wing (redirected from wings)

be on the wing (literary)

if a bird or insect is on the wing, it is flying. Numerous orange-tip butterflies were on the wing in the warm sunshine.

be waiting in the wings

to be ready to be used or employed instead of someone or something else. The rumour is that Green will be sacked and Brinkworth is waiting in the wings to take over as manager.

See also: waiting

clip someone's wings

to limit someone's freedom. She never had kids. I guess she thought motherhood would clip her wings.

on a wing and a prayer

if you do something on a wing and a prayer, you do it hoping that you will succeed although you are not prepared enough for it. With scarcely any funding and a staff of six, they operate on a wing and a prayer.

See also: prayer

spread your wings

to start to do new and exciting things for the first time in your life. The kids had all grown up and left home and I thought it was time to spread my wings and live a little.

See also: spread

take someone under your wing

to help and protect someone, especially someone who is younger than you or has less experience than you. One of the older children will usually take a new girl or boy under their wing for the first few weeks.

See also: take

try your wings (American)

to try to do something that you have recently learned to do. She's just qualified and is looking for a chance to try her wings as a design consultant.

See also: try

under the wing of something

under the control of an organization. The newspaper is once again in Scottish hands, under the wing of a newly created company, Caledonian Newspaper Publishing.

wing it (informal)

to do the best that you can in a situation that you are not prepared for. I hadn't had time to prepare the talk so I just had to wing it.

wing your/its way

to fly or travel very fast. Within a few hours the package will be winging its way across the Atlantic.

See also: way

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clip your wings

to limit your freedom. She was afraid that motherhood would clip her wings.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of clip a bird's wings (= to cut the feathers that make it possible for a bird to fly)

(wait) in the wings

to be ready to do something when the opportunity comes. Other companies were waiting in the wings to sell similar drugs at much lower prices. The novel has sold well in the hardcover edition, and a paperback edition waits in the wings.

Etymology: based on the idea of an actor who waits in the wings (= areas to each side of a stage) before appearing on stage

on the wing

in motion. He started to run, but a rifle shot caught him on the wing.

Usage notes: based on the literal meaning of on the wing flying: The sight of so many enormous birds on the wing filled me with awe.

spread your wings

to do new and different things. Since I retired, I've been able to spread my wings and am busier than I was when I worked.

See also: spread

under your wing

helped and protected by you. One of the children in the class will usually take a new girl or boy under their wing for the first few weeks.

Usage notes: also used in the forms under someone's wing or under the wing of someone: Everyone who lost their home in the fire was taken under the wing of a local church.

Etymology: based on the idea of a bird that protects its babies by spreading its wings over them

wing it

to invent a way to deal with a situation you are not prepared for. I didn't have time to write a speech, so I just had to wing it in front of a large audience. Some actors can wing it, others go completely silent when something happens on stage that isn't supposed to happen.

on the fly