behavior as if you are very important. •/Don’t look as if you had the weightof the world on your shoulders, Henry, just because you have to mow thelawn./ •/John acts as if he were carrying the world on his back because hehas 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 theword "welcome" on it, that is placed in front of a door. •/Mother bought awelcome mat for our new house./ 2. {informal} A warm welcome; a friendlygreeting. — Used in such phrases as "the welcome mat is out" and "put out thewelcome mat". •/Our welcome mat is always out to our friends./ •/Spreadout 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, LETWELL 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 daughterfinishes high school, I will call that well and good./ — Often used withouta verb to show agreement or understanding. •/Well and good; I will come toyour 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: INCLOVER, ON EASY STREET.
[well-off]{adj. phr.} 1. Rich. •/They may not be millionaires, butthey are sufficiently well-off./ 2. In good condition; free of problems ordifficulties./ •/He is pleased that his business is well-off./
[well put]{adj. phr.} Well expressed or defined. •/His remarks abouttoo 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 wherethe well-to-do live./ Compare: IN THE LAP OF LUXURY, IN THE CHIPS, ON EASYSTREET.
[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; notknowing how to do something; new in a job or place. •/The new student isstill wet behind the ears; he has not yet learned the tricks that the boys playon each other./ Compare: DRY BEHIND THE EARS.
[wet blanket]{n.}, {informal} A person or thing that keeps othersfrom enjoying life. •/The teenagers don’t invite Bob to their parties becausehe is a wet blanket./ •/The weatherman throws a wet blanket on picnic planswhen he forecasts rain./ Compare: CREPE HANGER.
[wet one’s whistle]{v. phr.}, {slang} To have a drink, especiallyof liquor. •/Uncle Willie told John to wait outside for a minute while hewent in to the cafe to wet his whistle./
[whack] See: OUT OF WHACK.
[whale away]{v.}, {informal} 1. To beat or hit hard; strike againand again. — Often used with "at". •/The boxer is whaling away at hisopponent with both fists./ 2. To attack severely or again and again; go onwithout stopping or with great force; pound away. •/Mary has been whalingaway on the typewriter for an hour./ — Often used with "at". •/During theelection 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 connectionwith 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 hecouldn’t join us on our Hawaiian trip./
[what for(1)]{interrog.} For what reason; why? •/I told Mary what Iwas going to town for./ •/What are you running for?/ — Often used aloneas a question. •/Billy’s mother told him to wear his hat. "What for?" heasked./ Compare: HOW COME.
[what for(2)]{n. phr.}, {informal} A scolding, or otherpunishment. — Usually used with "get" or "give". •/Tom got what for from hisfather 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} Whateveryou like or want; anything else like that. •/The store sells big ones, smallones, medium ones, or what have you./ •/We found suits, coats, hats andwhat 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?" Dickasked./ •/What if Jack scores a touchdown?/
[what is what] See: WHAT’S WHAT.
[what of it] or [what about it]{interj.}, {informal} What iswrong with it; what do you care. •/Martha said "That boy is wearing a greencoat." Jan answered, "What of it?"/ •/"John missed the bus." "What ofit?"/ 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 theone, 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 thegoose is sauce for the gander./
[what’s the big idea] or [what’s the idea]{informal} What is thepurpose; what do you have in mind; why did you do that; what are you doing; howdare 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 bigidea?/ •/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 themovies?"/ •/What’s cooking? Why is the crowd in the street?/ •/What’sdoing tonight at the club?/ •/Hello Bob, what’s up?/ Compare: WHAT’SWITH.
[what’s what] or [what is what]{n. phr.}, {informal} 1. Whateach thing is in a group; one thing from another. •/The weeds and the flowersare coming up together, and we can’t tell what is what./ 2. All that needs tobe known about something; the important facts or skills. •/Richard did thewrong 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 waswhat./ •/When it comes to cooking, Jenny knows what’s what./ •/Haroldbegan to tell the teacher how to teach the class, and the teacher told him whatwas what./ Compare: WHICH IS WHICH, WHO’S WHO.
[what’s with] or [what’s up with] also [what’s by]{slang} Whatis 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 andchildren to put to bed, mother was late to the meeting./ Compare: ON ACCOUNTOF.
[wheel] See: BIG CHEESE or BIG WHEEL, GREASE THE WHEELS, PUT ONE’S SHOULDERTO THE WHEEL.
[wheel and deal]{v. phr.}, {slang} To make many big plans orschemes; especially with important people in government and business; inmatters of money and influence; handle money or power for your own advantage;plan important matters in a smart or skillful way and sometimes in a tricky, ornot strictly honest way. •/Mr. Smith made a fortune by wheeling and dealingon the stock market./ •/The senator got this law passed by wheeling anddealing in Congress./ — [wheeler-dealer]{n. phr.}, {slang} Aperson with power and control. •/The biggest wheeler-dealer in the state hasmany friends in high places in business and government and is a rich manhimself./
[wheelhorse]{n. phr.} A reliable and industrious worker on whom onemay depend. •/Jake is such a good worker that he is the wheelhorse of ourtiny firm./
[when hell freezes over]{adv. phr.}, {slang} Never. •/I’llbelieve you when hell freezes over./ Contrast: UNTIL HELL FREEZES OVER.
[when it comes to] See: COME TO(4).
[when one’s ship comes in] See: SHIP COME IN.
[when push comes to shove]{adv. phr.} A time when a touchy situationbecomes actively hostile or a quarrel turns into a fight. •/Can we count onthe boss' goodwill, when push comes to shove?/
[when the chips are down]