Important idioms and phrases which start with the letter ‘V, W, X, Y, Z’
Vary with
Meaning: Be different because of the influence of something.
Example: The attitude of others towards you varies with the circumstances.
Vote for
Meaning: Show one’s support for by vote.
Example: She was a compassionate girl, therefore she gained many votes when she stood for the elections.
Vote out
Meaning: Reject through voting.
Example: He was voted out by the people, as he did nothing for the masses during his tenure as the legislator.
Idioms that start with W
Wait behind
Meaning: Remain in a room, when others have left.
Example: Some patients waited behind to meet the doctor.
Wait on
Meaning: Act as a servant, to serve.
Example: These days, even people from educated families have to wait on the wealthy, in order to earn money for their livelihood.
Wait on hand and foot
Meaning: Serve in every possible way.
Example: A wife has to wait on hand and foot to please her husband.
Wait up
Meaning: Stay late out of bed, until somebody comes home.
Example: She waited up for husband till he came back at midnight.
Wake up
Meaning: (Cause to) stop sleeping.
Example: She woke up at 5 o’clock that day to proceed to the airport.
Wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve
Meaning: Be completely frank and hide nothing from others.
Example: He is not a shrewd man. He wears his heart on his sleeves.
With a vengeance
Meaning: As if with a revengeful motive.
Example: She looked at me with a vengeance.
With an eye to
Meaning: With a definite object in mind.
Example: She served them not out of compassion but with an eye to attain their wealth.
Wash one’s dirty linen in public
Meaning: Speak in public of unpleasant private affairs.
Example: Don’t wash your dirty linen in public.
Wild goose chase
Meaning: A foolish and fruitless search.
Example: She told me not to search for jack, as he was a characterless man. It would be a wild goose chase to search for him.
Worth one’s salt
Meaning: Honest and deserving.
Example: You shall gain two promotions this year. You are truely worth your salt.
Idioms that start with Y
Year in, year out
Meaning: Every year, happening regularly.
Example: A, year in year out, she comes to meet me.
Yield to
Meaning: Give way, agree to.
Example: Don’t yield to this shrewd man’s pressures.
Yeoman’s service
Meaning: Excellent work.
Example: The brave soldiers have done yeoman’s service for their nation.
Idioms that start with Z
Zip up
Meaning: Close with a zip fastener.
Example: She packed her luggage in the briefcase and zipped it up.
