19-letter words containing w, a, l, o
- throw cold water on — having a relatively low temperature; having little or no warmth: cold water; a cold day.
- throw oneself at sb — If someone throws themselves at you, they make it very obvious that they want to begin a relationship with you, by behaving as though they are sexually attracted to you.
- tidal power station — a power station where the energy of flowing water is converted into electricity
- to be headline news — to attract a lot of attention from newspapers
- to blow a raspberry — If you blow a raspberry, you make a sound by putting your tongue out and blowing, in order to insult someone.
- to clutch at straws — If you are clutching at straws or grasping at straws, you are trying unusual or extreme ideas or methods because other ideas or methods have failed.
- to lay down the law — If you say that someone lays down the law, you are critical of them because they give other people orders and they think that they are always right.
- to leave well alone — If someone tells you to leave well alone, they are telling you not to interfere in something, because it is all right as it is and you might only make it worse.
- unlawful possession — possession of substances or items (such as drugs or guns) for which criminal sanctions exist because they may not be legally possessed or may not be possessed under certain circumstances
- value added network — (networking) (VAN) A privately owned network that provides a specific service, such as legal research or access to a specialised database, for a fee. A Value Added Network usually offers some service or information that is not readily available on public networks. A Value Added Network's customers typically purchase leased lines that connect them to the network or they use a dial-up number, given by the network owner, to gain access to the network.
- wage-push inflation — an inflationary trend caused by wage increases that in turn cause rises in production costs and prices.
- wandering albatross — a large albatross, Diomedea exulans, of southern waters, having the plumage mostly white with dark markings on the upper parts.
- waste disposal unit — an electrically operated fitment in the plughole of a kitchen sink that breaks up food refuse so that it goes down the waste pipe
- wearable technology — a small computer or advanced electronic device that is worn or carried on the body: the trendiest wearable technologies.
- welsh mountain pony — a small sturdy but graceful breed of pony used mostly for riding, originally from Wales
- wesleyan methodists — a branch of the Methodist Church in its original form
- what-do-you-call-it — whachamacallit.
- white-collar worker — office employee, clerical worker
- wide-angle glaucoma — open-angle glaucoma. See under glaucoma.
- william howard taft — Helen Herron [her-uh n] /ˈhɛr ən/ (Show IPA), 1861–1943, U.S. First Lady 1909–13 (wife of William Howard Taft).
- wireless local loop — (communications) (WLL, radio in the loop, RITL, fixed-radio access, FRA) Connecting subscribers to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) using radio signals instead of copper wires. The wireless link may be all or part of the connection between the subscriber and the switch. WLL includes cordless access systems, proprietary fixed radio access and fixed cellular systems.
- withdrawal symptoms — When someone has withdrawal symptoms, they feel ill after they have stopped taking a drug which they were addicted to.
- withdrawal syndrome — a spectrum of physical and behavioral symptoms following cessation from the continuous use of an addictive drug, the character and severity of the symptoms depending upon the particular drug and the daily dose.
- world day of prayer — the first Friday in Lent, during which Christians belonging to ecumenical communions pray for foreign missions.
- world heritage site — a natural or manmade area or structure which is recognized as being of international importance and therefore deserving special protection
- wouldn't harm a fly — If you say that someone wouldn't hurt a fly or wouldn't harm a fly, you are emphasizing that they are very kind and gentle.
- writing on the wall — writing done with a pen or pencil in the hand; script.
- yellow book, jargon — (publication) The print version of the Jargon File, titled "The New Hacker's Dictionary". It includes essentially all the material the File, plus a Foreword by Guy L. Steele, Jr. and a Preface by Eric S. Raymond. Most importantly, the book version is nicely typeset and includes almost all of the infamous Crunchly cartoons by the Great Quux, each attached to an appropriate entry. The first, second, and third editions correspond to versions 2.9.6, 3.0.0, and 4.0.0 of the File, respectively.
- yellow-dog contract — a contract between a worker and an employer in which, as a condition of employment, the worker agrees not to remain in or join a union.
- yellowtail flounder — a righteyed flounder, Limanda ferruginea, inhabiting waters along the Atlantic coast of North America, having a yellowish tail fin and rusty-red spots on the body: once commercially important, now greatly reduced in number.
- yellowtail kingfish — a large carangid game fish, Seriola grandis, of S Australian waters