wish (redirected from wishing)

(I'm) having a wonderful time; wish you were here.

Cliché a catchphrase that is thought to be written onto postcards by people who are away on vacation. John wrote on all his cards, "Having a wonderful time; wish you were here." And he really meant it too. "I'm having a wonderful time; wish you were here," said Tom, speaking on the phone to Mary, suddenly feeling very insincere.

See also: have, here

(I) hope not.

a phrase expressing the desire and wish that something is not so. John: It looks like it's going to rain. Jane: Hope not. John: The Wilsons said they might come over this evening. Jane: I hope not. I've got things to do.

See also: hope

(I) hope so.

a phrase expressing the desire and wish that something is so. Bill: Is this the right house? Bob: Hope so. John: Will you be coming to dinner Friday? Sue: Yes, I hope so.

See also: hope

Don't you wish!

Don't you wish that what you have just said were really true? Mary: I'm going to get a job that lets me travel a lot. Sally: Don't you wish! Sally: Sorry you lost the chess game. It was close, but your opponent was top-notch. Bob: Next time, I'll do it! I'll win the next round. Sally: Don't you wish!

Give my best to someone and All the best to someone.

Please convey my good wishes to a particular person. (The someone can be a person's name or a pronoun. See also Say hello to someone (for me).) Alice: Good-bye, Fred. Give my best to your mother. Fred: Sure, Alice. Good-bye. Tom: See you, Bob. Bob: Give my best to Jane. Tom: I sure will. Bye. Bill: Bye, Rachel. All the best to your family. Rachel: Thanks. Bye.

See also: best, give

have a death wish

Fig. to seem to be willing to take all sorts of needless risks. Look at the way that guy drives. He must have some sort of a death wish.

See also: death, have

I wish I'd said that.

a comment of praise or admiration for someone's clever remark. Mary: The weed of crime bears bitter fruit. Sue: I wish I'd said that. Mary: I wish I'd said it first. John: Tom is simply not able to see through the airy persiflage of Mary's prolix declamation. Jane: I wish I'd said that. John: I'm sorry I did.

See also: said

I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. and I wouldn't wish that on a dog.

Fig. I would not wish that to happen to even the worst or lowliest person. A skunk sprayed him! I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. What a hideous disease! I wouldn't wish that on a dog.

See also: enemy, worst

If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride.

Prov. People make a lot of wishes, but wishing is useless. Jill: If I were Queen of the World, I would make sure that everyone had enough to eat. Jane: And if wishes were horses, then beggars would ride. Alan: I sure wish I had one of those expensive cameras. Jane: If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride.

See also: beggar, if, ride

The wish is father to the thought.

Prov. People sometimes come to believe something that they wish were true. Jane hoped that her boss would resign, and the wish was father to the thought. Soon she had told everyone in the office that she was sure her boss was leaving.

See also: father, thought

Who do you want? and Who do you want to talk to?; Who do you want to speak to?; Who do you wish to speak to?; Who do you wish to talk to?

Who do you want to speak to over the telephone? (All these questions can also begin with whom. Compare this with With whom do you wish to speak?) Sue: Wilson residence. Who do you want to speak to? Bill: Hi, Sue. I want to talk to you. Tom (answering the phone): Hello? Sue: Hello, who is this? Tom: Who do you wish to speak to? Sue: Is Sally there? Tom: Just a minute.

See also: who

wish someone or something (off) on someone

to foist someone or something off on someone else. I would never wish my uncle off on you, even for an hour. I wouldn't wish off my cousin Roger on anyone. I wouldn't wish this matter on you.

wish someone or something away

to wish that someone or something would go away. You can't just wish him away. You'll have to ask him to leave! Don't try to wish away the difficulties of your life.

See also: away

wish for someone or something

to wish to have someone or something. She spent most of her life wishing for Prince Charming, who would come along and sweep her off her feet. She still wishes for escape.

wish list

a list of things one wishes to have. I put a new car at the top of my wish list. I have a DVD player on my wish list.

See also: list

With whom do you wish to speak?

a polite phrase used by people who answer the telephone to find out whom the caller wants to speak to. (Compare this with Who do you want to talk to?) John answered the telephone and then said, "With whom do you wish to speak?" Tom (answering the phone): Good morning, Acme Air Products. With whom do you wish to speak? Sue: Sorry, I have the wrong number. Tom: That's perfectly all right. Have a nice day.

See also: whom

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a wish list

a list of things that someone wants very much Most families with kids have a larger house on their wish list.

See also: list

I/You wouldn't wish something on my/your worst enemy.

something that you say in order to emphasize that something is extremely unpleasant The effects of this disease are horrible. You wouldn't wish them on your worst enemy.

See also: enemy, worst

wish the ground would swallow you up

to wish that you could disappear because you feel very embarrassed Everyone in the room was staring at me and I stood there wishing the ground would swallow me up.

See also: ground, swallow, up

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I would not wish something on somebody

I would not want someone to experience something unpleasant Getting stranded in the snowstorm was so awful, I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I wouldn't wish having to go through a lawsuit on my worst enemy!