Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[white sale]{n.} The selling, especially at lower prices, of goods or clothing usually made of white cloth. •/Mother always buys many things at the January white sale to save money./

[whitewash]{n.}, {informal} A soothing official report that attempts to tranquilize the public. •/Some people believe that the Warren Commission’s report on the Kennedy assassination was a whitewash./

[whitewash something]{v.}, {informal} To explain a major, national scandal in soothing official terms so as to assure the public that things are under control and there is no need to panic. •/Many people in the United States believe that President Kennedy’s assassination was whitewashed by the Warren Commission./ See: WHITEWASH.

[whiz] See: GEE WHIZ.

[who] See: SAYS WHO.

[whodunit]{n.} A detective story; a murder story; a thriller. •/Agatha Christie was a true master of the whodunit./

[who is who] See: WHO’S WHO.

[who laughs last laughs best] See: HE LAUGHS BEST WHO LAUGHS LAST.

[whole] See: ALL THE WAY or THE WHOLE WAY, GO THE WHOLE HOG, ON THE WHOLE, WITH A WHOLE SKIN or IN A WHOLE SKIN.

[whole cheese]{slang} or {informal}[whole show]{n.}, {informal} The only important person; big boss. •/Joe thought he was the whole cheese in the game because he owned the ball./ •/You’re not the whole show just because you got all A’s./ Compare: BIG CHEESE.

[whole hog] See: GO THE WHOLE HOG.

[whole lot] See: A LOT.

[whole show] See: WHOLE CHEESE.

[whoop it up]{v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To make a loud noise; have a noisy celebration; enjoy yourself noisily. •/The team whooped it up after winning the game./ 2. To praise something enthusiastically; encourage enthusiasm or support. — Often used with "for". •/Father wanted to go to the country, but the children whooped it up for the beach./

[who’s who] or [who is who]{informal} 1. Who this one is and who that one is; who the different ones in a group of people are or what their names or positions are. •/It is hard to tell who is who in the parade because everyone in the band looks alike./ •/It took the new teacher a few days to remember who was who in the class./ Compare: WHICH IS WHICH. 2. Who the important people are. •/John didn’t recognize the champion on television. He doesn’t know who is who in boxing./ •/After about a year, Mr. Thompson had lived in this town long enough to know who was who./ Compare: WHAT’S WHAT.

[why and wherefore]{n.} The answer to a question or problem. Usually used in the plural. •/Father told him not to always ask the whys and wherefores when he was told to do something./

[wide] See: FAR AND WIDE, GIVE A WIDE BERTH.

[wide-eyed] See: ROUND-EYED.

[wide of the mark]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. Far from the target or the thing aimed at. •/James threw a stone at the cat but it went wide of the mark./ 2. Far from the truth; incorrect. •/You were wide of the mark when you said I did it, because Bill did it./ Contrast: HIT THE BULL’S-EYE, HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.

[widow] See: GOLF WIDOW.

[wiener roast] or [hot dog roast]{n.} A party where frankfurters are cooked and eaten over an outdoor fire. •/For his birthday party, John had a wiener roast in his backyard./ •/Mary’s Girl Scout troop had a hot dog roast on their overnight hike./

[wig] See: BIG CHEESE or BIG WIG.

[wild] See: RUN WILD, SOW ONE’S WILD OATS.