ESL resources for students and teachers

AMERICAN IDIOMS:
Pick a letter...

             
             
             
         

Bookmark and Share

HOME

ESL PRACTICE TESTS:
English Grammar Exercises
English Grammar Worksheets
Vocabulary Tests
Video-Based Exercises (Listening comprehension)
Spoken English (Pronunciation practice)
Cities around the World (Grammar & vocabulary practice)

OTHER ESL RESOURCES:
ESL Worksheets (Packages) (Low-cost ESL printables for teachers & students)
Travel English (English practice for tourists)
American Idioms
Phrasal Verbs
US/UK English Differences
ESL/EFL Programs



OUR OTHER ESL SITES:
BusinessEnglishSite.com (Business English training)
ESLPDF.com (English grammar & vocabulary worksheets)
EnglishForMyJob.com (English for hospitality industry workers)
Infosquares.com (More ESOL tests & activities)

OTHER LANGUAGES:
LearnSpanishFeelGood.com
LearnPolishFeelGood.com

JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
LINK TO US
MORE ESL LINKS
ABOUT US
CONTACT US


AMERICAN IDIOMS STARTING WITH W






Wait-and-see attitude:
A skeptical attitude. An attitude where someone will just wait and see what happens.

(To) wait tables:
To work as a waiter/ waitress in a restaurant.

(To) wait on someone hand and foot:
To serve someone very well. To do anything someone asks you. ex. "I don't mind making you coffee, but don't expect me to wait on you hand and foot!"

(To) wash one's hands of someone/something:
To end one's association with someone or something. ex. "I washed my hands of Tom. I wanted nothing more to do with him."

Washed-up:
No longer important/ in good form. "Why do you hang out with that washed-up actor?"

(To) waste one's breath:
To talk in vain. To waste one's time talking.

Way to go!:
Good job! Congratulations! (*sometimes used sarcastically*)

Wear and tear:
Damage as a result of normal use. ex. "They put a lot of wear and tear on their truck during their long road trip."

(To) wear out one's welcome:
To stay too long (at an event, at someone's house, etc.) ex. "Let's only stay with them for 2 days - I don't want us to wear out our welcome."

Well-off:
Wealthy. ex. "Her parents are well-off."

Wet blanket:
A person who discourages others from having fun.

What makes someone tick:
What motivates someone. ex. "He's such a mysterious guy. I don't quite know what makes him tick."

What's with (someone)?:
What's wrong with (someone)?. ex. "What's with you? You've been acting strange all day!"

(A) whole lot:
A lot, too many. ex. "There aren't a whole lot of good restaurants in this neighborhood = There aren't too many good restaurants in this neighborhood"

(To be) wide awake:
To be completely awake. "Were you sleeping? No, I was wide awake."

(A) wild goose chase:
A futile/hopeless pursuit. "We thought he gave us a good lead, but it ended up being a wild goose chase."

(At one's) wits' end:
If you're "at your wits' end" it means that you've tried everything to fix, solve a problem or to come up with a solution, and you're almost going crazy from being unable to do this.

With no strings attached:
Unconditionally.

(To) work out for the best.
To work out in the best possible way. ex. "It seems bad now, but things will work out for the best."


(c) 2006-2010 LearnEnglishFeelGood.com unless otherwise stated. All rights reserved.