wh イディオム
a big wheel
a person with power, a big shot Bing has been acting like a big wheel since he got promoted.
a fifth wheel
a useless object, an unnecessary device The team already had two guards, so I felt like a fifth wheel.
a whale of a game
an exciting game, a cliff-hanger When Canada played Sweden, it was a whale of a game.
all the bells and whistles
a lot of extra features, lots of goodies, loaded When Horst sold his business he bought a motorhome with all the bells and whistles.
as clean as a whistle
without any dirt or marks, smooth and clean The hen squeezed, and out popped an egg as clean as a whistle.
as useless as a fifth wheel
not useful, not needed, redundant, (four wheels are sufficient) I sat there watching the four of them play bridge, and feeling as useless as a fifth wheel.
at the wheel
driving a car, steering a car or truck Who was at the wheel when the car went off the road?
bells and whistles
(See all the bells and whistles)
big gun/cheese/wheel/wig
an important person, a leader The new director was a big wheel in his previous company but is not so important now.
big wheel
(See a big wheel)
black and white
thinking of everything or judging everything as either good or bad He tries to see everything in black and white although he knows this is impossible.
blow the whistle
tell the teacher or the police, squeal Jimmy knows we stole the keys, but he won't blow the whistle.
bushwhack
stop you and rob you, jump, mugged When he stopped to camp by the stream, two guys bushwhacked him - stole his money and horse.
cross that bridge when I come to it
make that decision when it is necessary, do not jump the gun If interest rates begin to drop, I can buy bonds, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
don't know whether you're coming or going
you are confused, you do not understand, go in circles If you believe the cult leaders, you won't know whether you're coming or going.
don't know which end is up
are confused, are mixed up After talking to four bureaucrats, I didn't know which end was up.
don't know which side your bread is buttered on
do not know what is really important, have not learned much about life If you refuse the assistance, you don't know which side your bread is buttered on.
fifth wheel
(See a fifth wheel)
flattery will get you nowhere
saying nice things will not help you, kiss the blarney stone "When I complimented Anna on her hair, she said, ""Thanks, but flattery will get you nowhere."""
gee whiz
golly gee, gosh darn, aw shucks Gee whiz, Miss Julie. I'd never do anything to hurt you.
get what
receive the good or bad that one deserves He got what was coming to him when he was sent to jail for two years.
give it a whirl
try to do something, try your hand at When I saw the others dancing, I decided to give it a whirl.
give them what for
give them a lecture, scold them, give you hell After the team lost a game, the coach gave 'em what for.
give you what for
lecture you, give you hell If you miss hockey practice, the coach will give you what for.
go nowhere fast
be unable to advance, be stuck where you are Without a diploma, you'll be going nowhere fast.
go the whole hog
make a thorough job of something They really went the whole hog in their efforts to welcome the foreign visitors.
go whole hog
do something completely or thoroughly They went whole hog in their effort to make sure that the convention was a success.
got what it takes
got what is needed, got the balls We need a person to manage the office. Ko's got what it takes.
Great White Hope
(See The Great White Hope)
Great White North
(See The Great White North)
have a whiz
go to the toilet, visit the john We were so busy we didn't even stop to have a whiz!
have what it takes
(See got what it takes)
he who hesitates is lost
if you hesitate you may not get another chance If you want to marry Ko, ask her. He who hesitates is lost.
hell-on-wheels
a short-tempered, nagging or crabby person She is hell-on-wheels in the morning so you should be careful of her.
in black and white
in writing The company refused to deal with the customer's complaints until they saw them in black and white.
it's not what you know, it's who you know
references are important, Bob's your uncle In politics, it's not what you know, it's who you know.
Joe Who
Joe Clark - a Canadian politician When was Joe Who the Prime Minister of Canada? 1979?
just what the doctor ordered
exactly what is needed or wanted Having the extra day off from work was just what the doctor ordered and he was able to get his many errands finished.
know where we stand
know our position, know if we have a chance, leave me hanging The Department hasn't replied to our application for assistance, so we don't know where we stand.
know which end is up
know where you are, know what to do next With so many problems, he doesn't know which end is up.
know which side one
know who can help one and try to please him, know what is good for oneself He is careful not to make his boss angry. He knows which side his bread is buttered on.
know which side your bread is buttered on
know who pays your salary, If you refuse extra work, you have common sense, bite the hand that feeds... don't know which side your bread is buttered on.
let the chips fall where they may
don
little white lie
(See white lie)
love is where you find it
love happens, love is not planned, it is better to have loved... My family thinks Peter is too old for me, but I think love is where you find it.
make hay while the sun shines
do something at the right time, not wait too long You should make hay while the sun shines and paint the house while the weather is good.
make whoopee
kiss and hug, get it on, make love Tony and Victoria were making whoopee when we walked in.
on the whole
in general On the whole I think it is a good idea but I would still like to study it further.
once in a while
occasionally We like Japanese food so we go to that restaurant once in a while.
out of nowhere
without warning, without an introduction Out of nowhere a motorcycle passed us, going like a bullet.
