walk (redirected from walks away)

the cock of the walk (British, old-fashioned)

a man who acts as if he is more fashionable or important than other people. He acts like the cock of the walk around the office.

See also: cock

run before you can walk

to try to do something complicated and difficult before you have learned the basic skills you need to attempt it. I think you should stick to a simple menu for your dinner party. There's no point trying to run before you can walk.

See also: before, can, run

stand/walk tall

to be proud of yourself and confident of your abilities. For the first time in living memory, we have a leader who can stand tall in international gatherings.

See also: stand, tall

Take a hike/walk! (American, informal)

an impolite way of telling someone to go away. The guy kept pestering her, and finally she told him to take a hike.

See also: hike, take

That was a [game/meal/walk etc.] and a half! (informal)

something that you say about something that was very surprising, very good, or took a lot of time. That was a walk and a half! I'm exhausted.

See also: game, half, meal, that, was

walk a tightrope

to act very carefully so that you avoid either of two opposite bad situations. Many manufacturers have to walk a tightrope between overpricing their goods and pricing them so low that they make no profit. (often + between)

a walk of life

a person's walk of life is the type of job they do or the level of society they belong to. Volunteers who work at the animal hospital come from all walks of life. There were people at the meeting from almost every walk of life.

See also: life

walk the plank

to be forced to leave your job. Several Cabinet Ministers have been forced to walk the plank following the latest Government scandal.

See also: plank

---

take a walk

to leave. The manager threatened to take a walk, so the owner of the team offered him a better contract.

See also: take

walk a thin line (between something)

to balance two competing ideas or groups. The diplomats knew they had to walk a fine line between the rebel groups and the government.

See also: line, thin

walk a tightrope

to act carefully to avoid creating enemies or a dangerous situation. The show has always walked a tightrope between old-fashioned humor and modern comedy. The organization's director must walk a tightrope between various religious groups.

Etymology: from the literal expression walk a tightrope (= to walk on a tightly stretched wire that is high off the ground)

walk all over someone/something

1. to treat someone or something without respect. You shouldn't let him walk all over you like that. This new law would walk all over our civil rights.

2. to defeat a person or team badly. The Nighthawks walked all over the Tigers last night with a 5—0 victory.

See also: all, over

walk and chew gum (at the same time)

to be able to do more than one thing at a time. Officials say they have to plan for all kinds of possibilities, that they have to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time.

See also: chew, gum

walk away with something

to win or get something easily. The German soccer team is favored to walk away with the championship. She got a minor injury and walked off with a million-dollar insurance settlement.

See also: away

walk off with something

to take something without asking. Who walked off with my drink?

walk on air

to be very happy. Editors of the school's newspaper were walking on air when they heard that the "Tigers News" was judged the best in the country.

See also: air

walk on eggshells

to try very hard not to upset someone or something. Everyone at the company was walking on eggshells until we heard that no one would be fired.

Etymology: based on the idea that eggshells are easily broken

See also: eggshell

walk out

1. to leave an event before it is finished. It was such a bad movie that I felt like walking out in the first fifteen minutes.

2. to refuse to work because of a disagreement with your employer. Airline pilots are threatening to walk out next week.

walk out on someone/something

to suddenly end your relationship with someone or something. She walked out on her husband and two children after 12 years of marriage. Why would anyone walk out on a seven-year contract that includes a share of the profits?.

walk the plank

to have to leave your job. After he was caught stealing from the company, the treasurer was forced to walk the plank.

See also: plank

walk the walk

to show that something is true through your actions. He says the team will be just as good without Groncki as they were with him, but we'll have to see if the team can walk the walk.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the full form talk the talk and walk the walk to say something that appears to be real or true and show it is real or true through your actions: Most of these guys say they have religious beliefs, but only a few of them can talk the talk and walk the walk.

talk the talk

walk (someone) through something

to explain or study something completely. The lawyer prepared himself for the trial by walking through his opening statement. Could you please walk us through the schedule for tomorrow?

talk through something

See also: through