Overview  / Table of Content

Idioms from "A" through "E"
Idioms from "F" through "J"
Idioms from "K" through "O"
Idioms from "P" through "T"
Idioms from "U" through "Z"

Quick Jump

    U - V - W - X - Y- Z

-U-

'Under the sun'

    This is an idiomatic way of saying ‘anywhere on earth’.

    Example: This is the largest dinosaur exhibit anywhere. There’s nothing else like it under the sun."

 

'Upgrade'

    An upgrade refers to a request to change your airline seat from one class of service, for example 'coach', to a higher level of service, for example 'business class'. Upgrades may be available in situations where the plane is not fully booked, or if the airline asks you to accept a flight at a different time. The word is used as a noun and also as a verb. In addition to the travel context, you can also hear 'upgrade' when used to refer to improvements in computer equipment.

    Example: 'When I was ready to board the plane, I noticed that there were just a few business class passengers, so I asked for an upgrade!'

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-V-

'Voice of reason'

    This idiom refers to someone who keeps a calm and rational tone in the middle of a big argument. If two or more people are having a shouting match, another person might enter the discussion as the "voice of reason" to calm things down.

    Example: "It's good having Greg in our meetings, because he always acts like the voice of reason."

     

'Voice-over'

    This term refers to movies and TV shows in which an actor who doesn't appear on camera narrates or describes a scene. This technique is used all the time in documentaries, and also in dramatic films.

    For example, in the movie "Spiderman", actor Tobey Maguire as Spiderman performs a voice-over at the beginning and end of the film. "Titanic" is another example of a popular film that uses voice-over.

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-W-

'Wake-up call'

    A wake-up call can be ordered when you are staying at a hotel. By phoning the hotel operator, you can alert the staff to call your room at a given time. This provides travelers who don't have an alarm clock or an alarm on their watch with an assurance that they will wake up on time for an important meeting or travel event. ‘Wake-up call' is also applied to every day situations. In America, we use the phrase to indicate that people are alerted to a situation they had not been thinking about.

    Example: 'When the boy swallowed too many aspirin, it was a wake-up call to other parents to be careful about leaving medicine where children can find it.'‘

 

'Watch out!'

    Just as with ‘look out’, you can use this phrase when you want to warn someone. If someone is about to step into a hole or ditch, you can yell ‘Watch out!’ and point to the hole.

 

'Watch what you eat'

    People who are on a diet have to ‘watch what they eat’. This phrase means that people have to consider whether they are eating healthy foods.

    Example: "Ted rarely goes to steakhouses. Since his illness, he really has to watch what he eats."

 

'Watch your language'

    This is a phrase often used by teachers or parents. It usually refers to profanity or language that is offensive. If a student uses a swear word in the classroom a teacher might scold him or her: "Watch your language in this classroom! The next time I hear something out of you, you’ll have detention."

 

'Watch your step'

    This idiom has two slightly different meanings. In the literal, or direct, sense, it means to be careful when walking. People will often say ‘Watch your step’ when there are steps at an entrance or exit, for example, in entering a bus. Another meaning is to be careful in another sense. If a son wants to ask his father for a favor, the mother might say, ‘Watch your step! Your dad is very angry right now.’

 

'White christmas'

    This idiom probably derives from a song made popular by Bing Crosby. Christmas is ‘white’ in many parts of the United States because it is winter at that time of year and there is often snowfall before Christmas day. So when you hear reference to a ‘white Christmas’ it has to do with a snowy Christmas.

    Example: "For the last three years, Pennsylvania has had a white Christmas."

 

'Win by a nose'

    In running competitions, the margin of victory can be very slim. When runners seem to cross the finish line at the same time, the judges must examine a snapshot of the runners at the moment of the race’s conclusion. This is referred to as a photo finish. If the runners are extremely close, commentators may say that the winner has "won by a nose", meaning literally the length of his nose stretching in front of the other runner. This idiom is often used with horse racing.

     

'Wiped out'

    This idiom can refer to sports events or other competitions, and is often used to refer to people or businesses that have lost all of their money. You can imagine that the idiom refers to a large bank account which has been wiped out to nothing. Another variation of this idiom is "cleaned out".

    Example: "Donald put all of his money in technology stocks, so during the stock market plunge he was wiped out."

    You may also get 'wiped out' if you're exhausted or extremely tired and ready for a long rest. This idiom can also be used after doing a lot of exercise or other strenuous activity.

    Example: "After I went downhill skiing in Switzerland for three days, I had to fly to Buenos Aires with a five hour layover in Miami. Boy, was I wiped out!"

 

'Witching hour'

    A witch was believed to have dealings with the devil or evil spirits, and is traditionally pictured dressed in black, with a tall pointy hat and a broom. The ‘witching hour’ refers to midnight, when witches were supposed to become active. According to the Oxford dictionary, the idiom originated in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, which includes the phrase ‘the witching time of night’.

    Example: "You can go off for a night hike in the forest, but be sure to be back home before the witching hour."

 

'With one voice'

    This idiom means that a number of different people or groups agree on a point or an issue. It is often used in politics and business. For example, a group of businessmen in one company might agree that everyone in their company has to convey the same message.

    Example: "We've had confusion in the past about our exchange policy, so it's important that everyone speak with one voice on this issue."

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-X-

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-Y-

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-Z-

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