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[wipe out an old score] See: SETTLE A SCORE.

[wipe the floor with] or [wipe up the floor with] See: MOP THE FLOOR WITH.

[wire] See: ACROSS THE WIRE, DOWN TO THE WIRE, PULL STRINGS or PULL WIRES.

[wise] See: GET WISE, PENNY WISE AND POUND FOOLISH, PUT WISE, THE WISER.

[wisecrack]{n.} A joke or witty remark usually made at someone else’s expense. •/The comedians kept up a steady stream of wisecracks./

[wise guy]{n. phr.}, {informal} A person who acts as if he were smarter than other people; a person who jokes or shows off too much •/Bill is a wise guy and displeases others by what he says./

[wise up to]{v. phr.}, {slang} To finally understand what is really going on after a period of ignorance. •/Joe immediately quit his job when he wised up to what was really going on./

[wish on]{v.} 1. To use as a lucky charm while making a wish. •/Mary wished on a star that she could go to the dance./ •/Bob wished on his lucky rabbit’s foot that he could pass the test./ 2. or [wish off on]{informal} To get rid of (something unwanted) by passing it on to someone else. •/Martha did not like to do the dishes and wished the job on to her little sister./ •/Tom got a very ugly tie for his birthday and when Billy’s birthday came, Tom wished the tie off on Billy./

[wit] See: AT ONE’S WITS' END, KEEP ONE’S HEAD or KEEP ONE’S WITS ABOUT ONE, SCARE OUT OF ONE’S WITS.

[witch-hunt]{n. phr.} A hysterical movement during which people are persecuted for having views (political or religious) considered different or unpopular. •/During the McCarthy era many innocent Americans were accused of being Communists, as Republican patriotism deteriorated into a witch-hunt./

[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./