PELATIHAN BAHASA INGGRIS: Juni 2011

Rabu, 15 Juni 2011

BRITISH ENGLISH IDIOMS

Across the pond: This idiom means on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, used to refer to the US or the UK depending on the speaker's location.
All mouth and trousers: Someone who's all mouth and trousers talks or boasts a lot but doesn't deliver. 'All mouth and no trousers' is also used, though this is a corruption of the original.
All my eye and Peggy Martin: An idiom that appears to have gone out of use but was prevalent in the English north Midlands of Staffordshire, Cheshire and Derbyshire from at least the turn of the 20th century until the early 1950s or so. The idiom's meaning is literally something said or written that is unbelievable, rumor, over embellished, the result of malicious village gossip etc.
All talk and no trousers: Someone who is all talk and no trousers, talks about doing big, important things, but doesn't take any action.
Argue the toss: If you argue the toss, you refuse to accept a decision and argue about it.
As the actress said to the bishop: This idiom is used to highlight a sexual reference, deliberate or accidental.
At a loose end: If you are at a loose end, you have spare time but don't know what to do with it.
At the end of your tether: If you are at the end of your tether, you are at the limit of your patience or endurance.
Back foot: If you are on your back foot, you are at a disadvantage and forced to be defensive of your position.
Bad mouth: When you are bad mouthing,you are saying negative things about someone or something.('Bad-mouth' and 'badmouth' are also used.)
Banana skin: A banana skin is something that is an embarrassment or causes problems.
Barrack-room lawyer: A barrack-room lawyer is a person who gives opinions on things they are not qualified to speak about.
Be up the spout: If a woman is up the spout, she is pregnant.
Been in the wars: If someone has been in the wars, they have been hurt or look as if they have been in a struggle.
Beer and skittles: People say that life is not all beer and skittles, meaning that it is not about self-indulgence and pleasure.
Belt and braces: Someone who wears belt and braces is very cautious and takes no risks.
Bent as a nine bob note: A person who is as bent as a nine bob note is dishonest. The reference comes from pre-decimalisation in UK (1971), when a ten shilling (bob) note was valid currency but no such note as nine shillings existed.
Black as Newgate's knocker: If things are as black as Newgate's knocker, they are very bad. Newgate was an infamous prison in England, so its door knocker meant trouble.
Bob's your uncle: This idiom means that something will be successful: Just tell him that I gave you his name and Bob's your uncle- he'll help you.
Box clever: If you box clever, you use your intelligence to get what you want, even if you have to cheat a bit.
Brass neck: Someone who has the brass neck to do something has no sense of shame about what they do.
Break your duck: If you break your duck, you do something for the first time.
Buggles' turn: If it Buggles' turn, someone gets promotion through length of service rather than ability, especially in the British civil service.
By a long chalk: If you beat somebody by a long chalk, you win easily and comfortably.
Canary in a coal mine: A canary in a coal mine is an early warning of danger.
Cheap as chips: If something is very inexpensive, it is as cheap as chips.
Chinese whispers: When a story is told from person to person, especially if it is gossip or scandal, it inevitably gets distorted and exaggerated. This process is called Chinese whispers.
Coals to Newcastle: Taking, bringing, or carrying coals to Newcastle is doing something that is completely unnecessary.
Come a cropper: Someone whose actions or lifestyle will inevitably result in trouble is going to come a cropper.
Come up smelling of roses: If someone comes up smelling of roses, they emerge from a situation with their reputation undamaged.
Cupboard love: To show love to gain something from someone
Curate's egg: If something is a bit of a curate's egg, it is only good in parts.
Daft as a brush: Someone who is daft as a brush is rather stupid.
Damp squib: If something is expected to have a great effect or impact but doesn't, it is a damp squib.
Death warmed up: If someone looks like death warmed up, they look very ill indeed. ('death warmed over' is the American form)
Do a Devon Loch: If someone does a Devon Loch, they fail when they were very close to winning. Devon Loch was a horse that collapsed just short of the winning line of the Grand National race.
Do a Lord Lucan: If someone disappears without a trace or runs off, they do a Lord Lucan. (Lord Lucan disappeared after a murder)
Do a runner: If people leave a restaurant without paying, they do a runner.
Do the running: The person who has to do the running has to make sure that things get done. ('Make the running' is also used.)
Do time: When someone is doing time, they are in prison.
Dog in the manger: If someone acts like a dog in the manger, they don't want other people to have or enjoy things that are useless to them.
Don't wash your dirty laundry in public: People, especially couples, who argue in front of others or involve others in their personal problems and crises, are said to be washing their dirty laundry in public; making public things that are best left private. (In American English, 'don't air your dirty laundry in public' is used.)
Double Dutch: If something is double Dutch, it is completely incomprehensible.
Drunk as a lord: Someone who is very drunk is as drunk as a lord.
Dull as ditchwater: If something is as dull as ditchwater, it is incredibly boring. A ditch is a long narrow hole or trench dug to contain water, which is normally a dark, dirty colour and stagnant (when water turns a funny colour and starts to smell bad). (In American English,'things are 'dull as dishwater'.)
Dunkirk spirit: Dunkirk spirit is when people pull together to get through a very difficult time.
Early bath: If someone has or goes for an early bath, they quit or lose their job or position earlier than expected because things have gone wrong.
Easy peasy: If something is easy peasy, it is very easy indeed. ('Easy peasy, lemon squeezy' is also used.)
Economical with the truth: If someone, especially a politician, is economical with the truth, they leave out information in order to create a false picture of a situation, without actually lying.
Fair crack of the whip: If everybody has a fair crack of the whip, they all have equal opportunities to do something.
Fall off the back of a lorry: If someone tries to sell you something that has fallen of the back of a lorry, they are trying to sell you stolen goods.
Fifth columnist: A fifth columnist is a member of a subversive organisation who tries to help an enemy invade.
Fine and dandy: If thing's are fine and dandy, then everything is going well.
Flogging a dead horse: If someone is trying to convince people to do or feel something without any hope of succeeding, they're flogging a dead horse. This is used when someone is trying to raise interest in an issue that no-one supports anymore; beating a dead horse will not make it do any more work.
Football's a game of two halves: If something's a game of two halves, it means that it's possible for someone's fortunes or luck to change and the person who's winning could end up a loser.
For donkey's years: If people have done something, usually without much if any change, for an awfully long time, they can be said to have done it for donkey's years.
For England: A person who talks for England, talks a lot- if you do something for England, you do it a lot or to the limit.
Full Monty: If something is the Full Monty, it is the real thing, not reduced in any way.
Gardening leave: If someone is paid for a period when they are not working, either after they have given in their notice or when they are being investigated, they are on gardening leave.
Get it in the neck: If you get it in the neck, you are punished or criticised for something.
Get out of your pram: If someone gets out of their pram, they respond aggressively to an argument or problem that doesn't involve them.
Get the nod: If you get the nod to something, you get approval or permission to do it.
Give it some stick: If you give something some stick, you put a lot of effort into it.
Give someone stick: If someone gives you stick, they criticise you or punish you.
Give the nod: If you give the nod to something, you approve it or give permission to do it.
Go down like a cup of cold sick: An idea or excuse that will not be well accepted will go down like a cup of cold sick.
Go down like a lead balloon: If something goes down like a lead balloon, it fails or is extremely badly received.
Go spare: If you go spare, you lose your temper completely.
Gone for a burton: If something's gone for a burton, it has been spoiled or ruined. If a person has gone for a burton, they are either in serious trouble or have died.
Gone pear-shaped: If things have gone pear-shaped they have either gone wrong or produced an unexpected and unwanted result.
Grasp the nettle: If you grasp the nettle, you deal bravely with a problem.
Green fingers: Someone with green fingers has a talent for gardening.
Grey pound: In the UK, the grey pound is an idiom for the economic power of elderly people.
Hairy at the heel: Someone who is hairy at the heel is dangerous or untrustworthy.
Hard cheese: Hard cheese means hard luck.
Have your collar felt: If someone has their collar felt, they are arrested.
Heath Robinson: If a machine or system is described as Heath Robinson, it is very complicated, but not practical or effective, named after a cartoonist who drew very complicated machines that performed simple tasks.
Hold the baby: If someone is responsible for something, they are holding the baby.
Home, James: This is a cliched way of telling the driver of a vehicle to start driving. It is supposed to be an order to a chauffeur (a privately employed driver). The full phrase is 'Home, James, and don't spare the horses'.
I should cocoa: This idiom comes from 'I should think so', but is normally used sarcastically to mean the opposite.
If you'll pardon my French: This idiom is used as a way of apologising for swearing.
In a tick: If someone will do something in a tick, they'll do it very soon or very quickly.
In rude health: If someone's in rude health, they are very healthy and look it.
In spades: If you have something in spades, you have a lot of it.
In the clink: If someone is in the clink, they are in prison.
In the club: If a woman's in the club, she's pregnant. 'In the pudding club' is an alternative form.
It's as broad as it is long: Used to express that it is impossible to decide between two options because they're equal.
Jam tomorrow: This idiom is used when people promise good things for the future that will never come.
Jersey justice: Jersey justice is very severe justice.
Keen as mustard: If someone is very enthusiastic, they are as keen as mustard.
Keep your chin up: This expression is used to tell someone to have confidence.
Keep your wig on!: This idiom is used to tell someone to calm down.
Kick your heels: If you have to kick your heels, you are forced to wait for the result or outcome of something.
Kitchen-sink: Kitchen-sink drama deals with ordinary people's lives.
Laugh to see a pudding crawl: Someone who would laugh to see a pudding crawl is easily amused and will laugh at anything.
Like a bear with a sore head: If someone's like a bear with a sore head, they complain a lot and are unhappy about something.
Like giving a donkey strawberries: If something is like giving a donkey strawberries, people fail to appreciate its value.
Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves: If you look after the pennies, the pounds will look after themselves, meaning that if someone takes care not to waste small amounts of money, they will accumulate capital. ('Look after the pence and the pounds will look after themselves' is an alternative form of this idiom.)
Lose your bottle: If someone loses their bottle, they lose the courage to do something.
Lose your lunch: If you lose your lunch, you vomit.
Make a song and dance: If someone makes a song and dance, they make an unecessary fuss about something unimportant.
Man on the Clapham omnibus: The man on the Clapham omnibus is the ordinary person in the street.
Money for old rope: If something's money for old rope, it's a very easy way of making money.
More front than Brighton: If you have more front than Brighton, you are very self-confident, possibly excessively so.
New man: A New man is a man who believes in complete equality of the sexes and shares domestic work equally.
Nod's as good as a wink: 'A nod's as good as a wink' is a way of saying you have understood something that someone has said, even though it was not said directly. The full phrase (sometimes used in the UK ) is 'a nod's as good as a wink to a blind horse'.
Noddy work: Unimportant or very simple tasks are noddy work.
Nosy parker: A nosy parker is someone who is excessively interested in other people's lives. ('Nosey parker' is an alternative spelling.)
Not cricket: If something is not cricket, it is unfair.
Not give a monkey's: If you couldn't give a monkey's about something, you don't care at all about it.
Off your chump: If someone is off their chump, they are crazy or irrational.
Off your rocker: Someone who is off their rocker is crazy.
On Carey Street: If someone is on Carey Street, they are heavily in debt or have gone bankrupt.
On the blink: Is a machine is on the blink, it isn't working properly or is out of order.
On the blower: If someone is on the blower, they are on the phone.
On the cards: If something is in the cards, it is almost certain to happen.
On the dole: Someone receiving financial assistance when unemployed is on the dole.
On the fiddle: Someone who is stealing money from work is on the fiddle, especially if they are doing it by fraud.
On the game: A person who is on the game works as a prostitute.
On the knock: If you buy something on the knock, you pay for it in instalments.
On the knocker: If someone is on the knocker, they are going from house to house trying to buy or sell things or get support.
On the never-never: If you buy something on the never-never, you buy it on long-term credit.
On the nod: If something is accepted by parliament or a committee majority, it is on the nod.
On the nod: Someone who's on the nod is either asleep or falling asleep, especially when the shouldn't or are are in a position unusual for sleep, like sitting or standing.
On the nod: When a horse runs, its head moves backwards and forwards alternately - in horse racing, if 2 horses cross the line together the one whose head happens to be going forward often wins and is said to win 'on the nod'.
On the take: Someone who is stealing from work is on the take.
On the trot: This idiom means 'consecutively'; I'd saw them three days on the trot, which means that I saw them on three consecutive days.
One over the eight: Someone who is one over the eight is drunk.
One over the eight: Someone who has had one over the eight is very drunk indeed. It refers to the standard eight pints that most people drink and feel is enough.
Out in the sticks: If someone lives out in the sticks, they live out in the country, a long way from any metropolitan area.
Over-egg the pudding: If you over-egg the pudding, you spoil something by trying to improve it excessively. It is also used nowadays with the meaning of making something look bigger or more important than it really is. ('Over-egg' alone is often used in this sense.)
Pin money: If you work for pin money, you work not because you need to but because it gives you money for extra little luxuries and treats.
Pink pound: In the UK, the pink pound is an idiom for the economic power of gay people.
Plain as a pikestaff: If something is as plain as a pikestaff, it is very clear.
Pull your finger out!: If someone tells you to do this, they want you to hurry up. ('Get your finger out' is also used.)
Quart into a pint pot: If you try to put or get a quart into a pint pot, you try to put too much in a small space. (1 quart = 2 pints)
Queer fish: A strange person is a queer fish.
Quids in: If somebody is quids in, they stand to make a lot of money from something.
Rake over old coals: If you go back to old problems and try to bring them back, making trouble for someone, you are raking over old coals.
Rearrange the deckchairs on the Titanic: If people are rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic, they are making small changes that will have no effect as the project, company, etc, is in very serious trouble.
Right royal: A right royal night out would be an extremely exciting, memorable and fun one.
See you anon: If somebody says this when leaving, they expect to see you again soon.
Send someone to Coventry: If you send someone to Coventry, you refuse to talk to them or co-operate with them.
Shanks's pony: If you go somewhere by Shanks's pony, you walk there.
Slip through the cracks: If something slips through the cracks, it isn't noticed or avoids detection.
Sound as a pound: if something is as sound as a pound, it is very good or reliable.
Spanner in the works: If someone puts or throws a spanner in the works, they ruin a plan. In American English, 'wrench' is used instead of 'spanner'.
Spend a penny: This is a euphemistic idiom meaning to go to the toilet.
Spoil the ship for a ha'pworth of tar: If someone spoils the ship for a ha'pworth (halfpenny's worth) of tar, they spoil something completely by trying to make a small economy.
Square Mile: The Square Mile is the City, the financial area of London.
Sticky end: If someone comes to a sticky end, they die in an unpleasant way. ('Meet a sticky end' is also used.)
Sticky wicket: If you are on a sticky wicket, you are in a difficult situation.
Stiff upper lip: If you keep your emotions to yourself and don't let others know how you feel when something bad happens, you keep a stiff upper lip.
Take the biscuit: If something takes the biscuit, it is the absolute limit.
Take the Mickey: If you take the Mickey, you tease someone. ('Take the Mick' is also used.)
Tally ho!: This is an exclamation used for encouragement before doing something difficult or dangerous.
Tears before bedtime: This idiom is used when something seems certain to go wrong or cause trouble.
Teething problems: The problems that a project has when it is starting are the teething problems.
Ten a penny: If something is ten a penny, it is very common. ("Two a penny" is also used.)
Thick as mince: If someone is as thick as mince, they are very stupid indeed.
Thin blue line: The thin blue line is a term for the police, suggesting that they stand between an ordered society and potential chaos. (Police uniforms are blue.)
Three sheets in the wind: Someone who is three sheets in the wind is very drunk. ('Three sheets to the wind' is also used. 'Seven sheets' is an alternative number used.)
Throw a spanner in the works: If you throw a spanner in the works, you cause a problem that stops or slows progress on something that was going well.
Tired and emotional: This idiom is a euphemism used to mean 'drunk', especially when talking about politicians.
Up sticks: If you up sticks, you leave somewhere, usually permanently and without warning- he upped sticks and went to work abroad.
Up the duff: If a woman is up the duff, she's pregnant.
Up the spout: If something has gone up the spout, it has gone wrong or been ruined.
Up the stick: If a woman is up the stick, she's pregnant.
Vicar of Bray: A person who changes their beliefs and principles to stay popular with people above them is a Vicar of Bray
Wallflower: A woman politician given an unimportant government position so that the government can pretend it takes women seriously is a wallflower.
Watering hole: A watering hole is a pub.
Who wears the trousers?: The person who wears the trousers in a relationship is the dominant person who controls things.
Wipe the floor with: If you wipe the floor with someone, you destroy the arguments or defeat them easily.
With child: If a woman's with child, she's pregnant.
Wood for the trees: If someone can't see the wood for the trees, they get so caught up in small details that they fail to understand the bigger picture.
Wouldn't touch it with a bargepole: If you wouldn't touch something with a bargepole, you would not consider being involved under any circumstances. (In American English, people say they wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole)
Yeoman's service: To do yeoman's service is to serve in an exemplary manner.
You do not get a dog and bark yourself: If there is someone in a lower position who can or should do a task, then you shouldn't do it.

IDIOMS AND PHRASES (X-Z)

X factor: The dangers for people in the military that civilians do not face, for which they receive payment, are known as the X factor.
X marks the spot: This is used to say where something is located or hidden.
X-rated: If something is x-rated, it is not suitable for children.
Yah boo sucks: Yah boo & yah boo sucks can be used to show that you have no sympathy with someone.
Yank my chain: If some one says this to another person (i.e. stop yanking my chain) it means for the other person to leave the person who said it alone and to stop bothering them.
Yellow press: The yellow press is a term for the popular and sensationalist newspapers.
Yellow streak: If someone has a yellow streak, they are cowardly about something.
Yellow-bellied: A yellow-bellied person is a coward.
Yen: If you have a yen to do something, you have a desire to do it.
Yeoman's service: (UK) To do yeoman's service is to serve in an exemplary manner.
Yes-man: Someone who always agrees with people in authority is a yes-man.
Yesterday's man or Yesterday's woman: Someone, especially a politician or celebrity, whose career is over or on the decline is yesterday's man or woman.
You are what you eat: This is used to emphasise the importance of a good diet as a key to good health.
You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar: This means that it is easier to persuade people if you use polite arguments and flattery than if you are confrontational.
You can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family: Some things you can choose, but others you cannot, so you have to try to make the best of what you have where you have no choice.
You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink: This idiom means you can offer something to someone, like good advice, but you cannot make them take it.
You can say that again: If you want to agree strongly with what someone has said, you can say 'You can say that again' as a way of doing so.
You can't fight City Hall: This phrase is used when one is so cynical that one doesn't think one can change their Representatives. The phrase must have started with frustration towards a local body of government.
You can't get there from here: (USA) US expression used in the New England area (most frequently in Maine) by persons being asked for directions to a far distant location that cannot be accessed without extensive, complicated directions.
You can't have cake and the topping, too: (USA) This idiom means that you can't have everything the way you want it, especially if your desires are contradictory.
You can't have your cake and eat it: This idiom means that you can't have things both ways. For example, you can't have very low taxes and a high standard of state care.
You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear: If something isn't very good to start with, you can't do much to improve it.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs: This idiom means that in order to achieve something or make progress, there are often losers in the process.
You can't take it with you: Enjoy life, enjoy what you have and don't worry about not having a lot, especially money...because once you're dead, 'you can't take it with you.' For some, it means to use up all you have before you die because it's no use to you afterwards.
You can't teach an old dog new tricks: It is difficult to make someone change the way they do something when they have been doing it the same way for a long time
You can't unring a bell: This means that once something has been done, you have to live with the consequences as it can't be undone.
You could have knocked me down with a feather: This idiom is used to mean that the person was very shocked or surprised.
You do not get a dog and bark yourself: (UK) If there is someone in a lower position who can or should do a task, then you shouldn't do it.
You get what you pay for: Something that is very low in price is not usually of very good quality.
You reap what you sow: This means that if you do bad things to people, bad things will happen to you, or good things if you do good things. It is normally used when someone has done something bad.
You said it!: Used to say you agree completely with something just said.
You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours: This idiom means that if you do something for me, I'll return the favour.
You what?: This is a very colloquial way of expressing surprise or disbelief at something you have heard. It can also be used to ask someone to say something again.
You're toast: If someone tells you that you are toast, you are in a lot of trouble.
You've got rocks in your head: (USA) Someone who has acted with a lack of intelligence has rocks in their head.
You've made your bed- you'll have to lie in it: This means that someone will have to live with the consequences of their own actions.
Young blood: Young people with new ideas and fresh approaches are young blood.
Young Turk: A Young Turk is a young person who is rebellious and difficult to control in a company, team or organisation.
Your belly button is bigger than your stomach: If your belly button is bigger than your stomach, you take on more responsibilities than you can handle.
Your call: If something is your call, it is up to you to make a decision on the matter.
Your name is mud: If someone's name is mud, then they have a bad reputation.
Your sins will find you out: This idiom means that things you do wrong will become known.

Zero hour: The time when something important is to begin is zero hour.
Zero tolerance: If the police have a zero tolerance policy, they will not overlook any crime, no matter how small or trivial.
Zigged before you zagged: If you did things in the wrong order, you zigged before you zagged.
Zip it: This is used to tell someone to be quiet.
Zip your lip: If someone tells you to zip your lip, they want to to shut up or keep quiet about something. ('Zip it' is also used.)

IDIOMS AND PHRASES (U-W)

U-turn: If a government changes its position radically on an issue, especially when they have promised not to do so, this is a U-turn.
Ugly as a stick: (USA) If someone is as ugly as a stick, they are very ugly indeed.
Ugly duckling: An ugly duckling is a child who shows little promise, but who develops later into a real talent or beauty.
Uncalled for: If someone does something bad and unnecessary without consideration for anothers feelings, what they do is uncalled for.
Uncharted waters: If you're in uncharted waters, you are in a situation that is unfamiliar to you, that you have no experience of and don't know what might happen. ('Unchartered waters' is an incorrect form that is a common mistake.)
Uncle Sam: (USA) Uncle Sam is the government of the USA.
Under a cloud: If someone is suspected of having done something wrong, they are under a cloud.
Under a flag of convenience: If a ship sails under a flag of convenience, it is registered in a country where taxes, etc, are lower than in the country it comes from, so if someone does something under a flag of convenience, they attempt to avoid regulations and taxes by a similar means.
Under false colours: If someone does something under false colours/colors, they pretend to be something they are not in order to deceive people so that they can succeed.
Under fire: If someone is being attacked and cricitised heavily, they are under fire.
Under lock and key: If something is under lock and key, it is stored very securely.
Under someone's heel: If you are under someone's heel, they have complete control over you.
Under the gun: If you're under the gun, you're under pressure to do something.
Under the radar: If something slips under the radar, it isn't detected or noticed.
Under the table: Bribes or illegal payments are often described as money under the table.
Under the weather: If you are feeling a bit ill, sad or lack energy, you are under the weather.
Under the wire: (USA) If a person does something under the wire, they do it at the last possible moment.
Under your belt: If you have something under your belt, you have already achieved or experienced it and it will probably be of benefit to you in the future.
Under your breath: If you say something under your breath, you whisper or say it very quietly.
Under your nose: If something happens right in front of you, especially if it is surprising or audacious, it happens under your nose.
Under your skin: If someone gets under your skin, they really annoy you.
Under your thumb: Someone who is manipulated or controlled by another person is under his or her thumb.
Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown: This means that people with serious responsibilities have a heavy burden.
Until the last dog is shot: (USA) It means until the very last possible moment or until every possibility is exausted: You boys always stay until the last dog is shotI will stay until the last dog is shot to complete this project by deadline (Expression my mom who was born in 1917 in Wisconson always used.)
Unwavering loyalty: Unwavering loyalty does not question or doubt the person or issue and supports them completely.
Up a gum tree: (AU) If you're up a gum tree, you're in trouble or a big mess.
Up a river without a paddle: If you up a river without a paddle, you are in an unfortunate situation, unprepared and with none of the resources to remedy the matter.
Up for grabs: If something is up for grabs, it is available and whoever is first or is successful will get it.
Up in the air: If a matter is up in the air, no decision has been made and there is uncertainty about it.
Up sticks: (UK) If you up sticks, you leave somewhere, usually permanently and without warning- he upped sticks and went to work abroad.
Up the ante: If you up the ante, you increase the importance or value of something, especially where there's an element of risk as the term comes from gambling, where it means to increase the stake (the amount of money bet).
Up the creek: If someone or something is up the creek, they are in real trouble. 'Up the creek without a paddle' is an alternative, and 'up shit creek (without a paddle)' is a ruder form.
Up the duff: (UK) If a woman is up the duff, she's pregnant.
Up the spout: (UK) If something has gone up the spout, it has gone wrong or been ruined.
Up the stick: (UK) If a woman is up the stick, she's pregnant.
Up the wall: If someone goes up the wall, they get very angry.
Up the wooden hill: When you go up the wooden hill, you go up the stairs to bed.
Up to scratch: If something doesn't come up to scratch, it doesn't meet the standard required or expected.
Up to snuff: If something isn't up to snuff, it doesn't meet the standard expected.
Up to speed: If you bring someone up to speed, you update them on something.
Up to the eyes: You you are up to your eyes in something, you are deeply involved or to have too much of something like work. ('Up the neck', 'up to the eyeballs' and 'up to the ears' are also used.)
Up to the neck: If someone's in something up to the neck, they are very involved in it, especially when it's something wrong.
Up to your eyes: When you've got too much work to do, you're up to your eyes in it.
Up to your neck: If someone is very involved in something, they are up to their neck in it, especially if it is something bad or immoral.
Up with the lark: If you get up very early, you're up with the lark.
Upper crust: The upper crust are the upper classes and the establishment.
Upper hand: If you have the upper hand, you have the advantage.
Upset the apple cart: If you upset the apple cart, you cause trouble and upset people.

Vale of tears: This vale of tears is the world and the suffering that life brings.
Velvet glove: This idiom is used to describe a person who appears gentle, but is determined and inflexible underneath. ('Iron fist in a velvet glove' is the full form.)
Vent your spleen: If someone vents their spleen, they release all their anger about something.
Vicar of Bray: (UK) A person who changes their beliefs and principles to stay popular with people above them is a Vicar of Bray
Vicious circle: A vicious circle is a sequence of events that make each other worse- someone drinks because they are unhappy at work, then loses their job... 'Vicious cycle' is also used.
Virgin territory: If something is virgin territory, it hasn't been explored before.
Volte-face: If you do a volte-face on something, you make a sudden and complete change in your stance or position over an issue.

Wag the dog: To 'wag the dog' means to purposely divert attention from what would otherwise be of greater importance, to something else of lesser significance. By doing so, the lesser-significant event is catapulted into the limelight, drowning proper attention to what was originally the more important issue.The expression comes from the saying that 'a dog is smarter than its tail', but if the tail were smarter, then the tail would 'wag the dog'. The expression 'wag the dog' was elaborately used as theme of the movie. 'Wag the Dog', a 1997 film starring Robert de Niro and Dustin Hoffman, produced and directed by Barry Levinson.
Wait for a raindrop in the drought: When someone is waiting for a raindrop in the drought, they are waiting or hoping for something that is extremely unlikely to happen.
Waiting in the wings: If someone is waiting in the wings, or in the wings, they are in the background, but nearby, ready to act on short notice.
Wake up and smell the coffee: When someone doesn't realise what is really happening or is not paying enough attention to events around them, you can tell them to wake up and smell the coffee.
Wake-up call: A wake-up call is a warning of a threat or a challenge, especially when it means that people will have to change their behaviour to meet it.
Walk a fine line: If you have to walk a fine line, you have to be very careful not to annoy or anger people or groups that are competing. ('Walk a thin line' is an alternative.)
Walk a mile in my shoes: This idiom means that you should try to understand someone before criticising them.
Walk a tightrope: If you walk a tightrope, you have to be very careful not to annoy or anger people who could become enemies.
Walk in the park: An undertaking that is easy is a walk in the park. The opposite is also true - "no walk in the park".
Walk on eggshells: If you have to walk on eggshells when with someone, you have to be very careful because they get angry or offended very easily.('Walk on eggs' is also used.)
Walk the green mile: Someone or something that is walking the green mile is heading towards the inevitable.
Walk the plank: If someone walks the plank, they are going toward their own destruction or downfall
Walking encyclopedia: A very knowledgeable person is a walking encyclopedia.
Walking on air: If you are walking on air, you are so happy that you feel as if you could float.
Walking on broken glass: When a person is punished for something. e.g. 'She had me walking on broken glass.'
Walking time-bomb: A person whose behaviour is erratic and totally unpredictable is a walking time-bomb.
Wallflower: (UK) A woman politician given an unimportant government position so that the government can pretend it takes women seriously is a wallflower.
Wallflower: (USA) A shy person who is not asked to dance is a wallflower.
War chest: A war chest is a fund that can be used to finance a campaign like and election or for use in emergencies or unexpected times of difficulty.
War of words: A war of words is a bitter argument between people or organisations, etc.
Warm and fuzzy: Meaning the feeling evoked as though you were enclosed in a warm and fuzzy blanket.
Warm the cockles of your heart: If something warms the cockles of your heart, it makes you feel happy.
Warpath: If someone is on the warpath, they are very angry about something and will do anything to get things sorted the way they want.
Warts and all: If you like someone warts and all, you like them with all their faults.
Wash your hands of something: If you wash your hands of something, you disassociate yourself and accept no responsibility for what will happen.
Waste not, want not: If you don't waste things, you are less likely to end up lacking.
Waste of skin: If a person is referred to as a 'waste of skin', it means he is not worth very much.
Watch grass grow: If something is like watching grass grow, it is really boring.
Watch your back: If someone is after your job, or wants to harm you in any way, you need to "watch your back" to metaphorically see what is going on behind you
Watch your six: (USA) This idiom means that you should look behind you for dangers coming that you can't see.
Watching paint dry: If something is like watching paint dry, it is really boring.
Water off a duck's back: If criticism or something similar is like water off a duck's back to somebody, they aren't affected by it in the slightest.
Water over the dam: (USA) If something has happened and cannot be changed, it is water over the dam.
Water under the bridge: If something belongs to the past and isn't important or troubling any more, it is water under the bridge.
Watering hole: (UK) A watering hole is a pub.
Watery grave: If someone has gone to a watery grave, they have drowned.
Weak at the knees: If people go weak at the knees, they have a powerful emotional reaction to something and feel that they might fall over.
Wear many hats: If someone wears many hats, they have different roles or tasks to perform.
Wear sackcloth and ashes: If someone displays their grief or contrition publicly, they wear sackcloth and ashes.
Wear your heart on your sleeve: Someone who wears their heart on their sleeve shows their emotions and feelings publicly.
Weather a storm: If you weather a storm, you get through a crisis or hard times.
Wedge politics: (USA) In wedge politics, one party uses an issue that they hope will divide members of a different party to create conflict and weaken it.
Wee buns: (Irish) If a task was wee buns, it means it was very easy. It is similar to "piece of cake"
Wee hours: Wee hours are the first hours after midnight.
Weight off your shoulders: If something is a weight off your shoulders, you have relieved yourself of a burden, normally a something that has been troubling you or worrying you.
Well-heeled: Someone who is well-heeled is rich.
Well-oiled: If someone is well-oiled, they have drunk a lot.
Well-oiled machine: Something that functions very well is a well-oiled machine.
Were you born in a barn?: If someone asks you this, it means that you forgot to close the door when you came in.
Wet behind the ears: Someone who is wet behind the ears is either very young or inexperienced.