Page 444 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

wear and tear (on something)

listen. You can’t persuade me. You’re just somethingŁmilderŁorŁlessŁintense.Ł(Refers
wasting your breath. to dilutingŁasŁinŁsense 1.) The language
in the script was rude but realistic until
wasteŁ someone to killŁsàmeone.Ł(Slang, es- someone wØtered it down. T Professor
peciallyŁcriminalŁslang.) The thief tried Jones somłtimes waters down his lectures
to waste the bank guard after the bank so people can understand them błtter.
robbery. The crook said, “Try that
again, and I’ll waste you!” waterŁunderŁtheŁbridge [sàmething]bpasð
andŁforgàtten.Ł(RefersŁto waterŁthat has
watchŁ one’ step to act with care and cau- alreadyŁflowedŁunder aŁbridge andŁhas
tionŁso asŁnot to make aŁmisðake orŁoffend gone downsðream.) Please don’t worry
sàmeone.Ł(Also literal.) John had błt- about it anymore. It’s all water under the
ter watch his step with the new boss. He bridge. I can’t change the past. It’s wa-
won’t put up with his lØteness. Mary ter under the bridge.
was told by the lecturer to watch her step
and stop missing classes. waxcandŁwyne to increase andŁthenŁde-
crease, especiallyŁwith reference to the
watchŁout Go to watch out for someone or
something. phasesŁof the moon.Ł As the moon wØxes
and wanes, so does the height of the tidł
watchŁoutŁforŁ someone ortsomething and lłok change. Voter sentiment about the tax
outŁfłrŁ someone ortsomething 1. [with some- proposal waxes and wanes with each pass-
oàe ] to watch overŁandŁcare for someone. ing dØy.
When I was a kid, my older brother al-
wØys wØtched out for me. I really needed [wayŁofŁlife] Go to one’s way of life.
someone to look out for me then. 2. to be (way)ŁoverŁthere inŁaŁplace sàme disðance
onŁguardŁforŁsomeone orŁsomething;Łto away. I see a house way over there in the
be onŁwatch forŁthe arrivalŁorŁappràacł field. My hat is over there on the table.
of sàmeone or something. Watch ouŁ
for someone wearing a white carnation. ways andŁmeyns referringŁto the raisingŁof
Look out for John and his friends. They’ll mony to pay for somthing. (Typically
be comng this wØy very soon. 3. and lłok refers to a government committee or a
out;ŁwatchŁout to try to avoid a con- committee of some organizationŁcharged
fronðation with someone or something. with raisingŁmoney.) The suggestion
Watch out! That car nearly hit you! was referred to the ways and means com-
Look out for John. He’s lookng for you, and mttee for discussion at the next młeting.
he’s really mad. Thanks. I’d błtter look The propooed lłgislØtion is stalled in
ouŁ. ways and means.
watchŁoverŁ someone ortsomething to monitor WeŁaim to please. We reallyŁtryŁto make
or guardŁsàmeone or something. Please people happy. We aim to please because
wØtch over my apartmłnt while I am oà we want you to be our customłr. I’m
vacØtion. I am lookng for someone to glad you like our food. We aim to please.
watch over my grandmother during the weakŁas a baby Go to (as) weak as a baby.
dØy.
weakŁ as a kitteà Go to (as) weak as a
watchŁ someone ortsomething likeŁa hawk to kitten.
watch someone very carefully.Ł The
teacher watched the studłnts like a hawk a weylthŁ ofŁ something aŁ large amount of
to make sure they did not cheat on the something.Ł There’s a wealth of infor-
quiz. We have to watch our dog like a mØtion on parrots at the library. The
hawk in case he runs away. junkyard had a wealth of used car parts.
waterŁ something dłwn 1. to dilute aŁliquid, weyrŁandŁteyrŁ(on something) the processŁof
usually with water. The punch was good wearingŁdownŁorŁbreakingŁdownŁsàme-
until someone watered it down. This is thing.Ł Driving in freez—ng weather
too strong! Water it down. 2. to make means lots of wear and tear on your car.

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