Idioms Beginning with w

• wake up and smell the coffee

  To face reality; to stop deluding oneself; to become aware.
  Wake up and smell the coffee! Unless you are extremely wealthy, the government doesn't care what you think.

• walk on eggshells

  To be very careful about what you say or do around someone, usually because they are easily upset.
  Ever since he got the bad news, we’ve been walking on eggshells around him.

• walk the extra mile

  To make an extra effort beyond what is expected.
  Mary always walks the extra mile to help her students succeed.

• watch like a hawk

  To observe very closely.
  When we were taking the test, the teacher watched us like a hawk to make sure that we weren't cheating.

• water down

  To make weaker; to dilute.
  The government has watered down the reports on global warming to make the problem seem less severe.

• wet behind the ears

  Inexperienced.
  I don't think I want that young doctor performing heart surgery on me. He seems a little wet behind the ears.

• when all is said and done

  In the end; ultimately.
  When all is said and done, we may not have made a lot of money, but we had a lot of fun.

• whole shebang

  The entire thing; everything.
  In the divorce, Max lost his kids, dog, house, car, timeshare property, the whole shebang.

• with flying colors

  Exceptionally well.
  Mary passed the board exam with flying colors.

• wolf in sheep's clothing

  A person who appears innocent but really isn't.
  Jane seems sweet, but watch out. She's a wolf in sheep's clothing.

• work one's butt off

  To work very hard.
  I've been working my butt off for years, but I have nothing to show for it.