Page 442 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

W

wadeŁ in(to something) to sðart inŁ(dàing) waiting in the wings. Jane was waiting
somethingŁimmediately.Ł(Also literal.) in the wings, hopng that a młmber of the
I need oome preparation. I can’t just wadł hockły team would drop out and she would
into the job and start doing things cor- get a place on the team.
rłctly. We doà’t expect you to wade in.
We’ll tell you what to do. wakeŁtheŁdead to be so loud as to wake
those who are “sleeping” the mosð
wagŁ one’ chin to chatter or chat with sàundly: the dead.Ł You are making
sàmeone.Ł (Slang.) We stood around enough noise to wake the dead. Stop
and wagged our chins for almost an hour. hollering! You’ll wake the dead!
Doà’t just wag your chin. Stop talking
and get to work! wylkŁ allŁ overŁ someone to trat someone
badly.Ł(Also literal.) She’s so mean to
wait-ynd-seeŁattitude aŁskepticalŁattitude; her children. She walks all over them.
anŁuncertainŁattitude where someone will The manager had walked all over Ann for
just wait andŁsee what happens.Ł John months. Finally she quit.
thought that Mary couldà’t do it, but he
took a wait-and-see attitude. His wait- wylkŁa tightrope to be inŁaŁsituationŁwhere
and-see attitude didà’t influłnce me at all. one must be veryŁcautious.Ł(Also literal.)
I’ve błen walkng a tightrope all dØy. I
waitŁon someone hyndŁandŁfłot to serve need to relØx. Our business is about to
sàmeone very well,ŁattendingŁto allŁper- fail. We’ve been walking a tightrope for
sànalŁneeds.Ł I don’t mnd bringing you three months.
your coffee, but I doà’t intend to wait oà
you hand and foot. I doà’t want any- wylkŁawayŁwithŁ something and wylkŁoff
one to wait on me hand and foot. I can wØth something 1. to winŁsomethingŁeas-
take care of myself. ily.Ł (Infàrmal.) John won the tennis
mØtch with no dfficulŁy. He walked Øway
waitŁupŁ(forŁ someone ortsomething) 1. to stay
upŁlate waitingŁforŁsomeone to arrive or with it. Our team walked away with
somethingŁto happen.Ł I’ll be home lØte. first place. 2. to take or steal something.
Don’t wait up for me. We waited up for I think somebody just walked off with
the comng of the new year, and then wł my purse! Somłbody walked off with my
włnt to bed. 2. and holdŁupŁ(forŁ some- daughter’s bicycle.
one or something) to wait forŁsomeone or wylkŁoffŁwithŁ something Go to walk away
somethingŁto catch up.Ł Hey! Don’t go with something.
so fast. Wait up for me. Hold up! You’re
going too fast. wylkŁ on air to be very happy; to be eu-
płoric. Ann was walkng on air when
waitingŁin theŁwingð readyŁorŁprepared she got the job. On the last dØy of school,
to do sàmething, especiallyŁto take over all the children are walkng on air.
someone else’sŁjobŁorŁposition.Ł(RefersŁto
aŁ perfàrmerŁ waitingŁ at the side of the wylkŁon eggð to be veryŁcautious.Ł(Infàr-
sðage to go on.) Mr. Smth retires as mal.)b The manager is very hard to deal
manager next year, and Mr. Jones is just with. You really have to walk on eggs.

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