[weigh upon] See: WEIGH ON.
[welcome] See: WEAR OUT ONE’S WELCOME.
[welcome mat]{n.} 1. A mat for wiping your shoes on, often with the word "welcome" on it, that is placed in front of a door. •/Mother bought a welcome mat for our new house./ 2. {informal} A warm welcome; a friendly greeting. — Used in such phrases as "the welcome mat is out" and "put out the welcome mat". •/Our welcome mat is always out to our friends./ •/Spread out the welcome mat, children, because Uncle Bill is visiting us tonight./ Syn.: LATCH STRING(2). Compare: ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET, WITH OPEN ARMS.
[welcome with open arms] See: WITH OPEN ARMS.
[well] See: ALL VERY WELL, AS WELL, AS WELL AS, HAIL FELLOW WELL MET, LET WELL ENOUGH ALONE, PLAY ONE’S CARDS RIGHT or PLAY ONE’S CARDS WELL, VERY WELL, WEAR WELL.
[well and good]{adj. phr.} Good; satisfactory. •/If my daughter finishes high school, I will call that well and good./ — Often used without a verb to show agreement or understanding. •/Well and good; I will come to your house tomorrow./ Compare: ALL RIGHT, ALL VERY WELL, VERY WELL.
[well-heeled]{adj.}, {slang} Wealthy; having plenty of money. •/Bob’s father, who is well-heeled, gave him a sports car./ Compare: IN CLOVER, ON EASY STREET.
[well-off]{adj. phr.} 1. Rich. •/They may not be millionaires, but they are sufficiently well-off./ 2. In good condition; free of problems or difficulties./ •/He is pleased that his business is well-off./
[well put]{adj. phr.} Well expressed or defined. •/His remarks about too much violence on television were extremely well put./
[well-to-do]{adj.} Having or making enough money to live comfortably; prosperous. •/John’s father owns a company and his family is well-to-do./ — Often used with "the" like a plural noun. •/This is the part of town where the well-to-do live./ Compare: IN THE LAP OF LUXURY, IN THE CHIPS, ON EASY STREET.
[wet] See: ALL WET, GET ONE’S FEET WET, MAD AS A WET HEN, WRINGING WET.
[wet behind the ears]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Not experienced; not knowing how to do something; new in a job or place. •/The new student is still wet behind the ears; he has not yet learned the tricks that the boys play on each other./ Compare: DRY BEHIND THE EARS.
[wet blanket]{n.}, {informal} A person or thing that keeps others from enjoying life. •/The teenagers don’t invite Bob to their parties because he is a wet blanket./ •/The weatherman throws a wet blanket on picnic plans when he forecasts rain./ Compare: CREPE HANGER.
[wet one’s whistle]{v. phr.}, {slang} To have a drink, especially of liquor. •/Uncle Willie told John to wait outside for a minute while he went in to the cafe to wet his whistle./
[whack] See: OUT OF WHACK.
[whale away]{v.}, {informal} 1. To beat or hit hard; strike again and again. — Often used with "at". •/The boxer is whaling away at his opponent with both fists./ 2. To attack severely or again and again; go on without stopping or with great force; pound away. •/Mary has been whaling away on the typewriter for an hour./ — Often used with "at". •/During the election the Mayor whaled away at the other party in his speeches./
[whale the --- out of] See: BEAT THE --- OUT OF.
[what] See: COME WHAT MAY, GET WHAT’S COMING TO ONE, I’LL TELL YOU WHAT, JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED, SO WHAT.
[what about]{interrog.} 1. About or concerning what; in connection with what. — Often used alone as a question. •/"I want to talk to you." "What about?"/ Compare: WHAT FOR. 2. See: WHAT OF IT. 3. See: HOW ABOUT.
[what about that] See: HOW ABOUT THAT.
[What a pity!] How unfortunate! What a shame! •/What a pity that he couldn’t join us on our Hawaiian trip./
[what for(1)]{interrog.} For what reason; why? •/I told Mary what I was going to town for./ •/What are you running for?/ — Often used alone as a question. •/Billy’s mother told him to wear his hat. "What for?" he asked./ Compare: HOW COME.
[what for(2)]{n. phr.}, {informal} A scolding, or other punishment. — Usually used with "get" or "give". •/Tom got what for from his father for answering him rudely, and I heard him crying in the house./ •/The teacher gave me what for because I was late./
[what have you] or [what not] {n. phr.}, {informal} Whatever you like or want; anything else like that. •/The store sells big ones, small ones, medium ones, or what have you./ •/We found suits, coats, hats and what not in the closet./ Syn.: AND SO FORTH.
[what if] What would, or will, happen if; what is the difference if; suppose that. •/What if you go instead of me?/ •/What if we paint it red. How will it look?/ •/"You can’t go now" said mother. "What if I do?" Dick asked./ •/What if Jack scores a touchdown?/
[what is what] See: WHAT’S WHAT.
[what of it] or [what about it] {interj.}, {informal} What is wrong with it; what do you care. •/Martha said "That boy is wearing a green coat." Jan answered, "What of it?"/ •/"John missed the bus." "What of it?"/ Syn.: SO WHAT.
[what not] See: WHAT HAVE YOU.
[what’s cooking] See: WHAT’S UP.
[what’s doing] See: WHAT’S UP..
[what’s sauce for the goose, is sauce for the gander] What goes for the one, also goes for the other. — A proverb. •/If Herb gets a speeding ticket, so should Erica, who was right behind him; after all, what’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander./
[what’s the big idea] or [what’s the idea] {informal} What is the purpose; what do you have in mind; why did you do that; what are you doing; how dare you. — Often used to question someone or something that is not welcome. •/The Smith family painted their house red, white, and blue. What’s the big idea?/ •/What’s the idea of coming in here after I told you not to?/ •/I heard you are spreading false rumors about me, what’s the big idea?/