Commonly used english part 97 ppsx

walk the plank - be forced by pirates to walk a long plank from the ship out over the water to your death The pirates captured the small ship and forced the captain to walk the plank.. w

walk out

- go on strike

More than half of the workers at the factory decided to walk out on strike this

morning

walk out of (something)

- leave suddenly

Three people walked out of the meeting yesterday

walk the floor

- walk back and forth across the floor

He spent the night walking the hospital floor while waiting for his wife to have a baby

walk the plank

- be forced to resign from a job

The vice-president was forced to walk the plank when the new president joined the company

walk the plank

- be forced by pirates to walk a long plank from the ship out over the water to your death

The pirates captured the small ship and forced the captain to walk the plank

walking papers

- a statement saying that one is fired from his or her job

He was given his walking papers from his company last week

waltz off with (something)

- to take, get or win easily

My favorite team waltzed off with the championship last night

want for nothing

- have everything one needs or wishes

My sister and her husband both have good jobs and they want for nothing

warm one`s blood/heart

- make one feel warm or excited

The sight of the small boy helping the old woman warmed the heart of the people on the street

warm the bench

- sit on a bench and not play during a game

The young player spent most of the game warming the bench

warm the cockles of one's heart

- make someone feel warm and happy

Her care and attention when I was sick warmed the cockles of my heart

warm up

- get ready for a game or other event with exercise or practice

We spent two hours warming up for the game on Saturday

warm up to (someone or something)

- become friendly or interested (in someone or something)

His wife finally warmed up to the idea of going to Italy for a holiday

warts and all

- including one's bad points

He likes to be able to relax, warts and all, with his friends

wash one's dirty linen in public

- talk about private or embarassing matters in public

The man began to wash his best friend's dirty linen in public after he became angry

wash one`s hands of (someone or something)

- abandon, refuse responsibility for (someone or something)

He washed his hands of the problem after the others refused to deal with it

washed up

- no longer successful or needed

The boxer was all washed up and had to retire last year

waste one`s breath

- speak pointlessly without the desired results

He is very stubborn and you are wasting your breath to argue with him

Watch it!

- be careful (usually used as a command)

"Watch it! That truck is going very fast and may hit you."

watch one`s P`s and Q`s

- be well-behaved, be careful

The boy was told to watch his P`s and Q`s by his teacher after he caused many

problems at school

watch one's step

- act cautiously so you don't make a mistake or anger someone

You should watch your step when you complain to the manager

watch out for (someone or something)

- watch over and care for someone, watch for the arrival or approach of someone Please watch out for my friend when you go downtown

watch over (someone or something)

- monitor or guard (someone or something)

I watched over the class while the teacher went to a meeting

watch (someone or something) like a hawk

- watch very carefully

The mother always watches her daughter like a hawk when they go to the park

water down

- make weak, dilute

The new policy was a watered down version of the old one

water under the bridge

- something that happened in the past and can`t be changed

It was terrible that your house was robbed but it is water under the bridge now and you must move forward

wax and wane

- increase and decrease (like the moon)

The boy's interest in soccer is always waxing and waning

way the wind blows

- direction something may go, what may happen

We will have to see which way the wind blows with our plans to go to London or not

ways and means

- the raising of money to pay for something

The woman doesn't have the ways and means to give her children a good education

wear Idioms

wear and tear

- damage as a result of ordinary use

They put a lot of wear and tear on their car during their long holiday

wear down

- make something become less useful or smaller or weaker by wearing or aging Little by little the water wore down the beach at the edge of the river

wear down

- exhaust or tire someone out

He was worn down from the many questions in the meeting

wear more than one hat

- have more than one set of responsibilities

Our teacher wears more than one hat and is the head of the school board as well as the coach of the swim team

wear off/away

- remove or disappear little by little by use, time or weather

The name on the front of my passport wore off from using it too much

wear on (someone)

- anger or annoy (someone)

His constant complaining is beginning to wear on me

wear one`s heart on one`s sleeve

- show one`s feelings openly

He was wearing his heart on his sleeve after the meeting with his boss

wear out

- use or wear something until it becomes useless

My shoes wore out during my trip to Paris

wear out one`s welcome

- visit someone too long or come back too often so that one is not welcome anymore

My friend has worn out his welcome at our house because he always visits without calling first

wear the pants in a family

- be the boss in a family

She is very strong and is the one who wears the pants in her family

wear thin

- become thin from use or the passing of time

The silver dollar began to wear thin after it was in use for many years

wear thin

- grow less interesting or believable

His excuses began to wear thin after he kept using them again and again

weasel out of (something)

- decide not to do something in a sneaky way

My friend weaseled out of helping us clean up the yard

weather permitting

- if the weather allows

Weather permitting, we will go to the lake on Saturday

weave in and out (of something)

- move, drive, or walk in and out of something such as traffic

The man was driving very fast and was weaving in and out of the traffic

weed out (someone or something)

- remove what is unwanted, get rid of

I spent the morning weeding out the clothes that I don't wear anymore

week in, week out

- week after week

Week in, week out the man takes his children to the lake to swim

weigh down on (someone)

- something worries or depresses someone

The man's problems at work seem to be weighing down on him

weigh on/upon (someone)

- to be a weight or pressure on someone or something, to worry or upset someone The pressure of her exams has begun to weigh upon my sister

weigh on/upon (someone's) mind

- to be a weight or pressure on someone or something, to worry or upset someone

My mother's illness was weighing on my mind

weigh one`s words

- be careful of what one says

You should weigh your words carefully before you tell your boss what you want

welcome to do something

- be free to do something

The apartment manager said we were welcome to park our car anywhere

well and good

- good, satisfactory

It is well and good that he will go and talk to his supervisor about the problem

well-heeled

- rich

He seems rather well-heeled and is always wearing expensive clothes and driving a nice car

- wealthy

Her parents are quite well-off and don`t need to worry about money during their retirement

well-to-do

- have lots of money

He comes from a rather well-to-do family

well up in years

- old

My father is well up in years but he is very healthy

wet behind the ears

- inexperienced, immature

He is a little wet behind the ears and doesn`t know much about his job yet

wet blanket

- person who discourages others from having fun

He is a wet blanket so we never invite him to our parties

wet one`s whistle

- have a drink (especially alcohol)

They decided to stop at a bar on their way home from work to wet their whistle

what Idioms

what about

- about or concerning something

I know that he wants to borrow my tent but what about my sleeping bag

What are you driving at?

- What do you mean?

I really didn't understand what my friend was driving at

What can I say?

- I am at a loss for words

"What can I say? I made a mistake and I'm sorry."

What have you been up to?

- What have you been doing?

"What have you been up to?", I asked my sister when I saw her

(have) what it takes

- (have) ability for a job, (have) courage

He really has what it takes to be a success at his job

what makes (someone) tick

- what motivates or makes someone behave in a certain way

I really don't know what makes that woman tick She is very strange

What one doesn't know won't hurt one.

- something that you don't know won't worry or harm you

What she doesn't know won't hurt her and we don't need to tell her about the broken dishes

what with

- because, as a result of

We wanted to go away for a holiday but what with moving to a new house we are too busy to go anywhere

What`s cooking?

- What is happening?, What is wrong?

"What`s cooking ", he asked his friend

What's done is done.

- something is final and in the past

What's done is done and now that he has quit his job he must find a new one

What's keeping you?

- What is taking you so long?

"What's keeping you?", the man asked his wife as he waited to go out

What's new?

- What have you been doing?

"What's new?", I asked my friend after I hadn't seen him for three months

What`s the big idea?

- Why did you do that?, What are you doing?

"What`s the big idea? Why are you using my bicycle?"

What`s up?

- What is happening?, What is wrong?

"What`s up ", he said as he entered the room

what`s (up) with (someone)

- what is happening/wrong, how is everything

"What`s up with the new supervisor? He seems very angry this morning."