wiring
hot wire
To start a vehicle without a key by connecting wires that power the ignition. The thief stole the car by hot wiring it. A: "If you lost the key, we'll have to hot wire the car, I guess." B: "Can't we just call a locksmith?"
See also: hot, wire
wire
1. noun, slang An electronic listening device, especially one that is surreptitiously worn or installed. They made me go through a metal detector to make sure I wasn't armed or wearing a wire. Wires have been planted all over the building, so we'll be able to hear every detail of their illicit schemes.
2. verb, slang To install an electronic listening device surreptitiously in (a room, building, etc.). What if they wired this room? Let's talk outside, just to be on the safe side. We need to get someone on the inside to wire the mob boss's compound.
wire (something) into (someone or something)
1. To connect something by soldering its wires to something else to allow for an electric current to pass into or out of it. Some genius wired these speakers directly into the CD player, so there's no way to disconnect them without cutting the wires entirely. The battery on this device is wired into the circuit board, meaning you can't just take it out when you need to replace it.
2. To be a predetermined physiological or psychological mechanism of the body or mind. Often used in passive constructions. Certain reflexes are wired into the structure of our muscles and tendons. The fight or flight response is wired into our basic survival instincts when threatened with danger.
See also: wire
wire ahead
To send some communication or information electronically, as via telegraph or radio, to a location before one arrives there. I wired ahead so that our rooms would be ready by the time we arrived. The embassy said they would wire ahead for an envoy to meet us at the airport.
See also: ahead, wire
wire back to (one)
To return something to one via telegraph or as a wire transfer. A noun or pronoun is used either before or after "back." We won't have phone or Internet services where we'll be, so we'll have to wire the information back to you. He has been wiring back part of his salary to his family in Juarez every month for nearly 20 years now.
See also: back, wire
wire for (something)
1. To send a request for something via telegraph. I'll ask the embassy to wire for a car to meet us at the airport when we land. The last time we made contact with the outpost was when they wired for supplies two months ago.
2. To send a telegram to someone or something in order to request something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "wire" and "for." He wired his parents for more money after becoming stranded in Gothenburg. We won't have phone or Internet services where we'll be, so we'll have to wire headquarters for instructions.
3. To install electrical or telecommunication wires inside of something or some place in order to achieve or use something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "wire" and "for." It's a great building for an office, but we'll have to wire the whole place for Wi-Fi before we move in. They forgot to wire the dang thing for sound, so it can only display video.
See also: wire
wire in
1. To connect something by soldering its wires (to something else) to allow for an electric current to pass into or out of it. Some genius wired in these speakers, so there's no way to disconnect them without cutting the wires entirely. The battery on this device is wired in, meaning you can't just take it out when you need to replace it.
2. To send some communication or information electronically, as via telegraph or radio. They wired in some extra money so that I could afford the plane ticket home. There was no cell phone reception where we were stationed, so we had to wire our messages in on their old telegraph.
See also: wire
wire together
1. To fasten or bind multiple things together with wires. You'll want to wire those boxes together before you start driving, or they'll slide around in the back of the van. The machine wires together hay into uniform bales.
2. To hold multiple pieces of something together with wires. The dentist had to wire Luke's jaw together after the accident. We managed to wire together the motor long enough to get the car to a mechanic.
3. To connect two or more things with electrical or fiber-optic wiring. He wired several different speakers together to achieve a makeshift surround-sound experience in his living room. You'll need to wire together the batteries in parallel so you can double the capacity. We've wired every room in the building together with high-speed Internet cables.
See also: together, wire
wire up
1. To install wires inside of something or some place in order to provide power, Internet access, or a direct line of communication. We're just waiting for the electrician to wire up the house before we start putting in the drywall. Now that the spare room is wired up, I'll be able to use it as a home office.
2. To attach or connect something to or with wires in order to provide power, Internet access, or a direct line of communication. With the Wi-Fi down, we had to wire up all our computers directly in order to share our documents and project information. Let me just wire up these speakers so we can hear the music.
3. To fasten, secure, or affix something with wires. They might have to wire up his jaw if the break is too severe. Make sure you wire up those bales of hay before you finish for the day.
See also: up, wire
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
wire ahead (for something)
to send a telegram to one's destination, requesting something to be available upon one's arrival. I wired ahead for a room. I hope that they still have one by the time we get to the hotel. We wired ahead for reservations.
See also: ahead, wire
wire something in
to send something into a central point by telegram. I can't mail my story to my editor in time, so I will have to wire it in. I've got to wire in this story.
See also: wire
wire something together
to bind the pieces of something together with wire; to bind things together with wire. I wired the car's exhaust pipe together, hoping to get a few more miles out of it. I will wire it together to keep it from dragging on the roadway.
See also: together, wire
wire something up
1. to repair or reattach something with wire, especially something electrical. I will wire this light fixture up and it will work like new. As soon as I wire up this again, it will work very well.
2. . to attach something to a high place with wire. We wired the satellite dish up to the side of the chimney. We wired up the antenna to the chimney.
See also: up, wire
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
wire in
v.
1. To install or connect something or someone with wires: If we wire in the VCR, we won't be able to unplug it easily. I wired the television in with our stereo. You can't take the radio out of this circuit; it's wired in.
2. To implement some computer functionality directly through electronic circuitry rather than through programming. Used chiefly in the passive: The computer can perform mathematical operations quickly because they are wired in.
3. To determine or put something into effect by some physiological or neurological mechanism. Used chiefly in the passive: Many basic reflexes, such as breathing and the beating of the heart, are wired in.
4. To connect to a communication network by radio: The taxi was stuck in traffic, so the driver wired in to say they would be late.
See also: wire
wire up
v.
1. To connect, equip, or install something with or as if with wires: The technician wired the computer up. When I first wired up the VCR, it didn't work properly.
2. To equip something with power or Internet access: They wired up the library so the students could access online journals. We took the big spare room and wired it up for use as a recording studio.
3. To secure something with wires: We wired up the flagpole so that it wouldn't blow over. A surgeon had to wire my jaw up after the accident.
4. To cause someone to become stimulated, excited, or alert, as from a stimulant or a rush of adrenaline: That cup of coffee really wired me up. Too much soda has wired up the kids, and they're getting out of control.
See also: up, wire
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
hot wire
tv. to start a car without a key. (By using a wire to carry current around the ignition switch.) Lefty hot wired the car and used it for an hour or two.
See also: hot, wire
wire
verbSee live wire
wire
1. n. a spy smuggled into a place. Marlon thought Lefty was a wire.
2. tv. to install electronic eavesdropping equipment. Somebody wired the mayor’s office.
3. Go to (live) wire.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
- hot wire
- wired
- off key
- off-key
- key in
- high-key
- transpose (something) from (something) (in)to (something)
- key off
- transpose (something) to (something)
- under lock and key