Water Poet
John Taylor (1580-1654), the humorous and sometimes scurrilous Thames waterman who confessed he never learnt a word of grammar, and yet wrote fourscore books and verse pamphlets.
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water sneaksman
A man who steals from ships or craft on the river.
water the dragon
Or WATER ONE’S NAG, a hint for retiring.
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
water-bewitched
Very weak tea, the third brew (or the first at some houses). Sometimes very weak tea is called "husband’s tea," in allusion to the wife taking the first brew, and leaving the rest for her husband. Also grog much diluted.
water-mill
A woman's private parts.
waterfowl alignment
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
watering hole
A place where people regularly gather to socialize
waterman
A blue silk handkerchief. The friends of the Oxford and Cambridge boats’ crews always wear these—light blue for Cambridge, and a darker shade for Oxford.
waterpad
One that robs ships in the river Thames.
watery grave
A death by drowning, especially at sea
Watling Street
The great Ionian road extending east and west across Britain. Begin- ning at Dover, it ran through Canterbury to London, thence through St.
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
Waverley Novels
The novels of Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) which took their name from the first of the series. They were published anonymously "By the Author of Waverley" until 1827, when the author disclosed his identity as "The Great Unknown" at a public dinner at Edinburgh.
Wavy Navy
The Naval slang name for the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (R.N.V.R.), the officers of which, m war-time, have the gold braid on their sleeves in wavy lines instead of straight.
wax
A rage. "Let’s get him in a WAX." WAXY, cross, ill-tempered.
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 life
A person's typical behavior and habits
Way of the World
After Rich's death it was sold to George Colman the elder, who, in 1777, brought out She Stoops to Conquer. The house has been twice burned down (1 808 and 1856); in 1847 it started a famous career as The Royal Italian Opera House, and in the years that have followed it has become one of the greatest opera-houses in Europe.
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
Ways and Means
A parliamentary term, meaning the method of raising the supply of money for the current requirements of the state.
wayz-goose
A printers’ annual dinner, the funds for which are collected by stewards regularly appointed by "the chapel."
wazoo
The anus.
wazzed
drunk
wazzocked
Drunk.
We all labour against our own cure, for death is the cure of all diseases. (Sir Thomas Browne)
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
We are as near to heaven by sea as by land! (Humphrey Gilbert)
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
We are such stuff as dreams are made of
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
we are where we are
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
we been knew
something was already obvious or known
we burn daylight
We waste time in talk instead of action. (Shakespeare : Merry Wives of Windsor, li, 1.
we carry our greatest enemies within us
Our own thoughts and feelings can be our worst enemies
we have nothing to fear but fear itself
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
we haven't got all day
let's hurry up, we don't have much time
we must drink the cup
We must bear the burden awarded to us, the sorrow which falls to our lot.
We should not expect to find old heads on young shoulders. (Strauss, 1994 p. 77)
Youthful people often lack the wisdom and experience of older individuals.
we three
"Did you never see the picture of We ThreeT' asks Sir Andrew Aguecheek (Twelfth Night, ii, 3) — not meaning himself, Sir Toby Belch, and the clown, but referring to a public-house sign of Two Loggerheads, with the inscription, "We three loggerheads be," the third being the spectator.
weak as water
Very weak.
weak on his pins
Weak in his legs, the legs being a man's "pegs" or supporters.
weak sister
A person or thing that is ineffective or incompetent
weak tea
An insipid or unconvincing idea or excuse
weaker vessel
A person, especially a woman, considered physically or emotionally fragile
weal and woe
Prosperity and adversity
Wealth rarely brings happiness. (Strauss, 1994 p. 670)
Having money does not guarantee being happy
Weapon Salve
A salve said to cure wounds by sympathy; applied not to the wound, but to the instrument which gave the wound. The direction "Bind the wound and grease the nail" is still common. Sir Kenelm Digby says the salve is sympathetic, and quotes several instances to prove that "as the sword is treated the wound inflicted by it feels. Thus, if the instrument is kept wet, the wound will feel cool; if held to the fire, it will feel hot"; etc.
weaponized incompetence
Intentional ineptness used to manipulate or disrupt
wear and tear
Damage or deterioration from normal use
wear many hats
Have multiple roles or responsibilities
wear one's heart on one's sleeve
Openly show one's feelings or emotions
wear out one's welcome
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.