without

beyond/without a shadow of a doubt

if something is true beyond a shadow of a doubt, there is no doubt that it is true. This is without a shadow of a doubt the best film I have seen all year.

See also: beyond, doubt, shadow

It goes without saying.

something that you say when you believe that what you will say next is generally accepted or understood. It goes without saying that we're delighted about the new baby.

See also: goes

sink without trace

to be forgotten about completely, after being popular for a while. They enjoyed brief success with their second album and then sank without trace.

See also: sink, trace

There's no smoke without fire.

something that you say which means that if people are saying that someone has done something bad but no one knows whether it is true, it probably is true. He claims that they were just good friends and that they never slept together but there's no smoke without fire, that's what I say.

See also: fire, smoke

without a backward glance

if you leave without a backward glance, you are completely happy to leave and have no sad feelings about it. She left the city she had lived in all her life without a backward glance.

See also: backward, glance

without a care in the world

not have a care in the world - to be completely happy and not have any worries. This time last week I was lying on a sunny beach without a care in the world.

See also: care, world

without a murmur

if you do something without a murmur, you do it without complaining. Louise was so tired that she went to bed without a murmur for once.

without a second thought

if you do something without a second thought, you do it without thinking about whether or not you should. She doesn't worry about money - she'll spend a hundred pounds on a dress without a second thought.

See also: second, thought

without fail

1. if something happens without fail, it always happens. Every Tuesday afternoon, without fail, Helga went to visit her father.

2. something that you say in order to emphasize that something will be done or will happen. 'You will meet me at the airport, won't you?' 'Don't worry, I'll be there without fail.'

See also: fail

without further/more ado

without any delay. And so, without further ado, let me introduce you to tonight's speaker.

See also: ado, further, more

without missing a beat (American)

if you do or say something without missing a beat, you continue confidently with what you are saying or doing. She was asked what single achievement she was most proud of. 'My son,' she replied, without missing a beat.

See also: beat

without rhyme or reason

no rhyme or reason - if there is no rhyme or reason why something happens, there is no obvious explanation for it. Changes have been made to the text without rhyme or reason.

See also: reason, rhyme

without so much as a by-your-leave (old-fashioned)

if you say that someone does something without so much as a by-your-leave, you mean you are angry because they did not ask your permission to do it. That's twice now he's just marched in here without so much as a by-your-leave and picked a book off my shelf!

See also: much

You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.

something that you say which means it is difficult to achieve something important without causing any unpleasant effects. Twenty jobs will have to be cut if the company's going to be made more efficient. But you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.

See also: breaking, can't, egg

You can't make bricks without straw.

something that you say which means you cannot do something correctly without the necessary materials. I need an electric drill to put these shelves up. You can't make bricks without straw.

See also: brick, can't, straw

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do without (someone/something)

to manage to work or act without someone or something. I guess I'll just have to learn how to do without your help. They have relied on Henry for so long, I wonder how they will do without him.

Usage notes: often used in the form not do without someone or something: My driver really annoys me, but I know I can't do without him.

go without (something)

go without (something)

to manage to live despite not having or doing something. You think you can go without sleep, but you can't. Did you pay for health insurance on your own, or did you just go without?

do without (someone/something)

it goes without saying

it should be generally understood or accepted. It goes without saying that you will improve your skills with practice.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form that goes without saying

See also: goes

lost without someone/something

unable to work in the usual way because something is not available. I'm lost without my cell phone. I'd be lost without you, honey.

See also: lost

without a second thought

without stopping to consider whether something is wise or right. She doesn't worry about money — she'll spend a hundred bucks on a dress without a second thought.

See also: second, thought

without fail

certain to happen. Sarah sends me a card on my birthday without fail.

See also: fail

without further ado

without any more talk or activity. Without further ado, here is my list of the ten best restaurants in St. Louis.

See also: ado, further

without question

certainly. The Lightning are the team that without question will be embarrassed in their opening game.

in question

See also: question