widely open doors of the empty auditorium, frantically busy stage crews, and the fully powered-up lighting. widow’s man • widow-man widow’s man—(hist.) a fictitious seaman on a ship’s papers, whose pay was credited to a widows’ pension fund: I went everywhere about the ship…. At last, one of them answered that it was no use looking for him as Cheeks was a widow’s man . widow-man —a widower: Her father came here soon after she was born, a widow-man with only her. win over someone • win someone over win over someone—1. (also: win out over someone) prevail upon a person in a contest, etc.: In New Hampshire, pro-life Congressman John Sununu won over his pro-abortion oppo- nent. 2. win smb.’s favor: The “new economic regime” is dressed up in anti-capitalist garb to make it capable of winning over the masses. win someone over— = win over someone 2: She didn’t like me at first, but I was soon able to win her over . wind-break • wind-breaker wind-break—a clump of trees, fence, etc. which gives pro- tection against the wind: The pine trees acted as a wind-break for the solitary house set a hundred yards lower down. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the compound wind-broken—(also: broken-winded) used of a horse that has impaired breathing: The road was climbing fairly steadily now, and Paddy had fallen behind, staggering and wheezing like a wind-broken horse. wind-breaker—1. (U.S.) a light waterproof jacket: You might need a wind breaker for the rain; although, most times we were encouraged to be inside during the rains. 2. = wind- break: The advantage of a dome over the roll-off roof obser- vatory is that the dome acts as a wind breaker for the telescope. wind in the head • windmills in the head wind in the head—1. vain imagination or conceit: He has probably got wind in the head through living in that gorgeous Gothic pagoda. 2. unpredictability or flippancy in behavior: “Wind in the head ,” the servants called it. But it was but the natural consequence of the state of mental and bodily idleness in which she was placed. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the compound airhead—(U.S. sl.) smb. who isn’t very smart; a stupid person: “Spell check” can’t save the truly illiterate ones. How can such airheads ever manage to graduate? windmills in the head—foolish projects or notions: These windmills in the head are what apparently drive state policies about “national security.” wise as a Christian • wise as Solomon wise as a Christian —(of an animal) intelligent: Then he rubbed Feenish, the mare, all over, and instantly she became as wise as a Christian , and knew every word that was said to her. wise as Solomon—having good judgment; very shrewd: In some of the divorce cases one would need to be as wise as Solomon to know which party was the more at fault. wise guy • wise man wise guy—(derog.) an impudent person who parades his knowledge; smb. disagreeably self-assertive: He got what he deserved this time. I believe he has learned his lesson and will not be such a wise guy in the future. wise man —1. a man of good judgment: A man who knows a little bit of the past and a little bit about the future is con- sidered a wise man with superior qualifications. 2. (coll.) a shrewd and trusted guide and advisor: The appointment of two independent “wise men ” to prepare the ground for the forthcoming talks, was suggested. See also: wise men of Gotham / wise men of the East. wise in something • wise to something wise in something —showing wisdom and good judgment in smth.: He was very wise in his rulings and tried to govern all his people equally and fairly. wise to something—informed about smth.; being aware of smth.: I’m wise to the fact that he [comedian] dips in the Farmers’ Almanac for his comedy stuff. wise men of Gotham • wise men of the East wise men of Gotham(UK ironic) fools; simpletons: “I would pay no attention,” I replied, “to the wishes of those few wise men of Gotham who would arbitrate this matter.” Note: The expression is unrelated in meaning to the phrase Gotham City—(U.S.) a nickname for New York City: I figured the one place he’d never find me would be Gotham City the home of the hated Yankees. wise men of the East—(the Bible) the three Magi who came from the East, bringing offerings to the infant Christ: It is chronicled in an old Armenian myth that the wise men of the East were none other than the three sons of Noe. See also: wise guy / wise man. wise someone up • wise up to someone wise someone up—(sl.) instruct a person about smth.; give smb. information: Let me wise you up about the way we do things around here. wise up to someone—(sl.) figure out a person: It’s time you wised up to John and what he has been doing. with a single eye to something • with one eye on something with a single eye to something—exclusively concerned with or concentrating on smth.: His predecessors are the only Roman emperors who can be said to have ruled with a single eye to the welfare of their subjects. with one eye on something—(also: with half an eye on some- thing ) 1. directing one’s attention only partly to smth. (while preoccupied with smth. else): She sat at the head of the table stirring her tea, with one eye on baby Paul, who was fretful in his little chair. 2. simultaneously thinking about or preoc- cupied with smth.: He still told jokes, but they were the jokes of a man who couldn’t see anything funny any more, the jokes of a man with one eye on the door. Note: Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase with one eye closed(also: with one eye shut) do smth. easily or with little effort: You might cope for a while with one eye closed … but you wouldn’t keep it up for long—nor would you perform at maximum ability. with all respect to someone • with respect to someone with all respect to someone—(also: with all due respect to some- one) is used before a statement to politely disagree or criticize a person: With all respect to my noble friend, I believe that he was wholly wrong in what he said. with respect to someone—(also: in respect to someone) as regards a person: She went on to say that the paramedics showed “nothing but supreme professionalism, empathy, and brilliance” with respect to her husband. with an eye for something • with an eye to something with an eye for something—1. quick to notice or appreciate – 335 – with an eye for something