[with a free hand] See: FREE HAND.
[with a grain of salt] or [with a pinch of salt] See: TAKE WITH A GRAIN OF SALT.
[with all one’s heart] See: FROM THE BOTTOM OF ONE’S HEART.
[with an eye to] See: EYE TO.
[with a silver spoon in one’s mouth] See: BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON IN ONE’S MOUTH.
[with a whole skin] also [in a whole skin] {adv. phr.} With no injury; unhurt; safely. •/The boy was lucky to escape with a whole skin when the car went off the road./ •/Jack came through the game with a whole skin./ •/The horse threw him off, but he got away in a whole skin./ Syn.: SAFE AND SOUND.
[with bad grace] or [with a bad grace] {adv. phr.} In an unpleasant or discourteous way; unwillingly, •/Fred takes defeat with bad grace./ •/Tom shouted "Hello" to Bill. Bill was in a sour mood and replied with a bad grace./ Contrast: WITH GOOD GRACE.
[with bells on]{adv. phr.}, {informal} With enthusiasm; eager or ready and in the best of spirits for an event. •/"Will you come to the farewell party I’m giving for Billy?" asked Jerry. "I’ll be there with bells on," replied Ed./
[with child]{adv. phr.}, {literary} Going to have a baby; pregnant. •/The angel told Mary she was with child./ Compare: IN A FAMILY WAY or IN THE FAMILY WAY.
[wither on the vine] See: DIE ON THE VINE.
[with fire] See: PLAY WITH FIRE.
[with flying colors]{adv. phr.} With great or total success; victoriously. •/Tow finished the race with flying colors./ •/Mary came through the examination with flying colors./
[with good grace]{adv. phr.} With pleasant and courteous behavior; politely; willingly; without complaining. •/The boys had been well-coached; they took the loss of the game with good grace./ •/The principal scolded Nora, who accepted his criticism with good grace./ Contrast: WITH BAD GRACE.
[with heart and soul] See: HEART AND SOUL.
[within an ace of]{informal} or [within an inch of] {adv. phr.} Almost but not quite; very close to; nearly. •/Tim came within an ace of losing the election./ •/John was within an inch of drowning before he was pulled out of the water./ Compare: BY THE SKIN OF ONE’S TEETH.
[within an inch of one’s life]{adv. phr.} Until you are almost dead; near to dying. •/The bear clawed the hunter within an inch of his life./ Often used after "to". •/The prize fighter was beaten to within an inch of his life./
[within bounds]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. Inside of the boundary lines in a game; on or inside of the playing field. •/You must hit the ball inside the lines of the tennis court or it will not be within bounds./ •/If you kick the football over a side-line, it will not be in bounds./ 2. Inside of a place where one is allowed to go or be. •/The soldiers are within bounds on one side of the city, but are out of bounds on the other side./ 3. Inside of safe or proper limits; allowable. •/If you ask Father for a quarter, he might give it to you, but a dollar would not be within bounds./ •/He succeeded in keeping his temper within bounds./ Contrast: OUT OF BOUNDS.
[within call] or [within hail] {adv. phr.} 1. Near enough to hear each other’s voices. •/When the two ships were within hail, their officers exchanged messages./ •/Billy’s mother told him to stay within call because supper was nearly ready./ 2. In a place where you can be reached by phone, radio, or TV and be called. •/The sick man was very low and the doctor stayed within call./ •/The soldiers were allowed to leave the base by day, but had to stay within call./
[within reason]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} Within the limits of good sense; in reasonable control or check; moderate. •/I want you to have a good time tonight, within reason./ •/If Tom wants to go to the fair, he must keep his expenses within reason./ •/Jean’s plans are quite within reason./
[with it] See: GET WITH IT.
[with might and main]{adv. phr.} With full strength or complete effort. •/The sailors pulled the rope with might and main./ •/John tried with all his might and main to solve the problem./
[with one’s boots on] See: DIE IN ONE’S BOOTS or DIE WITH ONE’S BOOTS ON.
[with one’s pants down] See: CATCH ONE WITH ONE’S PANTS DOWN.
[with open arms]{adv. phr.} 1. With the arms spread wide for hugging or catching. •/When Father came home from work, little Sally ran out to meet him with open arms./ •/Dick stood under the window with open arms, and Jean dropped the bag of laundry down to him./ 2. With words or actions showing that you are glad to see someone; gladly, warmly, eagerly. •/When Grandmother came to visit us at Christmas, we welcomed her with open arms./ •/After his pioneering flight in the Friendship VII, Col. John Glenn was welcomed with open arms' by the people of his hometown./
[without] See: DO WITHOUT or GO WITHOUT, MAKE BRICKS WITHOUT STRAW, RECKON WITHOUT.
[without a paddle] See: UP THE CREEK or UP THE CREEK WITHOUT A PADDLE.
[without batting an eye] or [without batting an eyelash] See: BAT AN EYE.
[without fail]{adv. phr.} Without failing to do it or failing in the doing of it; certainly, surely. •/Be here at 8 o’clock sharp, without fail./ •/Ben promised to return the bike at a certain time without fail./
[without number] See: BEYOND NUMBER.
[without rhyme or reason] See: RHYME OR REASON.
[with reference to] See: IN REFERENCE TO.
[with regard to] See: IN REFERENCE TO.
[with relation to] See: IN RELATION TO.
[with respect to] See: IN RESPECT TO.
[with the best] or [with the best of them] {adv. phr.} As well as anyone. •/Bob could horseback ride with the best of them, but he never boasted about it./ •/John can bowl with the best of them./
[with the Joneses] See: KEEP UP WITH THE JONESES.