NTC’S American IDIOMS Dictionary phần 8 doc

used to do something to have done some- thing [customarily] in the past. ᮀ We used to go swimming in the lake before it became polluted. ᮀ I used to eat nuts, but then I became allergic to them. used to someone or something accustomed to someone or something. ᮀ I’m not used to Jane yet. She’s a bit hard to get along with. ᮀ How long does it take to get used to this weather? used to do something 424 vale of tears the earth; mortal life on earth. (A “valley” of tears.) ᮀ When it comes time for me to leave this vale of tears, I hope I can leave some worthwhile memories behind. ᮀ Uncle Fred left this vale of tears early this morning. vanish into thin air to disappear without leaving a trace. ᮀ My money gets spent so fast. It seems to vanish into thin air. ᮀ When I came back, my car was gone. I had locked it, and it couldn’t have vanished into thin air! Variety is the spice of life. Differences and changes make life interesting. (Proverb.) ᮀ Mary reads all kinds of books. She says variety is the spice of life. ᮀ The Franklins travel all over the world so they can learn how different people live. After all, variety is the spice of life. vent one’s spleen to get rid of one’s feelings of anger caused by someone or some- thing by attacking someone or something else. ᮀ Jack vented his spleen at his wife whenever things went badly at work. ᮀ Pe- ter vented his spleen on his car by kicking it when he lost the race. verge on something to be almost something. ᮀ Your blouse is a lovely color. It seems to be blue verging on purple. ᮀ Sally has a terrible case of the flu, and they are afraid it’s verging on pneumonia. the very last the end; an absolute end of something. ᮀ At the very last of the movie, the hero gets killed. ᮀ Bill stayed at the party until the very last. the very thing the exact thing that is re- quired. ᮀ The vacuum cleaner is the very thing for cleaning the stairs. ᮀ I have the very thing to remove that stain. the villain of the piece someone or some- thing that is responsible for something bad or wrong. ᮀ I wondered who told the newspapers about the local scandal. I dis- covered that Joan was the villain of the piece. ᮀ We couldn’t think who had stolen the meat. The dog next door turned out to be the villain of the piece. vim and vigor energy and enthusiasm. ᮀ I just don’t seem to have the vim and vigor that I had a few years ago. ᮀ Alice ap- peared with all the vim and vigor of youth, and began to help carry in the packages. vote a split ticket to cast a ballot on which the votes are divided between two or more parties. ᮀ I always vote a spilt ticket since I detest both parties. ᮀ Mary voted a split ticket for the first time in her life. vote a straight ticket to cast a ballot with all the votes for members of the same po- litical party. ᮀ I’m not a member of any political party, so I never vote a straight ticket. ᮀ I usually vote a straight ticket be- cause I believe in the principles of one party and not in the other’s. a vote of confidence a poll taken to dis- cover whether or not a person, party, etc., still has the majority’s support. ᮀ The government easily won the vote of confi- dence called for by the opposition. ᮀ The president of the club resigned when one of the members called for a vote of confidence in his leadership. a vote of thanks a speech expressing ap- preciation and thanks to a speaker, lec- turer, organizer, etc., and inviting the au- dience to applaud. ᮀ John gave a vote of thanks to Professor Jones for his talk. ᮀ Mary was given a vote of thanks for orga- nizing the dance. 425 V vote with one’s feet to express one’s dis- satisfaction with something by leaving, especially by walking away. ᮀ I think that the play is a total flop. Most of the audi- ence voted with its feet during the second act. ᮀ I am prepared to vote with my feet if the meeting appears to be a waste of time. vote with one’s feet 426 wade in(to something ) to start in (doing) something immediately. (Also literal.) ᮀ I need some preparation. I can’t just wade into the job and start doing things cor- rectly. ᮀ We don’t expect you to wade in. We’ll tell you what to do. wag one’s chin to chatter or chat with someone. (Slang.) ᮀ We stood around and wagged our chins for almost an hour. ᮀ Don’t just wag your chin. Stop talking and get to work! wait-and-see attitude a skeptical attitude; an uncertain attitude where someone will just wait and see what happens. ᮀ John thought that Mary couldn’t do it, but he took a wait-and-see attitude. ᮀ His wait- and-see attitude didn’t influence me at all. wait on someone hand and foot to serve someone very well, attending to all per- sonal needs. ᮀ I don’t mind bringing you your coffee, but I don’t intend to wait on you hand and foot. ᮀ I don’t want any- one to wait on me hand and foot. I can take care of myself. wait up (for someone or something ) 1. to stay up late waiting for someone to arrive or something to happen. ᮀ I’ll be home late. Don’t wait up for me. ᮀ We waited up for the coming of the new year, and then we went to bed. 2. and hold up (for some- one or something ) to wait for someone or something to catch up. ᮀ Hey! Don’t go so fast. Wait up for me. ᮀ Hold up! You’re going too fast. waiting in the wings ready or prepared to do something, especially to take over someone else’s job or position. (Refers to a performer waiting at the side of the stage to go on.) ᮀ Mr. Smith retires as manager next year, and Mr. Jones is just waiting in the wings. ᮀ Jane was waiting in the wings, hoping that a member of the hockey team would drop out and she would get a place on the team. wake the dead to be so loud as to wake those who are “sleeping” the most soundly: the dead. ᮀ You are making enough noise to wake the dead. ᮀ Stop hollering! You’ll wake the dead! walk all over someone to treat someone badly. (Also literal.) ᮀ She’s so mean to her children. She walks all over them. ᮀ The manager had walked all over Ann for months. Finally she quit. walk a tightrope to be in a situation where one must be very cautious. (Also literal.) ᮀ I’ve been walking a tightrope all day. I need to relax. ᮀ Our business is about to fail. We’ve been walking a tightrope for three months. walk away with something and walk off with something 1. to win something eas- ily. (Informal.) ᮀ John won the tennis match with no difficulty. He walked away with it. ᮀ Our team walked away with first place. 2. to take or steal something. ᮀ I think somebody just walked off with my purse! ᮀ Somebody walked off with my daughter’s bicycle. walk off with something Go to walk away with something . walk on air to be very happy; to be eu- phoric. ᮀ Ann was walking on air when she got the job. ᮀ On the last day of school, all the children are walking on air. walk on eggs to be very cautious. (Infor- mal.) ᮀ The manager is very hard to deal with. You really have to walk on eggs. 427 W ᮀ I’ve been walking on eggs ever since I started working here. walk out (on someone or something ) 1. [with someone] to abandon someone; to leave one’s spouse. ᮀ Mr. Franklin walked out on Mrs. Franklin last week. ᮀ Bob walked out on Jane without saying good-bye. 2. to leave a performance (of something by someone). ᮀ We didn’t like the play at all, so we walked out. ᮀ John was giving a very dull speech, and a few people even walked out on him. walk the floor to pace nervously while waiting. ᮀ While Bill waited for news of the operation, he walked the floor for hours on end. ᮀ Walking the floor won’t help. You might as well sit down and relax. walk the plank to suffer punishment at the hand of someone. (From the image of pi- rates making their blindfolded captives commit suicide by walking off the end of a plank jutting out over the open sea.) ᮀ Fred may think he can make the members of my department walk the plank, but we will fight back. ᮀ Tom thought he could make John walk the plank, but John fought back. wall-to-wall with something covered with something in all places. (From wall-to- wall carpeting.) ᮀ The hallway is wall-to- wall with Jimmy’s toys. ᮀ The beach was wall-to-wall with tourists. Walls have ears. We may be overheard. (Proverb.) ᮀ Let’s not discuss this matter here. Walls have ears, you know. ᮀ Shhh. Walls have ears. Someone may be listening. want for nothing to lack nothing; to have everything one needs or wishes. ᮀ The Smiths don’t have much money, but their children seem to want for nothing. ᮀ Jean’s husband spoils her. She wants for nothing. warm as toast Go to (as) warm as toast. warm the bench [for a player] to remain out of play during a game—seated on a bench. ᮀ John spent the whole game warming the bench. ᮀ Mary never warms the bench. She plays from the beginning to the end. warm the cockles of someone’s heart to make someone feel warm and happy. ᮀ It warms the cockles of my heart to hear you say that. ᮀ Hearing that old song again warmed the cockles of her heart. warm up to someone to become friendly with someone; to get used to a person and become friends. ᮀ It took a while be- fore John warmed up to me, but then we became good friends. ᮀ It’s hard to warm up to Sally. She’s very quiet and shy. warts and all including all the faults and disadvantages. ᮀ Jim has many faults, but Jean loves him, warts and all. ᮀ The place where we went on vacation had some dis- mal aspects, but we liked it, warts and all. wash a few things out to do a little bit of laundry, such as socks and underclothing. ᮀ I’m sorry I can’t go out tonight. I’ve got to wash a few things out. T I’ll be ready to leave in just a minute. I’ve just got to wash out a few things. wash-and-wear referring to clothing made out of a kind of cloth that looks pre- sentable after washing without ironing. ᮀ I always travel with wash-and-wear clothing. ᮀ All his shirts are wash-and- wear, and this makes his life much easier since he used to burn them when he ironed them. wash one’s dirty linen in public Go to air one’s dirty linen in public. wash one’s hands of someone or something to end one’s association with someone or something. ᮀ I washed my hands of Tom. I wanted no more to do with him. ᮀ That car was a real headache. I washed my hands of it long ago. washed-out exhausted; lacking energy. (Informal.) ᮀ Pam was completely washed-out after the birth of the baby. ᮀ I feel washed-out. I need a vacation. washed-up finished. (Informal.) ᮀ “You’re through, Tom,” said the manager, “fired— washed-up!” ᮀ Max is washed-up as a bank teller. waste one’s breath to waste one’s time talk- ing; to talk in vain. (Informal.) ᮀ Don’t waste your breath talking to her. She won’t walk out (on someone or something) 428 listen. ᮀ You can’t persuade me. You’re just wasting your breath. waste someone to kill someone. (Slang, es- pecially criminal slang.) ᮀ The thief tried to waste the bank guard after the bank robbery. ᮀ The crook said, “Try that again, and I’ll waste you!” watch one’s step to act with care and cau- tion so as not to make a mistake or offend someone. (Also literal.) ᮀ John had bet- ter watch his step with the new boss. He won’t put up with his lateness. ᮀ Mary was told by the lecturer to watch her step and stop missing classes. watch out Go to watch out for someone or something . watch out for someone or something and look out for someone or something 1. [with some- one] to watch over and care for someone. ᮀ When I was a kid, my older brother al- ways watched out for me. ᮀ I really needed someone to look out for me then. 2. to be on guard for someone or something; to be on watch for the arrival or approach of someone or something. ᮀ Watch out for someone wearing a white carnation. ᮀ Look out for John and his friends. They’ll be coming this way very soon. 3. and look out; watch out to try to avoid a con- frontation with someone or something. ᮀ Watch out! That car nearly hit you! ᮀ Look out for John. He’s looking for you, and he’s really mad. ᮀ Thanks. I’d better look out. watch over someone or something to monitor or guard someone or something. ᮀ Please watch over my apartment while I am on vacation. ᮀ I am looking for someone to watch over my grandmother during the day. watch someone or something like a hawk to watch someone very carefully. ᮀ The teacher watched the students like a hawk to make sure they did not cheat on the quiz. ᮀ We have to watch our dog like a hawk in case he runs away. water something down 1. to dilute a liquid, usually with water. ᮀ The punch was good until someone watered it down. ᮀ This is too strong! Water it down. 2. to make something milder or less intense. (Refers to diluting as in sense 1.) ᮀ The language in the script was rude but realistic until someone watered it down. T Professor Jones sometimes waters down his lectures so people can understand them better. water under the bridge [something] past and forgotten. (Refers to water that has already flowed under a bridge and has gone downstream.) ᮀ Please don’t worry about it anymore. It’s all water under the bridge. ᮀ I can’t change the past. It’s wa- ter under the bridge. wax and wane to increase and then de- crease, especially with reference to the phases of the moon. ᮀ As the moon waxes and wanes, so does the height of the tide change. ᮀ Voter sentiment about the tax proposal waxes and wanes with each pass- ing day. [way of life] Go to one’s way of life. (way) over there in a place some distance away. ᮀ I see a house way over there in the field. ᮀ My hat is over there on the table. ways and means referring to the raising of money to pay for something. (Typically refers to a government committee or a committee of some organization charged with raising money.) ᮀ The suggestion was referred to the ways and means com- mittee for discussion at the next meeting. ᮀ The proposed legislation is stalled in ways and means. We aim to please. We really try to make people happy. ᮀ We aim to please because we want you to be our customer. ᮀ I’m glad you like our food. We aim to please. weak as a baby Go to (as) weak as a baby. weak as a kitten Go to (as) weak as a kitten. a wealth of something a large amount of something. ᮀ There’s a wealth of infor- mation on parrots at the library. ᮀ The junkyard had a wealth of used car parts. wear and tear (on something ) the process of wearing down or breaking down some- thing. ᮀ Driving in freezing weather means lots of wear and tear on your car. wear and tear (on something) 429 ᮀ I drive carefully and sensibly to avoid wear and tear. wear more than one hat to have more than one set of responsibilities; to hold more than one office. ᮀ The mayor is also the police chief. She wears more than one hat. ᮀ I have too much to do to wear more than one hat. wear off to become less; to stop gradually. (Also literal.) ᮀ The effects of the pain- killer wore off and my tooth began to hurt. ᮀ I was annoyed at first, but my anger wore off. wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve and have one’s heart on one’s sleeve to display one’s feelings openly and habitually, rather than keep them private. ᮀ John always has his heart on his sleeve so that everyone knows how he feels. ᮀ Because she wears her heart on her sleeve, it’s easy to hurt her feelings. wear on someone to bother or annoy some- one. ᮀ We stayed with them only a short time because my children seemed to wear on them. ᮀ Always being short of money wears on a person after a while. wear out one’s welcome to stay too long (at an event to which one has been in- vited); to visit somewhere too often. ᮀ Tom visited the Smiths so often that he wore out his welcome. ᮀ At about mid- night, I decided that I had worn out my welcome, so I went home. wear someone down to overcome someone’s objections; to persist until someone has been persuaded. ᮀ John didn’t want to go, but we finally wore him down. T We were unable to wear down John, and when we left, he was still insisting on running away from home. wear someone out to exhaust someone; to make someone tired. ᮀ The coach made the team practice until he wore them out. T If he wears out everybody on the team, nobody will be left to play in the game. weasel out (of something ) to get out or sneak out of something. (Refers to the ability of a weasel to move through tiny openings. Informal.) ᮀ I don’t want to go to the meeting. I think I’ll try to weasel out of it. ᮀ You had better be there! Don’t try to weasel out! weather permitting if the weather allows it. ᮀ Weather permitting, we will be there on time. ᮀ The plane lands at midnight, weather permitting. weave in and out (of something ) to move, drive, or walk in and out of something, such as traffic, a line, etc. ᮀ The car was weaving in and out of traffic dangerously. ᮀ The deer ran rapidly through the for- est, weaving in and out of the trees. wed(ded) to someone married to someone. ᮀ The couple will have been wed to each other for fifty years next June. ᮀ Anne is wed to one of my cousins. wedded to something mentally attached to something; firmly committed to some- thing. ᮀ The manager was wedded to the idea of getting new computers. ᮀ The mayor was wedded to the new budget plan. wee hours (of the night) Go to small hours (of the night). weed someone or something out to remove someone or something unwanted or un- desirable from a group or collection. ᮀ We had to weed them out one by one. T The auditions were held to weed out the actors with the least ability. T I’m going through my books to weed out those that I don’t need anymore. week in, week out every week, week af- ter week. (Informal.) ᮀ We have the same old food, week in, week out. ᮀ I’m tired of this job. I’ve done the same thing—week in, week out—for three years. weeks running Go to days running. weigh on someone’s mind [for something] to be in a person’s thoughts; [for some- thing] to be bothering someone’s think- ing. ᮀ This problem has been weighing on my mind for many days now. ᮀ I hate to have things weighing on my mind. I can’t sleep when I’m worried. weigh someone down [for a thought or worry] to worry or depress someone. (Also literal.) ᮀ All these problems really weigh me down. T Financial problems wear more than one hat 430 have been weighing down our entire family. weigh someone’s words 1. to consider care- fully what someone says. ᮀ I listened to what he said, and I weighed his words very carefully. ᮀ Everyone was weighing his words. None of us knew exactly what he meant. 2. to consider one’s own words carefully when speaking. ᮀ I always weigh my words when I speak in public. ᮀ John was weighing his words with great care because he didn’t want to be misunderstood. welcome someone with open arms Go to receive someone with open arms. welcome to do something to be free to do something. ᮀ You’re welcome to leave whenever you wish. ᮀ He’s welcome to join the club whenever he feels he’s ready. well and good Go to (all) well and good. well-disposed toward someone or something feeling positively toward someone or something; favorable toward someone or something. ᮀ I do not think I will get a raise since the boss is not well-disposed toward me. ᮀ The senators are well- disposed toward giving themselves a raise. well-fixed Go to well-heeled. well-heeled and well-fixed; well-off wealthy; with sufficient money. ᮀ My uncle can afford a new car. He’s well- heeled. ᮀ Everyone in his family is well- off. well-off Go to well-heeled. well-to-do wealthy and of good social po- sition. (Often with quite, as in the exam- ples below.) ᮀ The Jones family is quite well-to-do. ᮀ There is a gentleman wait- ing for you at the door. He appears quite well-to-do. well up in years aged; old. ᮀ Jane’s hus- band is well up in years. He is nearly 75. ᮀ Joan’s well up in years but healthy. wet behind the ears and not dry behind the ears young and inexperienced. ᮀ John’s too young to take on a job like this! He’s still wet behind the ears! ᮀ He may be wet behind the ears, but he’s well trained and totally competent. ᮀ Tom is going into business by himself ? Why, he’s hardly dry behind the ears. ᮀ That kid isn’t dry behind the ears. He’ll go broke in a month. wet blanket a dull or depressing person who spoils other people’s enjoyment. ᮀ Jack’s fun at parties, but his brother’s a wet blanket. ᮀ I was with Anne and she was being a real wet blanket. wet someone’s whistle to take a drink of something. (Folksy.) ᮀ Wow, am I thirsty. I need something to wet my whistle. ᮀ Hey, Sally! Give her something to wet her whistle. whale the tar out of someone Go to beat the living daylights out of someone . What are you driving at? What are you implying?; What do you mean? (Infor- mal.) ᮀ What are you driving at? What are you trying to say? ᮀ Why are you ask- ing me all these questions? What are you driving at? What can I say? I am at a loss for words. (Informal.) ᮀ I’m sorry. I’ll pay for it. What can I say? ᮀ What can I say? I never meant it to end like this. What do you want me to say? You c a u g h t me and I’m sorry, and I don’t know what more to say. (Informal.) ᮀ What do you want me to say? I apologized. There is nothing more I can do. ᮀ Okay, so I’m wrong. What do you want me to say? what for why?; for what reason? ᮀ “I want you to clean your room.” “What for? It’s clean enough.” ᮀ What did you do that for? What goes around, comes around. The results of things that one has done will someday have an effect on the person who started the events. (Proverb.) ᮀ So he finally gets to see the results of his ac- tivities. Whatever goes around, comes around. ᮀ Now he is the victim of his own policies. Whatever goes around comes around. What have you been up to? I haven’t seen you for a long time, so tell me what you have been doing? (Informal. In other What have you been up to? 431 persons also.) ᮀ Hi, Tom. Where have you been? What have you been up to? ᮀ What have you been up to? Busy, I am sure. what if what would be the result if some- thing were true? ᮀ What if you had all the money you want? ᮀ What if everyone thought you were great? what makes someone tick something that motivates someone; something that makes someone behave in a certain way. (Informal.) ᮀ William is sort of strange. I don’t know what makes him tick. ᮀ When you get to know people, you find out what makes them tick. what makes something tick to cause some- thing to run or function. ᮀ I don’t know what makes it tick. ᮀ I took apart the ra- dio to find out what made it tick. What one doesn’t know won’t hurt one. Unknown facts cannot worry or upset a person. (Proverb.) ᮀ Don’t tell me that I have made a mistake. What I don’t know won’t hurt me. ᮀ Don’t tell him the truth about his missing dog. What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him. Whatever will be, will be. Whatever will happen will just happen and there is lit- tle we can do about it. (Proverb.) ᮀ There is little I can do at this stage. Whatever will be, will be. ᮀ The doctors have done all they can. Whatever will be, will be. What’s done is done. It is final and in the past. (Proverb.) ᮀ It’s too late to change it now. What’s done is done. ᮀ What’s done is done. The past cannot be altered. What’s keeping you? What is taking you so long?; Why are you still there and not here? ᮀ Dinner is ready, and you are still at work. I telephoned to ask what’s keep- ing you. ᮀ What’s keeping you? I am ready to go and you are still in there dressing. What’s new? How are you? Tell me what you have been doing. (Informal.) ᮀ Good to see you. What’s new? ᮀ What’s new? How are things down your way? What’s the good of something ? What is the point of something?; Why bother with something? ᮀ What’s the good of my go- ing at all if I’ll be late? ᮀ There is no need to get there early. What’s the good of that? What’s up? Hello. What is happening? (In- formal.) ᮀ What’s up? How’re you doing? ᮀ Hey, Chuck! What’s up? What’s with someone ? What is bothering or affecting someone? (Slang.) ᮀ John seems upset. What’s with him? ᮀ There’s noth- ing wrong with me. What’s with you? wheel and deal to take part in clever (but sometimes dishonest or immoral) busi- ness deals. ᮀ John loves to wheel and deal in the money markets. ᮀ Jack got tired of all the wheeling and dealing of big business and retired to run a pub in the country. when all is said and done when every- thing is finished and settled; when every- thing is considered. (See also after all is said and done .) ᮀ When all is said and done, this isn’t such a bad part of the coun- try to live in after all. ᮀ When all is said and done, I believe I had a very enjoyable time on my vacation. when hell freezes over and until hell freezes over never. (The first entry is al- ways affirmative and the second is always negative.) ᮀ I’ll say I’m sorry to you when hell freezes over! ᮀ I won’t apologize un- til hell freezes over. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. One should behave in the same way that the local people behave. (Proverb.) ᮀ I don’t usually eat lamb, but I did when I went to Australia. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. ᮀ I always carry an um- brella when I visit London. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. when it comes right down to it all things considered; when one really thinks about something. ᮀ When it comes right down to it, I’d like to find a new job. ᮀ When it comes right down to it, he can’t really af- ford a new car. when it comes to something as for some- thing; speaking about something. (Infor- mal.) ᮀ When it comes to fishing, John is an expert. ᮀ When it comes to trouble, Mary really knows how to cause it. what if 432 when least expected when one does not expect (something). ᮀ An old car is likely to give you trouble when least expected. ᮀ My pencil usually breaks when least expected. when one is good and ready when one is completely ready. (Informal.) ᮀ I’ll be there when I’m good and ready. ᮀ Ann will finish the job when she’s good and ready and not a minute sooner. when push comes to shove when the sit- uation becomes more difficult; when matters escalate. (See also if push comes to shove. ) ᮀ When push comes to shove, I will take a stronger position. ᮀ When push comes to shove, I will come up with the money you need. When the cat’s away, the mice will play. Some people will get into mischief when they are not being watched. (Proverb.) ᮀ The students behaved very badly for the substitute teacher. When the cat’s away, the mice will play. ᮀ John had a wild party at his house when his parents were out of town. When the cat’s away, the mice will play. when the chips are down at the final, critical moment; when things really get difficult. ᮀ When the chips are down, I know that I can depend on Jean to help out. ᮀ I knew you would come and help when the chips were down. when the going gets rough Go to when the going gets tough. when the going gets tough and when the going gets rough when things get extremely difficult; when it becomes dif- ficult to proceed. (Also literal when re- ferring to travel. A second line is some- times added to the main entry phrase: When the going gets tough, the tough get going. This means that when things be- come difficult, strong people began to work or move faster and harder.) ᮀ When the going gets tough, I will be there to help you. ᮀ I appreciate the kind words you sent to us when the going got a little rough last month. when the time is ripe at exactly the right time. ᮀ I’ll tell her the good news when the time is ripe. ᮀ When the time is ripe, I’ll bring up the subject again. where one is coming from one’s point of view. (Slang.) ᮀ I think I know what you mean. I know where you’re coming from. ᮀ Man, you don’t know where I’m coming from! You don’t understand a single word I say. where one lives Go to close to home. Where there’s a will there’s a way. One can do something if one really wants to. (Proverb.) ᮀ Don’t give up, Ann. You can do it. Where there’s a will there’s a way. ᮀ They told John he’d never walk again af- ter his accident. He worked at it, and he was able to walk again! Where there’s a will there’s a way. Where there’s smoke there’s fire. Evi- dence of a problem probably indicates that there really is a problem. (Proverb.) ᮀ There is a lot of noise coming from the classroom. There is probably something wrong. Where there’s smoke there’s fire. ᮀ I think there is something wrong at the old house on the corner. The police are there again. Where there’s smoke there’s fire. Where was I? Go to (Now), where was I? Where’ve you been hiding yourself? Hello, I haven’t seen you in a long time. (In other persons also.) ᮀ I haven’t seen you in a long time. Where’ve you been hid- ing yourself? ᮀ Where’ve you been hiding yourself? We missed you at the meeting. whet someone’s appetite to cause someone to be interested in something and to be eager to have, know, learn, etc., more about it. ᮀ Seeing that film really whetted my sister’s appetite for horror films. She now sees as many as possible. ᮀ My ap- petite for theater was whetted when I was very young. whether or not either if something is the case or if something is not the case; one way or the other. ᮀ I’ll drive to New York tomorrow whether or not it rains. T I’m going to the mall whether you come with me or not. while away the time to spend or waste time. ᮀ I like to read to while away the while away the time 433 [...]... of a phrase that you want to look up in the dictionary To use this index, pick out any major word in the phrase you are seeking, then look up that word in this index to find the form of the phrase that appears in the dictionary Finally, look up the phrase in the main body of the dictionary Words such as someone or something that are variable words in the dictionary entries are not indexed here aback... about much ado about nothing about no buts about it about no ifs, ands, or buts about it about nose about about not breathe a word (about someone or something ) McGraw-Hill's Terms of Use 447 NTC’s American Idioms Dictionary about about about about about about about about not care two hoots (about someone or something ) not give a hang (about someone or something ) not give a hoot (about someone or something... take a stand (against someone or something ) against take up arms (against someone or something ) against up against something against the cards are stacked against one age act one’s age 449 NTC’s American Idioms Dictionary age come of age age in a coon’s age age in this day and age age of age age a ripe old age agree not agree with someone agreement in agreement agreement reach an agreement ahead ahead... and something to spare and and so on and and the like and and then some and and what have you and be all eyes (and ears) and cross one’s heart (and hope to die) and pitch in (and help) 451 NTC’s American Idioms Dictionary ands no ifs, ands, or buts about it angels fools rush in (where angels fear to tread) anger express one’s anger angry angry enough to chew nails anon ever and anon another another... fishhooks (as) crooked as a dog’s hind leg (as) crooked as a fishhook (as) dead as a dodo (as) dead as a doornail (as) deaf as a post (as) different as night and day (as) drunk as a lord 453 NTC’s American Idioms Dictionary as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as... gets give someone a reputation (as a something ) good as done good as gold go so far as to say something graceful as a swan gruff as a bear had (just) as soon do something happy as a clam 455 NTC’s American Idioms Dictionary as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as... height of something the helm (of something ) the last gasp the last minute the latest the mercy of someone the outset the point of doing something the present time the rear of something 457 NTC’s American Idioms Dictionary at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at... schedule or a line) ᮀ The doctor’s schedule was very busy, but the nurse agreed to try to work me in ᮀ The mechanic had many cars to fix, but he said he’d work my car in T I’m glad he could work in my car work someone or something up 1 [with some- one] to get someone ready for something, especially medical treatment T The coach worked up the whole team before the game ᮀ The doctor told the nurse to... phrase usually heard in public announcements.) ᮀ And without further ado, I would like to introduce Mr Bill Franklin! ᮀ The time has come to leave, so without further ado, good evening and good-bye 4 38 without question absolutely; certainly ᮀ She agreed to help without question ᮀ She said, “I stand ready to support you without question.” without rhyme or reason without purpose, order, or reason ᮀ The... to? Who would have thought? I would never have guessed that something so surprising could happen ᮀ So he’s run off with the maid Who would have thought? ᮀ It turns out she robbed a bank when she was 18 Who would have thought? the whole ball of wax and the whole shooting match the whole thing; the 434 whole matter or affair; the entire affair or organization ᮀ John is not a good manager Instead of delegating . (Informal.) ᮀ Don’t waste your breath talking to her. She won’t walk out (on someone or something) 4 28 listen. ᮀ You can’t persuade me. You’re just wasting your breath. waste someone to kill someone about it. (Proverb.) ᮀ There is little I can do at this stage. Whatever will be, will be. ᮀ The doctors have done all they can. Whatever will be, will be. What’s done is done. It is final and. run off with the maid. Who would have thought? ᮀ It turns out she robbed a bank when she was 18. Who would have thought? the whole ball of wax and the whole shooting match the whole thing; the whole