The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

by Christine Ammer

  win some, lose some It’s not possible to win all the time, as in The coach was philosophical about our being shut out, saying “Win some, lose some.” This expression, generally uttered about a loss, originated in the early 1900s among gamblers who bet on sporting events. A variant, win some, lose some, some rained out, suggests that the idiom comes from baseball. Its figurative use dates from the 1940s. Also see YOU CAN’T WIN ’EM ALL.

  win through Also, win the day. End successfully, be victorious, as in We didn’t know until the very end if they would win through, or It seems that hard work won the day. The first term dates from the late 1800s and today is more often put as COME THROUGH (def. 1). The variant originally alluded to the outcome of a battle and dates from the late 1500s.

  wipe → In addition to the idioms beginning with WIPE, also see MOP UP (WIPE) THE FLOOR WITH; SETTLE A (WIPE OUT AN OLD) SCORE.

  wipe off the map Also, wipe off the face of the earth. Eliminate completely, as in Some day we hope to wipe malaria off the map. This idiom uses wipe in the sense of “obliterate,” and map and face of the earth in the sense of “everywhere.”

  wipe out 1. Destroy, as in The large chains are wiping out the independent bookstores. Originally put simply as wipe, the idiom acquired out in the first half of the 1800s. 2. Kill; also, murder. For example, The entire crew was wiped out in the plane crash, or The gangsters threatened to wipe him and his family out. [Late 1800s]

  wipe the slate clean → See under CLEAN SLATE.

  wire → See DOWN TO THE WIRE; GET ONE’S WIRES CROSSED; LIVE WIRE; PULL STRINGS (WIRES); UNDER THE WIRE.

  wise → In addition to the idioms beginning with WISE, also see GET WISE TO; NONE THE WISER; PENNY WISE AND POUND FOOLISH; PUT WISE; SADDER BUT WISER; WORD TO THE WISE.

  wise guy An obnoxious know-it-all, a person who makes sarcastic or annoying remarks, as in The teacher was delighted that the worst wise guy in the class was moving out of town. [Slang; second half of 1800s] Also see SMART ALECK.

  wise up to Make or become aware, informed, or sophisticated, as in It’s time someone wised you up to Mary; she’s an incorrigible first, or As soon as Tony wised up to what the company was doing, he quit. [Slang; early 1900s] Also see PUT WISE.

  wish → In addition to the idiom beginning with WISH, also see IF WISHES WERE HORSES.

  wishful thinking Interpreting matters as one would like them to be, as opposed to what they really are. For example, Matthew wanted to be a basketball player, but with his height that was wishful thinking. This term comes from Freudian psychology of the mid-1920s and soon began to be used more loosely.

  wish on Foist or impose something on another, as in I wouldn’t wish this job on my worst enemy. [Early 1900s]

  wit → See AT ONE’S WIT’S END; HAVE ONE’S WITS ABOUT ONE; LIVE BY ONE’S WITS; SCARE OUT OF ONE’S WITS; TO WIT.

  witch hunt A campaign against an individual or group considered unacceptable; a usually unfair form of persecution. Originally the term meant a hunt for persons believed to be witches. From the 1930s on the term was used figuratively, as in The 1950s saw Senator Joseph McCarthy conduct what many considered a witch hunt against anyone who might be associated with communism.

  witching hour Midnight, as in They arrived just at the witching hour. This term alludes to older superstitions concerning a time appropriate to witchcraft ­and other supernatural occurrences. Shakespeare and others wrote of “the witching time of night.” The precise phrase was first recorded in 1835.

  with a grain of salt Also, with a pinch of salt. Skeptically, with reservations. For example, I always take Sandy’s stories about illnesses with a grain of salt—she tends to exaggerate. This expression is a translation of the Latin cum grano salis, which Pliny used in describing Pompey’s discovery of an antidote for poison (to be taken with a grain of salt). It was soon adopted by English writers.

  with all due respect Although I think highly of you, as in With all due respect, you haven’t really answered my question, or With all due respect, that account doesn’t fit the facts. This phrase always precedes a polite disagreement with what a person has said or brings up a controversial point. [c. 1800]

  with all one’s heart With great willingness or pleasure; also, with the deepest feeling or devotion. For example, I wish you well with all my heart. [Late 1400s]

  with an eye to → See HAVE ONE’S EYE ON, def. 2.

  with a vengeance With great violence or energy; also, to an extreme degree. For example, The cottage was filthy and Ruth began cleaning with a vengeance, or December has turned cold with a vengeance. This expression was first recorded in 1533. Also see WITH A WILL.

  with a view to For the purpose of, aiming toward, as in A-frame houses were designed with a view to shedding heavy snow. This idiom was first recorded in 1728.

  with a will Vigorously, energetically, as in He started pruning with a will. This term, first recorded in 1848, uses will in the sense of “determination.”

  with bad grace Reluctantly, rudely, as in He finally agreed to share the cost, but with bad grace. [Mid-1700s] Also see WITH GOOD GRACE.

  with bated breath Eagerly or anxiously, as in We waited for the announcement of the winner with bated breath. This expression literally means “holding one’s breath” (bate means “restrain”). Today it is also used somewhat ironically, indicating one is not all that eager or anxious. [Late 1500s] Also see HOLD ONE’S BREATH, def. 2.

  with bells on Ready to celebrate, eagerly, as in Of course I’ll come; I’ll be there with bells on. This metaphoric expression alludes to decorating oneself or one’s clothing with little bells for some special performance or occasion. A well-known nursery rhyme has: “See a fine lady upon a white horse, Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes, And she shall have music wherever she goes” (in Gammer Gurton’s Garland, 1784).

  wither on the vine Fail to come to fruition, as in This building project will wither on the vine if they don’t agree on a price. This expression alludes to grapes shriveling and drying up because they were not picked when ripe.

  with flying colors, pass Also, come through with flying colors. Win, succeed, as in She came through the bar exam with flying colors. This expression alludes to a victorious ship sailing with its flags high. [Late 1600s]

  with good grace Willingly, pleasantly, as in They had tried hard to win but accepted their loss with good grace. [Mid-1700s] Also see WITH BAD GRACE.

  with half a heart → See HALF A HEART.

  within → In addition to the idioms beginning with WITHIN, also see IN (WITHIN) REASON; SPITTING DISTANCE, WITHIN; WHEELS WITHIN WHEELS.

  within an ace of Also, within an inch of. Very close to, within a narrow margin of, as in We were within an ace of calling you, but we’d lost your phone number, or We were within an inch of buying tickets for that concert. The first term refers to the ace of dice, that is, the one pip on a die. The lowest number one can throw with a pair of dice is two (two aces), a throw that is within an ace of one. The term began to be used for other kinds of near miss by about 1700.

  within bounds Reasonable and allowable, up to a certain point, as in It’s all right to play your stereo, but please keep the volume within bounds. Like its antonym, OUT OF BOUNDS, this term originally referred to the boundaries of a playing area or field.

  within call Also, within hail. Near enough to hear a summons, as in Tommy’s allowed to play outside but only within call of his mother, or We told them they could bike ahead of us but to stay within hail. The first term was first recorded in 1668, the variant in 1697.

  within reason → See IN REASON.

  with interest With more than what one should receive, extra, and then some. For example, Mary borrowed Jane’s new dress without asking, but Jane paid her back with interest—she drove off in Mary’s car. This idiom alludes to interest in the financial sense. Its figurative use dates from the late 1500s.

  with it, be Also, get with it. Be or become knowledgeable about the current or latest trends, fashions, or
ideas, as in She just turned 60, but she’s still very much with it, or Get with it, Dad, that kind of razor hasn’t been made for years. [Slang; 1920s]

  with one arm tied behind one’s back Also, with one hand; with one’s eyes closed. Very easily, as in I can assemble that chair with one arm tied behind my back, or I could make a better dinner with one hand, or He can do that puzzle with his eyes closed. All these phrases are hyperbolic. Also see DO BLINDFOLDED.

  with one’s eyes open Fully aware, as in We started this project with our eyes open and are not surprised at the results. [First half of 1900s] Also see KEEP ONE’S EYES OPEN.

  with one’s pants down → See CAUGHT WITH ONE’S PANTS DOWN.

  with one voice Unanimously, in complete agreement, as in The board rejected the proposal with one voice. [Late 1300s] For synonyms, see AS ONE; TO A MAN.

  with open arms Enthusiastically, warmly, as in They received their new daughter-in-law with open arms. This term alludes to an embrace. [Mid-1600s]

  without → In addition to the idioms beginning with WITHOUT, also see ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE; DO WITHOUT; GET ALONG (WITHOUT); GO WITHOUT SAYING; NO SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE.

  without a leg to stand on With no chance of success, as in He tried to get the town to change the street lights, but because there was no money in the budget he found himself without a leg to stand on. A related idiom is not have a leg to stand on, as in Once the detective exposed his false alibi, he didn’t have a leg to stand on. This metaphoric idiom transfers lack of physical support to arguments or theories. [Late 1500s]

  without a stitch on Naked, as in They let their baby run around outside without a stitch on. A related phrase is not have a stitch on. These expressions use stitch in the sense of “a piece of clothing,” a usage dating from the early 1800s.

  without batting an eye Showing no emotion, acting as though nothing were unusual. For example, Richard ate the snails without batting an eye. A related phrase is not bat an eye, as in He didn’t bat an eye when she told him he was being laid off. These expressions, which use bat in the sense of “blink,” date from about 1900.

  without doubt Also, without a doubt. → See NO DOUBT.

  without fail For certain, as in That check will arrive tomorrow morning without fail. This idiom today is used mainly to strengthen a statement. [Early 1700s]

  without further ado Also, without more ado. Without more work, ceremony, or fuss. For example, Without further ado they adjourned the meeting and went home, or And now, without more ado, here is our speaker of the day. This idiom has one of the few surviving uses of the noun ado, meaning “what is being done.” (Another is MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.) [Late 1300s]

  without question Certainly, undoubtedly, as in Without question he’s the best editor we’ve ever had. [Late 1600s]

  without so much as With not even, as in She stormed out without so much as a goodbye. [Mid-1600s]

  with reason For a ground or cause, justifiably, as in He turned down their offer, but with reason—he didn’t want to move his family to a big city. [c. 1600]

  with reference to Also, with regard or respect to. → See IN REGARD TO.

  with the best of them As well as anyone, as in Donna can pitch a ball with the best of them. This idiom was first recorded in 1748.

  with the best will in the world No matter how much one wants to or tries, as in I couldn’t eat ­another bite, not with the best will in the world. [Mid-1800s]

  with the exception of → See EXCEPT FOR.

  with the gloves off With or ready to dispense rough treatment, as in Prepared to oppose the council, the mayor marched into the meeting with the gloves off. This idiom alludes to old-style boxing, when gloves were not used. [Early 1800s]

  wives → See OLD WIVES’ TALE.

  wolf → In addition to the idiom beginning with WOLF, also see CRY WOLF; KEEP THE WOLF FROM THE DOOR; LONE WOLF.

  wolf in sheep’s clothing An enemy disguised as a friend, as in Dan was a wolf in sheep’s clothing, pretending to help but all the while spying for our competitors. This term comes from the ancient fable about a wolf that dresses up in the skin of a sheep and sneaks up on a flock. This fable has given rise to a rich history of allusions as in the Sermon on the Mount when Jesus speaks of false prophets in sheep’s clothing, “but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15).

  woman → See MARKED MAN (WOMAN); (WOMAN) OF FEW WORDS; OWN PERSON (WOMAN); RIGHT-HAND MAN (WOMAN); SCARLET WOMAN.

  wonder → In addition to the idiom beginning with WONDER, also see FOR A WONDER; NO WONDER; WORK WONDERS.

  wonders will never cease What a surprise, as in He’s on time—wonders will never cease. This expression is generally used ironically. [Late 1700s]

  won’t hear of → See under NOT HAVE.

  won’t wash Will not stand up to examination, is unconvincing, will not work, as in That excuse about your sick aunt just won’t wash. This expression originally alluded to a fabric that would not stand up to washing but by the late 1800s was used figuratively for other kinds of failure.

  woo → See PITCH WOO.

  wood, woods → See BABE IN THE WOODS; CAN’T SEE THE FOREST (WOOD) FOR THE TREES; KNOCK ON WOOD; NECK OF THE WOODS; OUT OF THE WOODS.

  wool → See ALL WOOL AND A YARD WIDE; DYED IN THE WOOL; PULL THE WOOL OVER SOMEONE’S EYES.

  word → In addition to the idioms beginning with WORD, also see ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS; AT A LOSS (FOR WORDS); AT A WORD; BREAK ONE’S WORD; EAT ONE’S WORDS; FAMOUS LAST WORDS; FIGHTING WORDS; FOUR-LETTER WORD; FROM THE WORD GO; GET A WORD IN EDGEWISE; GIVE THE WORD; GO BACK ON (ONE’S WORD); GOOD AS ONE’S WORD; HANG ON SOMEONE’S WORDS; HAVE A WORD WITH; HAVE WORDS WITH; IN BRIEF (A WORD); IN OTHER WORDS; IN SO MANY WORDS; KEEP ONE’S WORD; LAST WORD; LEAVE WORD; MAN OF HIS WORD; MARK MY WORDS; MINCE MATTERS (WORDS); MUM’S THE WORD; NOT BREATHE A WORD; NOT OPEN ONE’S MOUTH (UTTER A WORD); OF FEW WORDS; PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS; PLAY ON WORDS; PUT IN A GOOD WORD; PUT INTO WORDS; PUT WORDS IN SOMEONE’S MOUTH; SWALLOW ONE’S WORDS; TAKE SOMEONE AT HIS OR HER WORD; TAKE THE WORDS OUT OF SOMEONE’S MOUTH; WEASEL WORD; WEIGH ONE’S WORDS.

  word for word Exactly as written or spoken, as in That was the forecast, word for word. Chaucer used this idiom in the late 1300s.

  word of honor A pledge of one’s good faith, as in On his word of honor he assured us that he was telling the truth. [Early 1800s]

  word of mouth, by Orally, by one person telling another, as in They don’t advertise; they get all their customers by word of mouth. [Mid-1500s]

  words fail me I can’t put my thoughts or feelings into words, especially because of surprise or shock, as in When she showed up at the wedding with all three ex-husbands—well, words fail me. [Second half of 1900s]

  words of one syllable, in In simple terms, as in I don’t understand financial derivatives—can you explain them in words of one syllable? [Colloquial; 1920s]

  words stick in one’s throat → See STICK IN ONE’S CRAW.

  words to that effect → See TO THAT EFFECT.

  word to the wise, a Here’s good advice, as in A word to the wise: don’t walk alone here because these streets are not safe at night. A shortening of A word to the wise is enough, as it was put by Roman writers, this phrase in English dates from the mid-1500s.

  work → In addition to the idioms beginning with WORK, also see ALL IN A DAY’S WORK; ALL WORK AND NO PLAY (MAKES JACK A DULL BOY); AT WORK; BUSY WORK; DIRTY WORK; GET DOWN (TO WORK); GOOD WORKS; GUM UP (THE WORKS); HAVE ONE’S WORK CUT OUT FOR ONE; IN THE WORKS; MAKE SHORT WORK OF; MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK; OUT OF WORK; SHOOT THE WORKS; THE WORKS; TURN (WORK) OUT ALL RIGHT.

  work both sides of the street Engage in double­dealing, be duplicitous, as in The real estate agent was known for working both sides of the street, advising first the buyer and then the seller. This metaphoric term transfers opposite sides of a street to opposite sides of a negotiation.

  worked up, be Also, get all worked up. Be or become excited or upset, as in She got
all worked up about the idea of adopting a baby. [Late 1600s] Also see WORK UP.

  work in 1. Insert or introduce, as in As part of their presentation they worked in a request for funding the exhibit. Similarly, work into means “insert or introduce into something else,” as in She worked more flour into the mixture. [Late 1600s] 2. Make time for in a schedule, as in The dentist said he would try to work her in this morning. Here, too, work into is sometimes used, as in She had to work two emergency cases into her morning schedule. [Mid-1700s]

  work it Arrange, bring about, as in We’ll try to work it so that the board meets tomorrow. [Colloquial; late 1800s]

  work like a beaver Also, work like a dog or horse or Trojan. Work very energetically and hard, as in She worked like a beaver to clean out all the closets, or I’ve been working like a dog weeding the garden, or He’s very strong and works like a horse. The first of these similes is the oldest, first recorded in 1741; the variants date from the second half of the 1800s. Also see BREAK ONE’S ASS; WORK ONE’S FINGERS TO THE BONE.

  work like a charm Function very well, have a good effect or outcome, as in That knife-sharpener works like a charm, or Her deferential manner worked like a charm; he agreed to everything they’d asked for. This expression uses charm in the sense of “a magic spell.” [Mid-1800s] Also see WORK WONDERS.

  work off Get rid of by work or effort, as in They worked off that big dinner by running on the beach, or It’ll take him months to work off that debt. [Second half of 1600s]

  work on Also, work upon. Exercise influence on, as in If you work on him, he might change his mind, or She always worked upon their feelings by pretending to be more ill than she really was. [Early 1600s]

  work one’s fingers to the bone Also, work one’s tail or butt off. Exert oneself, labor very hard, as in She’s working her fingers to the bone to support her children, or I work my tail off and then the government takes half my income in taxes. The first hyperbole, with its image of working the skin and flesh off one’s fingers, dates from the mid-1800s; the less polite variants date from the first half of the 1900s.