List of English idioms starting with W

Showing 1-9 of 9

Generated image of a woman watching a pot

A watched pot never boils

If you say a watched pot never boils, you mean that something seems to take much longer when you are waiting for it to happen. If you walk away from the pot and make yourself busy with something else, the water feels like it boils much faster.

I've been sitting by the window all day waiting for this delivery. A watched pot never boils!

Generated image of a wolf in sheep's clothing

A wolf in sheep’s clothing

The idiom a wolf in sheep’s clothing describes someone who seems kind or harmless but is actually dangerous or dishonest. It warns people not to trust appearances.
This idiom comes from an old story where a wolf dresses up as a sheep to sneak into the flock and eat the sheep.

We thought he was here to help, but he was really a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Photo of water flowing under a bridge

Water under the bridge

The idiom water under the bridge draws from the concept of water flowing under a bridge, and once it has gone past it will never go past again. When you use this phrase, you are talking about events or feelings that are now in the past and cannot be changed, so you shouldn't dwell on them anymore.

The two neigbours decided to let their past disagreements be water under the bridge.

Generated image of a man with a heavy weight on his shoulders

Weight lifted from your shoulders

When you have a weight lifted off your shoulders you have a great sense of relief that a stressful situation has ended or a burden has lifted.
This idiom is drawn from the literal feeling of relief when you put down a heavy load that you are carrying.

My friend gave me a small loan, and a weight was lifted from my shoulders.

Photo of Rome

When in Rome

The idiom when in Rome, do as the Romans do means that when you are a visitor, either to another country or just someone else's house or working in their business, you should adapt to how everyone behaves and try and fit in as a mark of respect.

Everyone else was taking their shoes off, so when in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Photo of a field of cows

When the cows come home

The idiom when the cows come home means for a very long time, often longer than expected.
The phrase comes from farm life, where cows really like being out in the fields, so they come home as late as they can.

They can argue until the cows come home, but it won’t change anything.

Photo of people walking in the dust

When the dust settles

The phrase when the dust settles means to wait until after confusion or trouble has passed. Things become calmer, and it is easier to think clearly.
The idiom draws from the literal image of dust being kicked up while you are working, which then falls to the ground later.

We’ll decide what to do next when the dust settles.

Photo of a hammer and a screw

When your only tool is a hammer

The idiom when your only tool is a hammer, everything looks like a nail means that people tend to fall back to familiar solutions or past perspectives, even if they don't suit the current problem.
It means that you should broaden your thinking and look at different tools.

Are we really still using the procedure from the 1990s? Oh well, I guess if your only tool is a hammer ...

Altered image of an old scale

Worth its weight in gold

The idiom worth its weight in gold means extremely valuable or useful. It dates back to ancient times when some commodities like spices were so valuable were traded for their own weight in gold.

That advice was worth its weight in gold.