Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[watched pot never boils] If you watch or wait for something to get done or to happen, it seems to take forever. — A proverb. •/Jane was nine months pregnant and Tom hovered over her anxiously. She said, "You might as well go away and play some golf. A watched pot never boils, you know!"/

[watcher] See: CLOCK WATCHER.

[watch every penny] See: PINCH PENNIES.

[watch it]{v. phr.}, {informal} To be careful. — Usually used as a command. •/You’d better watch it. If you get into trouble again, you’ll be expelled./ •/Watch it — the bottom stair is loose!/

[watch one’s dust] or [watch one’s smoke]{v. phr.}, {slang} To notice your quick action; watch you do something quickly. •/Offer Bill a dollar to shovel your sidewalk, and watch his smoke!/ •/"We’ll have your yard cleaned in a jiffy," the Boy Scouts told Mr. Truitt. "Watch our smoke!"/ •/"I can go to the store and be back in five minutes," bragged Tom. "Just watch my dust."/

[watch one’s language]{v. phr.} To be careful of how one speaks; avoid saying impolite or vulgar things. •/"You boys watch your language," Mother said, "or you won’t be watching television for a whole week!"/

[watch one’s step]{v. phr.} To mend one’s ways; exercise prudence, tact, and care. •/I have to watch my step with the new boss as he is a very proud and sensitive individual./

[watch out] See: LOOK OUT.

[watch over]{v. phr.} To guard; take care of. •/The museum guards carefully watch over the world-famous paintings./

[water] See: BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER, COME HELL OR HIGH WATER, DEEP WATER, FISH OUT OF WATER, GO THROUGH HELL AND HIGH WATER, HEAD ABOVE WATER, HOLD WATER, HELL AND HIGH WATER, HOT WATER, LIKE WATER, LIKE WATER OFF A DUCK’S BACK, MAKE ONE’S MOUTH WATER, OF THE FIRST WATER, POUR OIL ON TROUBLED WATERS, THROW COLD WATER ON, TREAD WATER.

[water down]{v.} To change and make weaker; weaken. •/The Senator argued that the House should water down the bill before passing it./ •/The African American did not accept watered down Civil Rights legislation./ •/After talking with the management about their demands, the workers agreed to water them down./ •/The teacher had to water down the course for a slow-learning class./

[watered down]{adj.} Weakened; diluted. •/The play was a disappointing, watered down version of Shakespeare’s Othello./

[waterfront] See: COVER THE WATERFRONT.

[watering hole] or [place]{n. phr.} A bar, pub, or nightclub where people gather to drink and socialize. •/I like "The Silver Dollar" — it is my favorite watering hole in all of Sidney, Nebraska./

[Waterloo] See: MEET ONE’S WATERLOO.

[water over the dam] or [water under the bridge]{n. phr.} Something that happened in the past and cannot be changed. •/Since the sweater is too small already, don’t worry about its shrinking; that’s water over the dam./ Compare: CRY OVER SPILLED MILK.

[water under the bridge] See: WATER OVER THE DAM.

[water wagon] See: ON THE WAGON.