American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms
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TO LIVE WITH; LEVEL WITH; LIE WITH; LIKE A CHICKEN WITH ITS HEAD CUT OFF; OVER AND DONE WITH; OVER WITH; PAL AROUND WITH; PART WITH; PLAY BALL (WITH); PLAY THE DEVIL WITH; PLAY WITH FIRE; PUT UP WITH; RECKON WITH; ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES; RUB ELBOWS WITH; RUN AROUND (WITH); RUN AWAY WITH; RUN OFF WITH; RUN WITH; SADDLE SOMEONE WITH; SEE WITH HALF AN EYE; SETTLE WITH; SHAKE HANDS WITH; SHAKE WITH LAUGHTER; SIDE WITH; SIGN ON WITH; SIT WELL WITH; SLEEP WITH; SPAR WITH; SQUARE WITH; STAND UP WITH; STAY WITH; STICK WITH; STUCK WITH; SWIM WITH THE TIDE; TAKE ISSUE WITH; TAKEN WITH; TAKE THE BITTER WITH THE SWEET; TAKE THE ROUGH WITH THE SMOOTH; TAKE UP WITH; TAMPER WITH; TARRED WITH THE SAME BRUSH; TAX WITH; TEAM UP WITH; TINKER WITH; TOGETHER WITH; TO HELL WITH; TOP OFF (WITH); TO START WITH; TOY WITH; TROUBLE ONE'S HEAD WITH; VOTE WITH ONE'S FEET; WALK OFF WITH; WHAT'S WITH; WHAT WITH; YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU.
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
hand. 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.
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 hike ahead of us but to stay within hail. The first term was first recorded in 1668, the variant in 1697.
within reason
hand. 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
with one's pants down
hand. 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
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; WORLD WITHOUT END.
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. 
hand. 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. 
hand. 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
hand. 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
hand. see OLD WIVES'TALE.
wolf
hand. 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
hand. see FEEL LIKE ONESELF (NEW WOMAN); MARKED MAN (WOMAN);
(WOMAN) OF FEW WORDS; OWN PERSON (WOMAN); RIGHT-HAND MAN (WOMAN); SCARLET WOMAN.
wonder
hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with WONDER, also see FOR A WONDER; NO
WONDER; WORK
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
hand. see under NOT HAVE IT.
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
hand. see PITCH WOO.
wood, woods
hand. see BABE IN THE WOODS; CAN'T SEE THE FOREST (WOOD) FOR THE TREES; DEAD WOOD; KNOCK ON WOOD; NECK OF THE WOODS; OUT OF THE WOODS.
wool
hand. see ALL WOOL AND A YARD WIDE; PULL THE WOOL OVER SOMEONE'S EYES.
word
hand. 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;
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
hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with WORK, also see ALL IN A DAY'S WORK;
ALL WORK AND NO PLAY; AT WORK; BUSY WORK; DIRTY WORK; GET DOWN TO (WORK); GOOD WORKS; GUM UP (THE WORKS); HAVE ONE'S WORK CUT OUT; 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 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
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 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]