Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)

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[what's the big idea] or [what's the idea] <informal> What is the purpose; what do you have in mind; why did you do that; what are you doing; how dare you.
– Often used to question someone or something that is not welcome. * /The Smith family painted their house red, white, and blue. What's the big idea?/ * /What's the idea of coming in here after I told you not to?/ * /I heard you are spreading false rumors about me, what's the big idea?/

[what's the idea] See: WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA.

[what's up] or [what's cooking] also [what's doing] <slang> What is happening or planned; what is wrong.
– Often used as a greeting. * /"What's up?" asked Bob as he joined his friends. "Are you going to the movies?"/ * /What's cooking? Why is the crowd in the street?/ * /What's doing tonight at the club?/ * /Hello Bob, what's up?/ Compare: WHAT'S WITH.

[what's what] or [what is what] <n. phr.>, <informal> 1. What each thing is in a group; one thing from another. * /The weeds and the flowers are coming up together, and we can't tell what is what./ 2. All that needs to be known about something; the important facts or skills. * /Richard did the wrong thing, because he is new here and doesn't yet know what's what./ * /When Bob started his new job, it took him several weeks to learn what was what./ * /When it comes to cooking, Jenny knows what's what./ * /Harold began to tell the teacher how to teach the class, and the teacher told him what was what./ Compare: WHICH IS WHICH, WHO'S WHO.

[what's with] or [what's up with] also [what's by] <slang> What is happening to; what is wrong; how is everything; what can you tell me about. * /Mary looks worried. What's with her?/ * /What's with our old friends?/ * /I'm fine. What's with you?/

[what with] <prep.> Because; as a result of. * /I couldn't visit you, what with the snowstorm and the cold I had./ * /What with dishes to wash and children to put to bed, mother was late to the meeting./ Compare: ON ACCOUNT OF.

[wheel] See: BIG CHEESE or BIG WHEEL, GREASE THE WHEELS, PUT ONE'S SHOULDER TO THE WHEEL.

[wheel and deal] <v. phr.>, <slang> To make many big plans or schemes; especially with important people in government and business; in matters of money and influence; handle money or power for your own advantage; plan important matters in a smart or skillful way and sometimes in a tricky, or not strictly honest way. * /Mr. Smith made a fortune by wheeling and dealing on the stock market./ * /The senator got this law passed by wheeling and dealing in Congress./ [wheeler-dealer] <n. phr.>, <slang> A person with power and control. * /The biggest wheeler-dealer in the state has many friends in high places in business and government and is a rich man himself./

[wheelhorse] <n. phr.> A reliable and industrious worker on whom one may depend. * /Jake is such a good worker that he is the wheelhorse of our tiny firm./

[when hell freezes over] <adv. phr.>, <slang> Never. * /I'll believe you when hell freezes over./ Contrast: UNTIL HELL FREEZES OVER.

[when it comes to] See: COME TO(4).

[when one's ship comes in] See: SHIP COME IN.

[when push comes to shove] <adv. phr.> A time when a touchy situation becomes actively hostile or a quarrel turns into a fight. * /Can we count on the boss' goodwill, when push comes to shove?/

[when the chips are down] <adv. cl.>, <informal> When the winner and loser of a bet or a game are decided; at the most important or dangerous time. * /Tom hit a home run in the last inning of the game when the chips were down./ * /When the chips were down, the two countries decided not to have war./ (From the fact that in gambling games, a person puts chips or money down in front of him to show that he is willing to risk an amount in a bet.)

[where] See: TELL ONE WHERE TO GET OFF or TELL ONE WHERE TO HEAD IN.

[wherefore] See: WHY AND WHEREFORE.

[where it's at] <adv. phr.>, <informal> That which is important; that which is at the forefront of on-going social, personal, or scientific undertakings. * /Young, talented and black, that's where it's at./ * /We send sophisticated machines to Mars instead of people, that's where it's at./

[where the shoe pinches] <n. phr.>, <informal> Where or what the discomfort or trouble is. * /Johnny thinks the job is easy, but he will find out where the shoe pinches when he tries it./ * /The coach said he wasn't worried about any position except quarterback; that was where the shoe pinched./

[whether one is coming or going] See: KNOW IF ONE IS COMING OR GOING.

[whether --- or] or [whether --- or whether[] 1. <coord. conj.> Used to introduce an indirect question. * /You must decide whether you should go or stay./ * /I don't know whether Jack or Bill is a better player./ Compare: EITHER --- OR(2). Used to show a choice of things, or that different things are possible. * /Whether the bicycle was blue or red, it didn't matter to Frank./

[which] See: GAME AT WHICH TWO CAN PLAY.

[which is which] <n. phr.> Which is one person or thing and which is the other; one from another; what the difference is between different ones; what the name of each one is. * /Joe's coat and mine are so nearly alike that I can't tell which is which./ * /Mr. Hadley hadn't seen his friend's daughters in such a long time that he couldn't remember which was which./ Compare: WHAT'S WHAT, WHO'S WHO.

[which was which] See: WHICH is WHICH.

[while] See: AFTER A WHILE or IN A WHILE, ALL THE TIME(1), EVERY NOW AND THEN or EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, ONCE IN A WHILE.

[while ago] <adv.> At a time several minutes in the past; a few minutes ago; a short time ago.
– Used with "a". * /I laid mv glasses on this table a while ago; and now they're gone./ * /A while ago, Mary was tired and wanted to go home; now she's dancing with Bob as if she could dance all night./ Compare: JUST NOW(2).

[while away] <v.> To make time go by pleasantly or without being bored; pass or spend. * /We whiled away the time that we were waiting by talking and playing cards./ * /We whiled away the summer swimming and fishing./