the typewriter for an hour./ - Often used with "at". * /During the election the Mayor whaled away at the other party in his speeches./ [whale the --- out of] See: BEAT THE --- OUT OF. [what] See: COME WHAT MAY, GET WHAT'S COMING TO ONE, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED, SO WHAT. [what about] {interrog.} 1. About or concerning what; in connection with what. - Often used alone as a question. * /"I want to talk to you." "What about?"/ Compare: WHAT FOR. 2. See: WHAT OF IT. 3. See: HOW ABOUT. [what about that] See: HOW ABOUT THAT. [What a pity!] How unfortunate! What a shame! * /What a pity that he couldn't join us on our Hawaiian trip./ [what for(1)] {interrog.} For what reason; why? * /I told Mary what I was going to town for./ * /What are you running for?/ - Often used alone as a question. * /Billy's mother told him to wear his hat. "What for?" he asked./ Compare: HOW COME. [what for(2)] {n. phr.}, {informal} A scolding, or other punishment. - Usually used with "get" or "give". * /Tom got what for from his father for answering him rudely, and I heard him crying in the house./ * /The teacher gave me what for because I was late./ [what have you] or [what not] {n. phr.}, {informal} Whatever you like or want; anything else like that. * /The store sells big ones, small ones, medium ones, or what have you./ * /We found suits, coats, hats and what not in the closet./ Syn.: AND SO FORTH. [what if] What would, or will, happen if; what is the difference if; suppose that. * /What if you go instead of me?/ * /What if we paint it red. How will it look?/ * /"You can't go now" said mother. "What if I do?" Dick asked./ * /What if Jack scores a touchdown?/ [what is what] See: WHAT'S WHAT. [what of it] or [what about it] {interj.}, {informal} What is wrong with it; what do you care. * /Martha said "That boy is wearing a green coat." Jan answered, "What of it?"/ * /"John missed the bus." "What of it?"/ Syn.: SO WHAT. [what not] See: WHAT HAVE YOU. [what's cooking] See: WHAT'S UP. [what's doing] See: WHAT'S UP.. [what's sauce for the goose, is sauce for the gander] What goes for the one, also goes for the other. - A proverb. * /If Herb gets a speeding ticket, so should Erica, who was right behind him; after all, what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander./ [what's the big idea] or [what's the idea] {informal} What is the purpose; what do you have in mind; why did you do that; what are you doing; how dare you. - Often used to question someone or something that is not welcome. * /The Smith family painted their house red, white, and blue. What's the big idea?/ * /What's the idea of coming in here after I told you not to?/ * /I heard you are spreading false rumors about me, what's the big idea?/ [what's the idea] See: WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA. [what's up] or [what's cooking] also [what's doing] {slang} What is happening or planned; what is wrong. - Often used as a greeting. * /"What's up?" asked Bob as he joined his friends. "Are you going to the movies?"/ * /What's cooking? Why is the crowd in the street?/ * /What's doing tonight at the club?/ * /Hello Bob, what's up?/ Compare: WHAT'S WITH. [what's what] or [what is what] {n. phr.}, {informal} 1. What each thing is in a group; one thing from another. * /The weeds and the flowers are coming up together, and we can't tell what is what./ 2. All that needs to be known about something; the important facts or skills. * /Richard did the wrong thing, because he is new here and doesn't yet know what's what./ * /When Bob started his new job, it took him several weeks to learn what was what./ * /When it comes to cooking, Jenny knows what's what./ * /Harold began to tell the teacher how to teach the class, and the teacher told him what was what./ Compare: WHICH IS WHICH, WHO'S WHO. [what's with] or [what's up with] also [what's by] {slang} What is happening to; what is wrong; how is everything; what can you tell me about. * /Mary looks worried. What's with her?/ * /What's with our old friends?/ * /I'm fine. What's with you?/ [what with] {prep.} Because; as a result of. * /I couldn't visit you, what with the snowstorm and the cold I had./ * /What with dishes to wash and children to put to bed, mother was late to the meeting./ Compare: ON ACCOUNT OF. [wheel] See: BIG CHEESE or BIG WHEEL, GREASE THE WHEELS, PUT ONE'S SHOULDER TO THE WHEEL. [wheel and deal] {v. phr.}, {slang} To ma