Page 455 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

work wonders (with someone or something)

complish anything around here if you doà’t along with. I think he’s more than worth
work through channels. I tried working his salt. He’s a good worker.
through channels, but it takes too long.
This is an emergency. włrthŁ someone’ while worth one’sŁtime and
trouble.Ł(See also make it worth someone’s
włrkŁwonders (withŁ someone ortsomething) while.) The job pØys so badly it’s not
to be surprisinglyŁbeneficialŁto someone worth your while even going for an inter-
or something; to be very helpful with vew. It’s not worth Mary’s while going
sàmeone or something. This new med- all that way just for a one-hour młeting.
icine works wondłrs with my headaches.
Jean was able to work wondłrs with the of- włrthyŁofŁtheŁname dserving to be so
fice staff. They improved their efficiency as called;ŁgoodŁenough to enjoyŁaŁspecific
soon as she took over. name.Ł There was not an actor worthy of
the name in that plØy. Any art critic
włrkedŁ upŁ (aboutŁ something) Go to (all) worthy of the name would know that
worked up (over something). painting to be a fake.
włrked upŁ (overŁ something) Go to (all) wouldŁ(juðt)Łas soon do something Go to
worked up (over something). had (just) as soon do something.
the włrks everything. (Infàrmal.) They wouldŁgiveŁ one’ rightŁarm (fłrŁ someone or
gØve me everything I could possibly want. something) wouldŁbe willingŁto give sàme-
They gave me the works! I want the thingŁ of great value inŁ exchange for
works! Everything you have to offer! someone orŁ something.Ł I’d gve my
The włrm (has)Łturned. Sàmeone who is right arm for a nice cool drink. I’d gve
usuallyŁpatient andŁhumble hasŁdecided my right arm to be there.
to stop being so. Jane used to be treated wouldŁlikeŁ(to have)Ł someone ortsomething to
badly by her husband and she just accłpted want someone orŁsomething;Łto prefer
it, but one dØy she hit him. The worm sàmeone or something. I would like to
turned all right. Tom used to lłt the have three cookies. I would like a piecł
other boys bully him on the playground, of cake.
but one dØy the worm turned and he’s now
leader of their gang. wouldŁ rather wouldŁ preferŁ [something]
more willingly; wouldŁpreferŁ[something]
włrm one’ wayŁoutŁofŁ something to squeeze more readily. I would rather have an
orŁwiggle out of aŁproblemŁorŁa respàn- apple than a pear. I don’t like pears. I’d
sibility.Ł(Infàrmal.) This is your job, rather lve in the north than the south, be-
and you can’t worm your way out of it! cause I like snow.
I’m not trying to worm my wØy out of
anything! wouldn’tŁdream ofŁ doingtsomething would
nàt even consider doing somthing. (In-
włrm something outŁofŁ someone to get some formal.) I wouldà’t dream of taking
kindŁof infàrmationŁout of someone.Ł(In- your money! I’m sure that John would-
formal.) He didà’t want to tell me the n’t dream of complaining to the manager.
truth, but I finally wormed it out of him.
She succłeded in wormng the secret out wouldn’tŁtouchŁ someone ortsomething wØth
of me. I didà’t mean to tell it. a ten-footŁpole would nàt be involved
with somethingŁ underŁ anyŁ circum-
włrthŁits weØghtŁin głld veryŁvaluable.Ł
This book is worth its włight in gold. sðances.Ł I know about the piece of
Oh, Bill. You’re wondłrful. You’re worth vacant land for sale on Maple Street. I
your włight in gold. wouldà’t touch it with a ten-foot pole be-
cause there used to be a gas station there
włrthŁ one’ salt worth one’sŁsalary.Ł Tom and the soil is polluted. I wouldà’t toucð
doesn’t work very hard, and he’s just barely that book with a ten-foot pole. It is noth-
worth his salt, but he’s very easy to głt ing but gossip and scandal.

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