American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms
.pdfSucceed, produce a good outcome, as in The new coat of paint works wonders with this bedroom, or The physical therapy has worked wonders with these patients. Literally meaning "perform miracles," this term has been used somewhat more loosely since the 1700s. Also see
A CHARM.
world
hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with WORLD, also see ALL OVER THE PLACE
(WORLD); BEST OF BOTH WORLDS; BRING INTO THE WORLD; COME UP (IN THE WORLD); DEAD TO THE WORLD; FOR ALL THE WORLD; GO OUT (OF THE WORLD); IN ONE'S OWN WORLD; IT'S A SMALL WORLD; LAUGH AND THE WORLD LAUGHS WITH YOU; MAN OF THE WORLD; MOVE UP (IN THE WORLD); NOT FOR ALL THE TEA IN CHINA (FOR THE WORLD); ON EARTH (IN THE WORLD), WHAT; ON TOP OF THE WORLD; OUT OF THIS WORLD; SET THE WORLD ON FIRE; THINK A LOT (THE WORLD) OF; THIRD WORLD; WITH THE BEST WILL IN THE WORLD.
world is one's oyster, the
Everything is going well, as in I was younger then, and the world was my oyster. In this term the oyster is something from which to extract great profit (a pearl). It was probably invented by Shakespeare in The Merry Wives of Windsor (2:2): "Why then, the world's mine oyster, which I with sword will open."
world of good, a
A great benefit, as in A vacation will do you a world of good. This expression uses world in the sense of "a great deal," a usage dating from the 1400s. [Late 1800s]
worm
hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with WORM, also see CAN OF WORMS;
EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM.
worm into
Insinuate oneself subtly or gradually, as in He tried to worm into her confidence. This idiom alludes to the sinuous path of a worm. [Early 1600s]
worm out of
Elicit or make one's way by artful or devious means. For example, He tried to worm the answer out of her, or She can't worm out of this situation. This expression alludes to the sinuous passage of a worm. [Early 1700s]
worm turns, the Also, the worm has turned. Even a very tolerant person will one day lose patience. For example, He bullied his assistant for years, but one day the worm turned and he walked out without notice, taking along his best clients. This expression comes from the proverb
Tread on a worm and it will turn, first recorded in John Heywood's 1546 collection.
worn out
hand. see WEAR OUT.
worn to a frazzle
In a state of nervous exhaustion, as in The very idea of moving again has us worn to a frazzle. This expression transfers frazzle, which means "a frayed edge," to one's feelings. [Late 1800s]
worried sick Also, worried to death. Extremely anxious, as in Her parents were worried sick when she didn't come home all night, or We've been worried to death about the drop in the stock market. These somewhat hyperbolic phrases (one could conceivably feel ill from worrying but would hardly die from it) date from the second half of the 1800s.
worse
In addition to the idiom beginning with WORSE, also see ALL THE (WORSE); BARK IS
WORSE THAN ONE'S BITE; FATE WORSE THAN DEATH; FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE; FROM BAD TO WORSE; IF WORST COMES TO WORST; NONE THE WORSE; TAKE A TURN FOR THE BETTER (WORSE). Also see UNDER WORST.
worse for wear Also, the worse for the wear. In poor physical condition owing to long use; also, drunk. For example, This television set is really worse for the wear; we'll have to replace it, or He'd better not drive home; he's definitely the worse for the wear. [c. A.D. 1000] For an
antonym, see NONE THE WORSE FOR.
worship the ground someone walks on
Regard someone reverently, as in Jim just worships the ground his father walks on. This hyperbole for deep admiration or romantic feeling was first recorded in 1848.
worst
hand. see AT WORST; GET (HAVE) THE WORST OF IT; IF WORST COMES TO WORST; IN THE WORST WAY. Also see under WORSE.
worth
hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with WORTH, also see FOR ALL ONE IS
WORTH; GAME IS NOT WORTH THE CANDLE; GET ONE'S MONEY'S WORTH; NOT WORTH A DAMN; PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS.
worth one's weight in gold Also, worth its weight in gold. Very valuable, as in John's been extremely helpful; he's worth his weight in gold, or That tractor's been worth its weight in gold.
This metaphoric term dates from Roman times and appeared in English by the early 1300s.
worth one's while
1. Merit one's time or efforts, as in It's hardly worth your while to count the transactions; it can be
done by computer. [Late 1600s] 2. make something worth one's while. Compensate one for one's time or efforts, as in If you take care of our yard while we're away, I'll make it worth your while. [Mid-1800s] Both usages employ while in the sense of "a period of time spent."
worthy of the name
Deserving a name or description, as in Any artist worthy of the name can draw better than that.
This expression uses worthy of in the sense of "deserving by reason of merit," a usage dating from about 1300.
would
hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with WOULD, also see AS LUCK WOULD
HAVE IT; FLY ON THE WALL, WOULD LIKE TO BE A. Also see under WOULDN'T.
wouldn't
hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with WOULDN'T, also see BUTTER WOULDN'T
MELT; CAUGHT DEAD, WOULDN'T BE; NOT (WOULDN'T) LIFT A FINGER. Also see under NOT.
wouldn't dream of Also, not dream of. Not occur to one, not consider, as in Even if it were lying open on my desk, I wouldn't dream of reading another person's letter. This expression uses dream of in the sense of "remotely think of." [First half of 1500s]
would rather
Prefer to, as in We would rather eat dinner before the movie. [Mid-1500s]
would that
I wish that, as in Would that I could stop working and go hiking with you. For a synonym, see IF
ONLY.
wound
hand. see LICK ONE'S WOUNDS; RUB IN (SALT INTO A WOUND).
wrack
hand. see under RACK.
wrap
hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with WRAP, also see TWIST (WRAP) AROUND
ONE'S FINGER; UNDER WRAPS.
wrapped up in
Completely preoccupied by or absorbed in, as in She is wrapped up in her studies. [c. 1600] Also
see WRAP UP.
wrap up
1. Bring to a conclusion, settle successfully, as in As soon as we wrap up this deal, we can go on vacation. [First half of 1900s] 2. Summarize, recapitulate, as in To wrap up, the professor went over the three main categories. [First half of the 1900s]
wreak havoc
hand. see PLAY HAVOC.
wrench
hand. see THROW A MONKEY WRENCH.
wringer
hand. see under PUT THROUGH (THE WRINGER).
wrist
hand. see SLAP ON THE WRIST.
write
hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with WRITE, also see NOTHING TO WRITE
HOME ABOUT. Also see under WROTE.
write down
1. Set down in writing, record, as in Please write down your new address and phone number. [Late 1500s] 2. Reduce in rank, value, or price, as in They've written down their assets. [Late 1800s] 3. Write in a simple or condescending style, as in These science texts are written down for high-school students. [Second half of 1800s]
write in
1. Cast a vote by inserting a name not listed on the ballot, as in He asked them to write in his name as a candidate. [c. 1930] 2. Insert in a text or document, as in Please don't write in your corrections on the printed pages, but list them separately. [Late 1300s] 3. Communicate with an organization by mail, as in Listeners are being asked to write in their requests. [1920s]
write off
1. Reduce an asset's book value to zero because it is worthless, as in The truck was wrecked completely, so we can write it off. [Late 1600s] 2. Cancel from an account as a loss, as in Since they'll never be able to pay back what they owe, let's just write off that debt. [Late 1800s] Also see
CHARGE OFF, def. 2. 3. Regard as a failure or worthless, as in There was nothing to do but write off the first day of our trip because of the bad weather, or She
Deceive by moving differently from what one expects, as in He won quite a few points by wrong-footing his opponent. This expression comes from tennis, where it means to hit the ball in the direction the opponent is moving away from. It was transferred to other applications in the late 1900s, as in Susan Larson's review of a concert: "Music wrong-footing and deceiving the ear" (Boston Globe, November 1, 1994).
wrong scent, on the
On a false trail or track, as in He managed to put the police on the wrong scent and got away. This term alludes to hunting with hounds. [c. 1600]
wrong side of someone
hand. see under RIGHT SIDE, ON SOMEONE'S.
wrong side of the tracks
hand. see under RIGHT SIDE OF THE TRACKS.
wrote the book on
Knows nearly everything about, as in Ask Dr. Lock; he wrote the book on pediatric cardiology, or I wrote the book on job-hunting; I've been looking for two years. This expression is always put in the past tense. [Colloquial; second half of 1900s]
XYZ
X marks the spot
This mark shows the location, as in On the postcard, X marks the spot where we picked blueberries. Although the use of a cross or X is probably much older, this term was first recorded in 1813.
X-rated
Sexually explicit, vulgar, or obscene, as in This film should be X-rated; it's not suitable for children.
This expression alludes to a rating system established for motion pictures, in which films rated X may not be viewed by persons under the age of 17. [c. 1970]
yard
hand. see ALL WOOL AND A YARD WIDE; IN ONE'S OWN BACK YARD; WHOLE NINE YARDS.
yarn
hand. see SPIN A YARN.
year
hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with YEAR, also see ALL YEAR ROUND;
ALONG IN YEARS; BY THE DAY (YEAR); DONKEY'S YEARS.
year in, year out
Regularly, every year, as in We've been going to the Cape, year in, year out, ever since we were children. This expression was first recorded in 1830.
hand. see HAVE A YEN FOR.
yes and no
In some ways and not others, as in Did you enjoy yourself??
Yes and no, I liked the music itself but hated the conductor. This idiom, always a reply to a question, was first recorded in 1873.
yesterday
hand. see NOT BORN YESTERDAY.
yet
hand. see AS YET.
yon
hand. see HITHER AND THITHER (YON).
you
hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with YOU, also see ALL RIGHT FOR YOU; AS
YOU PLEASE; BEFORE YOU CAN SAY JACK ROBINSON; BEFORE YOU KNOW IT; BETWEEN YOU AND ME; BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU; DO YOU READ ME; FOR SHAME (ON YOU); FUCK YOU; GOOD FOR (YOU); HOW DOES THAT GRAB YOU; HOW DO YOU DO; IF YOU CAN'T BEAT THEM, JOIN THEM; I'LL BE SEEING YOU; I TOLD YOU SO; LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP; MIND YOU; MY HEART BLEEDS FOR YOU; NO MATTER HOW YOU SLICE IT; NOT IF YOU PAID ME; NOW YOU' RE TALKING; PAY AS YOU GO; PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH; QUIT WHILE YOU' RE AHEAD; SAME TO YOU; SAYS WHO (YOU); SCREW YOU; THAT'S ____ FOR YOU; WHAT DO YOU KNOW; WHAT DO YOU TAKE ME FOR; WHAT HAVE YOU; WHAT OF IT (WHAT'S IT TO YOU); WHAT'S EATING YOU.
you better believe it
' D BETTER BELIEVE IT.
you bet your ass Also, you bet or you can bet your bottom or bottom dollar or (sweet) life. You can be absolutely sure, as in You bet your ass I'll be there, or You can bet your sweet life that was Bill with another woman, or Are you coming??
You bet I am. All these phrases in effect mean that you can be so sure of something that you can wager your body or life or valuables on it; ass is considered vulgar, and bottom dollar means "last dollar." [Colloquial; second half of 1800s]
you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink
Even favorable circumstances won't force one to do something one doesn't want to, as in We've gotten all the college catalogs but he still hasn't applied?
you can lead a horse to water. This metaphoric term dates from the 12th century and was in John Heywood's proverb collection of 1546. It is so well known that it is often shortened, as in the example.
you can say that again Also, you said it. I totally agree with what you said, as in What a relief that Brian didn't get hurt.?
You can say that again! or This is a huge house.?
You said it. [Colloquial; first half of 1900s]
you can't take it with you
Enjoy material things while you're alive, as in Go ahead and buy the fancier car; you can't take it with you. This phrase gained currency as the title of a very popular play (1936) by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart and of the 1938 film based on it. [First half of 1800s]
you can't win Also, you just can't win. Whatever one does is wrong or not enough, as in Every time I block one of the woodchuck's holes, I find another; you just can't win. [First half of 1900s]
For a synonym, see DAMNED IF I DO, DAMNED IF I DON'T.
you can't win 'em all
Success is not inevitable, as in They published your article but not your rebuttal to the reviewer? Well, you can't win 'em all. [First half of 1900s] For a synonym, see WIN SOME, LOSE SOME.
you could cut it with a knife
Alluding to something very thick, such as muggy air or a heavy accent; also, a very tense atmosphere. For example, The smoke was so thick you could cut it with a knife, or When I walked in they all stopped talking and you could cut the air with a knife. [Colloquial; late 1800s]
you'd better believe it Also, you better believe it. You may be assured, as in You walk ten miles every day??
You'd better believe it! This imperative is almost synonymous with YOU BET YOUR ASS.
[Colloquial; mid-1800s]
you don't say
How surprising, is that true? Also, I find that hard to believe. For example, I've been working on this project for two years.??
You don't say, or The man who runs this soup kitchen is a real saint.You don't say! This expression, a shortening of you don't say so, may be used straightforwardly or ironically. [Late 1800s]
you get what you pay for
Inexpensive goods or services are likely to be inferior, as in That vacuum cleaner fell apart in a year?I guess you get what you pay for, or The volunteers take three times as long with the mailing, but you get what you pay for. This economic observation probably dates from ancient times but is disputed by those who do not equate high price with high quality.
you just don't get it
hand. see under GET IT, def. 2.
you know
You are aware, you see, do you remember, as in She's very lonely, you know, so do go and visit, or You know, this exhibit ends tomorrow, or You know that black dog our neighbors had? She was run over a year ago. This phrase is also quite often a conversational filler, equivalent to "um" and occasionally repeated over and over (as in It's a fine day for, you know, the beach, and, you know, we could leave now); this usage is more oral than written, and many consider it deplorable. [Late 1500s]
you know something? Also, you know what? Listen to what I'm going to tell you, as in You know something? He's always hated spicy food, or You know what? They're not getting married after all. Both these colloquial expressions are shortenings (Of Do you know something? or Do you know what?) and are used to emphasize the following statement or to introduce a surprising fact or comment. The first dates from the mid-1900s. The variant, from the late 1800s, should not be
confused with WHAT DO YOU KNOW or YOU KNOW.
you name it
Everything one can think of, as in We've got a crib, highchair, diapers?
you name it. [Colloquial; mid1900s]
you never can tell Also, you never know. Perhaps, possibly, one can't be certain, as in You never can tell, it might turn into a beautiful day, or You may yet win the lottery?
you never know. The first term uses tell in the sense of "discern," a usage dating from the late 1300s; the variant dates from the mid-1800s.
young at heart
Having a youthful outlook, especially in spite of one's age. For example, She loves carnivals and fairs; she's a grandmother but she's young at heart.
you're telling me
I'm well aware of that, as in She's a terrific dancer.?
You're telling me! I taught her how, or You're telling me, the prices are sky-high here. [Early 1900s]
you're welcome Also, don't mention it. No thanks are needed, I was glad to do it. For example,
Thanks for picking me up.??
You're welcome, or I appreciate what you did for Mother.Don't mention it. Both phrases are polite formulas for responding to thanks. The first dates from about 1900; the variant was first recorded
in 1841. For synonyms, see FORGET IT; NO PROBLEM, def. 2. Also see WELCOME TO.
your guess is as good as mine
I don't know any more than you do, as in As for when he'll arrive, your guess is as good as mine.
[1920s]
yours truly
1. A closing formula for a letter, as in It was signed "Yours truly, Mary Smith." [Late 1700s] 2. I, me, myself, as in Jane sends her love, as does yours truly. [Colloquial; mid-1800s]
you said it
hand. see YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN.
you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours
hand. see SCRATCH ONE'S BACK.
you've lost me
I can't follow what you're saying, I'm puzzled or bewildered. For example, Please explain it again; you've lost me. This turn of phrase transfers losing one's way to discourse. [c. 1960]
z
hand. see FROM SOUP TO NUTS (A TO Z).
zap out
Interrupt or delete unwanted parts of a television program or video, as in We've taped the show and now we can zap out all the commercials. [c. 1980]
zero in on
1. Aim precisely at a target, as in They zeroed in on the last snipers. [c. 1940] 2. Direct one's