way back • way behind way back—1. far from the front part of smth.: I noticed a faded whiskey box way back under the stairs. 2. in a remote rural area; far away: Blackall was much the same as any other township “way back .” 3. a long time ago: We do not know who first brought Christianity to this country way back in the days of the Roman Empire. way behind —far behind smth.: Pet foods come sixth in the consumer top ten. Baby food lags way behind . way below something • way down something way below something—much lower than smth.: By slashing its retail prices way below cost, Wal-Mart can crush our gro- ceries, pharmacies, and other retailers. way down something—at a great distance along the length of smth.: He saw a headlight of an eastbound train appear way down the tracks. way off • way out way off —1. far away: I am going somewhere; but I don’t know where. Way off , anyhow. 2. quite wrong; greatly mistaken: My attitude indications on the instrument panel are way off . way out—1. = way off 1: After a prolonged journey by bus, Clarissa alighted way out on the North Circular Road. 2. = way off 2: I would not presume to argue with Edward on mat- ters botanical, but he is way out on snakes. 3. (sl.) highly pecu- liar or unusual (being too modern): This new music is too way out for me — I prefer what I am already familiar with. 4. (sl.) heavily alcohol or drug intoxicated: That guy is way out — can’t even walk. way to go Einstein • way to go Grace way to go Einstein—(sarcastic) is used to tell a person he made a mistake or is not very smart: In all of the excitement, he ran a red light, barely avoiding an accident. “Way to go, Einstein !” a voice from the back seat exclaimed. way to go Grace—(sarcastic) is used to tell a person he or she is clumsy: Amanda tripped, lurched forward, caught her foot in the hem of her dress, and fell to her hands and knees. “Way to go, Grace !” she exclaimed. Note: Both expressions are antonymous in meaning to the phrase way to go—(also: that’s the way to go) used as an encour- agement to proceed with the chosen plan or process: “Way to go !” said Mary when Bob finally got the car started. weak as a cat • weak as water weak as a cat—(also: weak as a kitten) lacking in physical strength: He must have been as weak as a kitten , with all the blood he’d lost. weak as water—(also: weak as dishwater) 1. = weak as a cat: Sir, I am only just getting well of a fever, and I am as weak as water . 2. lacking in determination; easily influenced by other people: You love Eva, and Eva loves you, Ernest; but remember this, she is weak as water . 3. (of tea, etc.) watery; not having enough flavor: These poor and hungry people are accustomed to drinks almost as weak as water . 4. (of an evi- dence, etc.) not convincing; inefficient: His brashness couldn’t cover the fact that his argument was weak as water . weak for someone • weak with someone weak for someone —(of tea, etc.) not having enough flavor or not strong enough to a person’s taste: The tea was too weak for him to really enjoy. weak with someone—lacking in firmness when dealing with a person: He was spoiling his son’s character by being weak with him. wear away • wear off wear away—1. be reduced through constant pressure, fric- tion, etc.: With the passing of the years, the finer detail of the carvings has almost worn away . 2. (of a person) become pro- gressively weaker: After the operation, she just seemed to wear away until she died. 3. (of time) pass slowly: As the afternoon wore away , I found it more and more difficult to stay awake. wear off—1. = wear away 1: Don’t polish those badges: the gilt will wear off in time if you do. 2. (of a feeling or effect) disappear gradually; no longer affect one: The drink inside them had worn off , leaving only a sour feeling in the stom- ach. weather house • weather station weather house—a model house that indicates changes in humidity by the appearance of two human figures coming out to foretell good and bad weather: Heisenberg compared this to the little man and woman in a weather house , an old folk art device. weather station—a station for recording and reporting mete- orological observations: The progress of European meteorol- ogy is due to the introduction of micrometeorology, or detailed observations from an ever-increasing number of weather stations . weigh someone down • weigh someone up weigh someone down—(also: weight someone down) 1. press on a person with a heavy weight: Get this bundle off my back; it’s really weighing me down . 2. make smb. very sad; depress a person: When an American girl does that, you can guess there’s something “mighty hefty” weighing her down . weigh someone up—(coll.) form an opinion about a person: “I knew too much about her,” she said. “I had weighed her up .” welcome home • welcome to our house welcome home—celebration or expressions of greeting at smb.’s homecoming: Nearly bursting with pride these ladies gave the servicemen a welcome home that they deserved. welcome to our house—a name for the plant Cypress Spurge (Euphorbia Cyparissias): Another species found in the Smokey Mountains is often called Graveyard weed and Welcome-to- our-house . Note: The expression is not equivalent in meaning to the phrase welcome home husband, however drunk you be—(also: wel- come home husband though never so drunk) a name for the plant Houseleek (Sempervivum tectorum): There is one plant that I have come to rely on for its low maintenance qualities, it is that of the houseleek, known as “Welcome Home Husband However Drunk You Be .” West Indiaman • West Indian West Indiaman—(hist.) a sailing ship running to the West Indies and the east coast of America: Compare the numbers of men in a West Indiaman and in a Baltic or Hamburg trader. West Indian—an inhabitant of the West Indies: American Blacks are quick to perceive pronunciation differences on the part of West Indians who migrate to cities like New York. what an idea • what’s the idea what an idea —1. that’s a great idea: They don’t fit very well under the Christmas tree, but what an idea for that perfect gift! 2. that’s preposterous; that’s most unreasonable: Pa looked at ma stunned. Good heavens what an idea ! what’s the idea—(also: what’s the big idea) what’s the inten- tion or purpose (is usually used to question smth. that is not welcome): What’s the idea behind creating a game that’s part way between Australian Rules football and Gaelic football. what else can I do • what else can I do for you what else can I do—(also: what more can I do) is used as an way back – 332 –