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