Commonly used english part 98 pps

when the chips are down - at the final and critical moment, when things really get difficult When the chips are down he will always come and help his friends.. when the going gets tough

what`s what

- distinguish one thing from another

It is hard to tell what`s what at an auction of old furniture

Whatever will be, will be.

- things will just happen and there is little that we can do about it

Whatever will be will be and it is not possible to predict what will happen in the future

wheel and deal

- take part in political or business dealing

There was a lot of wheeling and dealing going on before they built the new

convention center

when Idioms

when hell freezes over

- never

The man said that he would come to the office party when hell freezes over

when it comes right down to it

- when one really thinks about something

When it comes right down to it, I don't think that you should quit your job

when it comes to (something)

- speaking about something

When it comes to sports, my friend is a very knowledgeable person

when least expected

- when one does not expect something

When least expected the secretary always asks for time off from work

when one is good and ready

- when one is completely ready

I decided not to go and see the supervisor until I was good and ready

when push comes to shove

- when a situation becomes more difficult

When push comes to shove my friend's daughter is always able to find a job

when the chips are down

- at the final and critical moment, when things really get difficult

When the chips are down he will always come and help his friends

when the going gets tough (the tough get going)

- when things become difficult, strong people begin to work harder

When the going gets tough our teacher is always there to support and help us

when the time is ripe

- at exactly the right time

When the time was ripe we decided to sell our house

where one is coming from

- one's point of view

I don't understand where the man was coming from when he began to complain about the noise

whet someone's appetite

- interest someone in something and make them want to have or know more about it

The presentation by the mountain climber began to whet my appetite for more

outdoors activities

while away the time

- spend or waste time pleasantly

We spent the afternoon whiling away the time by the river

whip up

- make active, stir to action

The union leader whipped up the crowd with his speech

whip up (something)

- make or do something quickly or easily

It was very late when we got home so we whipped up something to eat very quickly

whistle a different tune

- change one`s attitude, contradict previous ideas

He is whistling a different tune now that he has been promoted and has more

responsibility at his job

whistle in the dark

- try to stay brave and forget one`s fear

Although he felt very frightened he began to whistle in the dark which helped to calm him down

white elephant

- a useless possession that is a nuisance or expensive to keep

They are having a white elephant sale at the school next week

white elephant

- a waste of money

The new airport was a white elephant which nobody liked to use

white lie

- a harmless lie often told to be polite

I told the woman a white lie when I said that I would be too busy to meet her

white sale

- selling towels, linens, etc at reduced prices

We went to the white sale at the department store last Saturday

whole ball of wax/shooting match

- the whole thing or matter

I want to finish the redecorating project and be finished with the whole ball of wax

whole new ball game

- a new set of circumstances

The situation became a whole new ball game when the owners decided to sell the team

whole show

- everything

Our new boss always tries to run the whole show

whoop it up

- enjoy oneself in a lively and noisy manner

The fans were whooping it up after they won the basketball game

wide of the mark

- far from the target, incorrect

His ideas for the company are wide of the mark from what everybody expected

wild about (someone or something)

- enthusiastic about someone or something

The boys were wild about the new movie

wild goose chase

- absurd or hopeless search

The man led the police on a wild goose chase when he ran away from them

downtown

wildcat strike

- a strike not ordered by a labor union but done without planning by a group of

workers

There was a wildcat strike at the factory last night

will not hear of (something)

- will not allow or consider something

My aunt said that she will not hear of us staying at a hotel when we come to visit her

will power

- strength of mind

He has very strong will power and was able to quit smoking easily

win by a nose

- win by a small amount

The candidate won by a nose so they had to count the votes again

win out (over someone or something)

- be victorious or successful after hard work or difficulty

We finally won out over our boss and he agreed to listen to our complaints

win (someone) over

- gain the support and sympathy of someone

We finally won the apartment manager over and she will let us have a pet in our apartment

wind down

- decrease or diminish

At the end of the summer all of the shops at the beach resort began to wind down their business

wind up

- end, finish, settle

Let`s wind things up now and then we can all go home

wind up

- tighten the spring of a machine to make it work

Every night before he goes to bed my grandfather winds up his alarm clock

wind up

- make very excited, nervous or upset

I was really wound up yesterday after work and I couldn`t get to sleep easily

wing it

- act without preparation

He wasn`t prepared for the examination so he had to wing it

wink at (something)

- allow and pretend not to know about something (a law or rule being broken)

The school librarian sometimes winks at the rule about borrowing a maximum of three books

winning streak

- a series of several wins one after the other

Our baseball team has been on a winning streak for several weeks now

wipe off (something)

- to remove something by wiping or rubbing, to clean the surface of something

We always wipe off the table before we have dinner

wipe out

- remove, kill or destroy completely

The city spends a lot of money every year trying to wipe out the rats near the river

wipe-out

- a disaster, a calamity

My exams were a total wipe-out I think that I failed all of them

wipe (someone's) slate clean

- erase someone's (bad) record

The man had a bad performance record at work but he was able to wipe his slate clean and start over

wipe the floor with (someone)

- physically beat someone

The ex-boxer wiped the floor with the man who insulted him

wise guy

- a person who acts as if he were smarter than other people

He always acts like a wise guy when he is in a big group

wise up to

- begin to understand the truth about someone or something

He finally wised up to the fact that he was never going to get a promotion in his company

wisecrack

- sarcastic or witty remark

She made a funny wisecrack during the speech which caused the audience to start laughing

wishful thinking

- believe that something is true because you wish it to be true

The manager planned to evict the family with the young child and it was wishful thinking to think that he wouldn't

wishy-washy

- unable to decide, have no definite opinion

He is very wishy-washy and can never make up his mind about what he wants to do

with Idioms

with a heavy heart

- sadly

It was with a heavy heart that the citizens of the small country said goodbye to their dead president

with a vengeance

- with determination and eagerness

The basketball team came out with a vengeance after the break and won the game easily

with all one's heart and soul

- very sincerely

With all his heart and soul, the young man wished his friend good luck on his new adventure

with all the fixings

- all the extra things that come with some meals

We ordered the meal with all the fixings

with an eye/view to (doing something)

- with the intention of doing something

We bought the small truck with an eye to using it for our home business

with each passing day

- after each day

With each passing day the price of gasoline was increasing

with ease

- without effort

We were able to find a parking spot with ease before the game

with everything (on it)

- a sandwich or hamburger ordered with everything available on it

We ordered a hamburger with everything on it

with flying colors

- with great or total success

I was able to pass my final exams with flying colors

with hat in hand

- with humility

The man came to his boss with hat in hand to ask for a raise in pay

with impunity

- without risk of punishment

The young boy was able to do anything that he wanted with impunity

with it

- alert and knowledgeable

My grandmother was not really with it just before she passed away

with no strings attached

- with no obligations attached

I was given the car to use with no strings attached

with one/both hand(s) tied behind one's back

- easily

I can look after the computer system with both hands tied behind my back

with one's tail between one's legs

- appearing frightened or cowardly (like a frightened dog)

The man left the store with his tail between his legs after he had been accused of trying to steal something

with open arms

- greet someone warmly or eagerly

My aunt and uncle were at the airport to greet us with open arms

with relish

- with pleasure or enjoyment

I began my new job and started doing my work with relish

with respect to (something)

- referring to something, concerning something

I do not know what the company will do with respect to the old computer system