Adam Makkai: Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[win one’s spurs]{v. phr.} 1. In old times, to be named a knight with the right to wear little sharp spikes on your heels. •/ A young squire won his spurs in battle. / 2. To win fame or honor. •/ The young lieutenant won his spurs by leading an attack on enemy machine guns. / •/ Edison won his spurs as an inventor while rather young. / •/ He has yet to win his spurs as a big league ball player. /

[win out]{v. phr.} To win after a rather protracted struggle. •/ The lawsuit lasted a long time, but we finally won out. /

[win over]{v. phr.} To convert to one’s position or point of view. •/ The Democrats offered him a high-level executive position and thus way won him over to their side. /

[wipeout]{n.} A total failure. •/ The guy is so bad at his job that he is a total wipeout. /

[wipe out]{v.} 1. To remove or erase by wiping or rubbing. •/ The teacher wiped out with an eraser what she had written on the board. / Compare: RUB OUT. 2. {informal} To remove, kill, or destroy completely. •/ The earthquake wiped out the town. / •/ Doctors are searching for a cure that will wipe out cancer. / •/ The Indians wiped out the soldiers who were sent to stop their attacks. / Compare: RUB OUT, STAMP OUT.

[wipe out an old score]See: SETTLE A SCORE.

[wipe the floor with]or [wipe up the floor with]See: MOP THE FLOOR WITH.

[wire]See: ACROSS THE WIRE, DOWN TO THE WIRE, PULL STRINGS or PULL WIRES.

[wise]See: GET WISE, PENNY WISE AND POUND FOOLISH, PUT WISE, THE WISER.

[wisecrack]{n.} A joke or witty remark usually made at someone else’s expense. •/ The comedians kept up a steady stream of wisecracks. /

[wise guy]{n. phr.} , {informal} A person who acts as if he were smarter than other people; a person who jokes or shows off too much •/ Bill is a wise guy and displeases others by what he says. /

[wise up to]{v. phr.} , {slang} To finally understand what is really going on after a period of ignorance. •/ Joe immediately quit his job when he wised up to what was really going on. /

[wish on]{v.} 1. To use as a lucky charm while making a wish. •/ Mary wished on a star that she could go to the dance. / •/ Bob wished on his lucky rabbit’s foot that he could pass the test. / 2. or [wish off on]{informal} To get rid of (something unwanted) by passing it on to someone else. •/ Martha did not like to do the dishes and wished the job on to her little sister. / •/ Tom got a very ugly tie for his birthday and when Billy’s birthday came, Tom wished the tie off on Billy. /

[wit]See: AT ONE’S WITS' END, KEEP ONE’S HEAD or KEEP ONE’S WITS ABOUT ONE, SCARE OUT OF ONE’S WITS.

[witch-hunt]{n. phr.} A hysterical movement during which people are persecuted for having views (political or religious) considered different or unpopular. •/ During the McCarthy era many innocent Americans were accused of being Communists, as Republican patriotism deteriorated into a witch-hunt. /

[with a free hand]See: FREE HAND.

[with a grain of salt]or [with a pinch of salt]See: TAKE WITH A GRAIN OF SALT.

[with all one’s heart]See: FROM THE BOTTOM OF ONE’S HEART.

[with an eye to]See: EYE TO.

[with a silver spoon in one’s mouth]See: BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON IN ONE’S MOUTH.

[with a whole skin]also [in a whole skin]{adv. phr.} With no injury; unhurt; safely. •/ The boy was lucky to escape with a whole skin when the car went off the road. / •/ Jack came through the game with a whole skin. / •/ The horse threw him off, but he got away in a whole skin. / Syn.: SAFE AND SOUND.

[with bad grace]or [with a bad grace]{adv. phr.} In an unpleasant or discourteous way; unwillingly, •/ Fred takes defeat with bad grace. / •/ Tom shouted "Hello" to Bill. Bill was in a sour mood and replied with a bad grace. / Contrast: WITH GOOD GRACE.

[with bells on]{adv. phr.} , {informal} With enthusiasm; eager or ready and in the best of spirits for an event. •/ "Will you come to the farewell party I’m giving for Billy?" asked Jerry. "I’ll be there with bells on," replied Ed. /

[with child]{adv. phr.} , {literary} Going to have a baby; pregnant. •/ The angel told Mary she was with child. / Compare: IN A FAMILY WAY or IN THE FAMILY WAY.

[wither on the vine]See: DIE ON THE VINE.

[with fire]See: PLAY WITH FIRE.

[with flying colors]{adv. phr.} With great or total success; victoriously. •/ Tow finished the race with flying colors. / •/ Mary came through the examination with flying colors. /

[with good grace]{adv. phr.} With pleasant and courteous behavior; politely; willingly; without complaining. •/ The boys had been well-coached; they took the loss of the game with good grace. / •/ The principal scolded Nora, who accepted his criticism with good grace. / Contrast: WITH BAD GRACE.

[with heart and soul]See: HEART AND SOUL.

[within an ace of]{informal} or [within an inch of]{adv. phr.} Almost but not quite; very close to; nearly. •/ Tim came within an ace of losing the election. / •/ John was within an inch of drowning before he was pulled out of the water. / Compare: BY THE SKIN OF ONE’S TEETH.

[within an inch of one’s life]{adv. phr.} Until you are almost dead; near to dying. •/ The bear clawed the hunter within an inch of his life. / Often used after "to". •/ The prize fighter was beaten to within an inch of his life. /

[within bounds]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. Inside of the boundary lines in a game; on or inside of the playing field. •/ You must hit the ball inside the lines of the tennis court or it will not be within bounds. / •/ If you kick the football over a side-line, it will not be in bounds. / 2. Inside of a place where one is allowed to go or be. •/ The soldiers are within bounds on one side of the city, but are out of bounds on the other side. / 3. Inside of safe or proper limits; allowable. •/ If you ask Father for a quarter, he might give it to you, but a dollar would not be within bounds. / •/ He succeeded in keeping his temper within bounds. / Contrast: OUT OF BOUNDS.

[within call]or [within hail]{adv. phr.} 1. Near enough to hear each other’s voices. •/ When the two ships were within hail, their officers exchanged messages. / •/ Billy’s mother told him to stay within call because supper was nearly ready. / 2. In a place where you can be reached by phone, radio, or TV and be called. •/ The sick man was very low and the doctor stayed within call. / •/ The soldiers were allowed to leave the base by day, but had to stay within call. /