A musical director was having a lot of trouble with one drummer. He talked and talked and talked with the drummer, but his performance simply didn"t improve.
Finally, before the whole orchestra, he said, "When a musician just can"t handle his instrument and doesn"t improve when given help, they take away the instrument, and give him two sticks, and make him a drummer."
A stage whisper was heard from the percussion section: "And if he can"t handle even that, they take away one of his sticks and make him a conductor."
in sheep's clothing n. Hostile person who pretends friendship.
- —n. (pl. Wolves) 1 wild animal related to the dog, usu. Hunting in packs.
- slang man who seduces women. —v. (often foll. By down) devour greedily. cry wolf raise false alarms. Keep the wolf from the door avert starvation. wolfish adj. [old english]
WOMB
n. Organ of conception and gestation in a woman and other female mammals. [old english]
WONT
contr. Will not.
- —predic. Adj. Archaic or literary (foll. By to + infin.) Accustomed. —n. Formal or joc. What is customary, one's habit. [old english]
WOOD
anemone n. A wild spring-flowering anemone.
- n. - a hard fibrous substance of the trunk or branches of a tree or shrub. B this for timber or fuel.
- (in sing. Or pl.) Growing trees densely occupying a tract of land.
- wooden cask for wine etc.
- wooden-headed golf club.
- = *bowl2 n. 1. not see the wood for the trees fail to grasp the main issue from over-attention to details. Out of the wood (or woods) out of danger or difficulty. [old english]
- pulp n. Wood-fibre prepared for paper-making.
WOOF
—n. Gruff bark of a dog. —v. Give a woof. [imitative]
- n. = *weft 1. [old english: related to *web]
WOOL
n. - fine soft wavy hair from the fleece of sheep etc.
- woollen yarn or cloth or clothing.
- wool-like substance (steel wool). pull the wool over a person's eyes deceive a person. [old english]
WORD
of mouth n. Speech (only).
- processor n. Computer program, or device incorporating a computer, used for storing text entered from a keyboard, making corrections, and providing a printout. word-process v. Word processing n.
- —n. - meaningful element of speech, usu. Shown with a space on either side of it when written or printed.
- speech, esp. As distinct from action.
- one's promise or assurance.
- (in sing. Or pl.) Thing said, remark, conversation.
- (in pl.) Text of a song or an actor's part.
- (in pl.) Angry talk (have words).
- news, message (send word).
- command (gave the word to begin). —v. Put into words; select words to express. in other words expressing the same thing differently. In so many words in those very words; explicitly. In a (or one) word briefly. My (or upon my) word exclamation of surprise etc. Take a person at his or her word interpret a person's words literally. Take a person's word for it believe a person's statement without investigation etc. The word (or word of god) the bible. Word for word in exactly the same or (of translation) corresponding words. wordless adj. [old english]
WORE
past of *wear.
WORK
camp n. Camp at which community work is done, esp. By young volunteers.
- experience n. Scheme intended to give young people temporary experience of employment.
- of art n. Fine picture, poem, building, etc.
- study n. Assessment of methods of working so as to achieve maximum productivity.
- table n. Table for working at.
- —n. - application of mental or physical effort to a purpose; use of energy.
- task to be undertaken.
- thing done or made by work; result of an action.
- employment or occupation etc., esp. As a means of earning income.
- literary or musical composition.
- actions or experiences of a specified kind (nice work!).
- (in comb.) Things made of a specified material or with specified tools etc. (ironwork; needlework).
WORM
—n. - any of various types of creeping invertebrate animals with long slender bodies and no limbs.
- larva of an insect, esp. In fruit or wood.
- (in pl.) Intestinal parasites.
- insignificant or contemptible person.
- spiral part of a screw. —v. - (often refl.) Move with a crawling motion.
- refl. (foll. By into) insinuate oneself into favour etc.
- (foll. By out) obtain (a secret etc.) By cunning persistence.
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Snails produce a colorless, sticky discharge that forms a protective carpet under them as they travel along. The discharge is so effective that they can crawl along the edge of a razor without cutting themselves.