against the grain »
To sand or plane a piece of wood parallel or nearly parallel to the fibers such that splinters forming ahead of the tool originate below the cutting surface.
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babe in the woods »
A person who is innocent, naive, inexperienced, or helpless.
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babes in the wood »
Criminals in the stocks, or pillory.
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born with a silver spoon in one's mouth »
Note. The original nautical expression is just born with a silver spoon and describes those young gentlemen who were able to enter the Royal Navy without examination and whose promotion was assured. the converse was born with a wooden ladle.
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come out of the woodwork »
To appear or emerge as though out of nowhere, frequently in large numbers or quantity.
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cut a wide swath »
To clear a broad track through a grassland, woodland, geographical region, or other area, either by natural means or by human action.
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dead wood »
Dead limbs and branches still attached to a living tree.
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dead wood »
Personnel no longer contributing to an organization.
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does a bear shit in the woods »
Rhetorical question in response to a question where the answer is an emphatic yes.
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don't take any wooden nickels »
Do not permit yourself be cheated or duped; do not be naive.
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hatchet man »
Someone who carries out brutal and unpleasant duties on behalf of another, such as firing dead wood employees.
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in the woods »
In critical condition; near death's door.
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knock on wood »
A self-directive to undertake the customary action to ward off bad luck.
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knock on wood »
To take a customary action to ward off some misfortune that is believed to be attracted my a presumptuous statement.
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measure twice and cut once »
(literally, carpentry) One should double-check one's measurements for accuracy before cutting a piece of wood; otherwise it may be necessary to cut again, wasting time and material.1872, "Dressmaking," Hall's Journal of Health, vol. 19, no. 12, p. 280:Look at Carpenters! . . . In old times it was a proverb "Measure twice, and cut once."(figuratively, by extension) Plan and prepare in a careful, thorough manner before taking action.2008, Hilary Johnson, "Mergers rattle bank relations," Financial Week, 9 Nov. (retrieved 9 Nov. 2008):Mr. Paz noted that since the onset of the credit crisis, eBay, like other companies, hasn
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