want to know
be curious about something
English · UK & Ireland 745
All languages English Tiếng Việt
Where will you be? Anywhere UK & IrelandUnited StatesOnline slangBusiness jargon
Expressions you’ll hear in Britain and Ireland — distinctly British usage first, then widespread staples.
war and peace
a situation with both conflict and harmony
war bride
A woman who marries a man from another country during wartime
war of nerves
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
war of words
A bitter and intense verbal argument or dispute
warm and fuzzy
A fixed-order word pair (irreversible binomial); full definition pending editorial review.
warm body
A person, especially one who is unskilled or unqualified
warm regards
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
warm the cockles of someone's heart
Give someone a feeling of pleasure or delight
warmest regards
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
warp and weft
The basic components or structure of something
warts and all
Including all flaws and imperfections
wash a blackamoor white
attempt to change someone's inherent nature
wash and wear
Requiring little or no ironing after washing
wash one's dirty laundry in public
To publicly discuss or expose one's personal problems or embarrassing issues
wash one's dirty linen in public
To publicly discuss or expose one's personal or private problems
wash one's elbows
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
wash oneself of
to distance oneself from something undesirable
wash out
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
washed out
Lacking strength or vitality
washer and dryer
A fixed-order word pair (irreversible binomial); full definition pending editorial review.
waste away
To gradually decline or deteriorate
waste breath
to speak unnecessarily or to no effect
waste not, want not
Being frugal helps avoid poverty or need
waste of breath
Something said that has no effect or is ignored
waste of space
A person or thing considered useless or unnecessary
watch and ward
to guard or protect something carefully
watch it
be careful what you say or do
watch one's language
Speak carefully to avoid offending others
watch one's mouth
Speak carefully to avoid offending others
watch one's step
be careful to avoid danger or trouble
watch out
be careful or beware of something
watch over
To protect or take care of someone or something
watch the world burn
To take pleasure in others' misfortune or chaos
watch the world go by
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
watch this space
Wait and see what happens next
watching and waiting
Observing and being patient for something to happen
water down
to make something less strong or effective
water over the dam
a past event that cannot be changed
water to one's mill
Something that helps or supports one's interests or goals.
water under the bridge
past issues that are no longer relevant
waterfowl alignment
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
watering hole
A place where people regularly gather to socialize
watery grave
A death by drowning, especially at sea
Watson and Crick
refers to the discoverers of DNA structure
wave aside
dismiss or ignore something as unimportant
wave away
dismiss or ignore something
wave goodbye
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
wave of the hand
A dismissive or casual gesture
wave the white flag
To surrender or admit defeat
wax and wane
to increase and decrease in intensity or amount
wax the dolphin
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
way back when
at a time far in the past
way of thinking
A person's habitual way of thinking or opinions
way out of a paper bag
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
ways and means
Methods or resources to achieve a goal
we are where we are
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
we been knew
something was already obvious or known
we haven't got all day
let's hurry up, we don't have much time
weak sister
A person or thing that is ineffective or incompetent