Idioms (V)
List of useful English idioms that start with V.
Vale of Tears: The world in general, envisioned as a sad place; the tribulations of life
Vicious Circle : A situation in which an attempt to solve a problem makes the original problem worse.
Victory Lap : Visible public appearances after a victory or accomplishment
Virgin Territory : Something that has never been explored, physically or intellectually
Vote with One’s Feet : To physically depart from something as a way of showing disapproval
Idioms (W)
List of useful English idioms that start with W.
Waiting in the Wings: Ready to assume responsibilities but not yet active, ready to become a successor
Waka-Jumping : Change political parties (said of politicians themselves)
Wake Up and Smell the Coffee: Stop deluding yourself
Wake Up on the Wrong Side of the Bed : Be grumpy or ill-humored. Generally used in past tense
Walk on Eggshells : To have to act very sensitively in order to avoid offending someone
Walk the Plank: Be forced to resign a position
Wandering Eye : A tendency to look at and desire women or men other than one’s committed romantic partner
Wandering Eye : A tendency to look at and desire women or men other than one’s committed romantic partner
Wash Your Hands of (Something) : Decline to take further responsibility; refuse to be involved with something anymore
Water Under the Bridge : Something in the past that’s no longer worth worrying about
Watering Hole : A place where alcoholic beverages are served, a bar
Weekend Warrior : Someone who has an office job but enjoys contact sports on weekends; a member of a military reserve force (whose exercises are typically on weekends)
We’ll Cross That Bridge : When We Come to It We’ll deal with that problem if and when it comes up
Welsh (Welch) on a Deal : Not observe the terms of an agreement
Wet Behind the Ears : inexperienced, immature, new to something
Wet Behind the Ears : Inexperienced, immature, new to something
Wet Blanket: Someone who dampens a festive occasion
Wet Your Whistle: Drink something
What Do You Make of (Him)? : What is your evaluation of this person?
What Goes Around Comes Around : The kind of treatment you give to others will eventually return to you; things go in cycles
What’s Good for the Goose Is Good for the Gander : What’s OK for a man is OK for a woman, too
When Hell Freezes Over : Never
When In Doubt, Leave It Out: When unsure about something, omit it.
When in Rome, Do as the Romans Do : When you visit a new place, follow the customs of the people there
When It Rains, It Pours : Problems tend to come in groups.
When Pigs Fly : Never
When the Chips Are Down: When a situation becomes urgent or difficult
Where (When) the Rubber : Meets the Road In reality; where an idea meets a real-world test
Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way: If you have a strong desire to accomplish something, you will achieve it even in the face of considerable odds.
Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire: If there is typical evidence of something, the most likely explanation is that it is actually occurring.
Whisper Sweet Nothings (in Someone’s Ear) : Speak meaningless romantic utterances
Whistle in the Dark : To be unrealistically confident or brave; to talk about something of which one has little knowledge
Whistle Past the Graveyard : Remain optimistic despite dangers; be clueless
Whistling Dixie : Being unrealistically optimistic
White Elephant : An unwanted item that is difficult to sell or dispose of
Who’s She, the Cat’s Mother? : Why does she have such a high opinion of herself?
Wild Goose Chase : An impossible or futile search or task
Window Dressing : A misleading disguise intended to present a favorable impression
Window Shop : To look at merchandise in a store without intending to buy it
Witch Hunt : An organized attempt to persecute an unpopular group of people and blame them for a problem.
With Bells On: Eagerly, willingly, and on time.
Work One’s Fingers to the Bone : Work very hard over an extended period
Worn to a Frazzle : Exhausted, completely worn out
Wouldn’t Be Caught Dead : Would absolutely not allow myself to do this
Writing (Handwriting) on the Wall : Hints of coming disaster
English Idioms (Y)
List of useful English idioms that start with Y.
Year In, Year Out : Annually without change
You Can Lead a Horse to Water, but You Can’t Make It Drink: It’s very hard to force someone to do something against his or her will.
You Can Say That Again! : I agree totally!
You Can Take It to the Bank: I absolutely guarantee this
You Can’t Judge a Book by Its Cover : You can’t know people (or things) well by their external appearances.
You Can’t Make an Omelet (Omelette) : Without Breaking
You Can’t Make Fish of One and Fowl of the Other : People must be treated equally.
You Know the Drill: You are already familiar with the procedure.
You Snooze, You Lose: If you delay or are not alert, you will miss opportunities
Young at Heart: Having a youthful outlook, regardless of age
Your Guess Is as Good as Mine : I don’t know; I have no idea
Your Mileage May Vary: You may get different results. This does not necessarily refer to a car, although it may.
Your Number Is Up : You are going to die (or suffer some bad misfortune or setback)
You’re Driving Me Nuts : To make someone giddy or crazy
Yours Truly : Me
English Idioms (Z)
List of useful English idioms that start with Z.
Zero In On: Focus closely on something; take aim at something
Zig When One Should Be Zagging: To make an error; to choose an incorrect course
Zip One’s Lip : Be quiet
