not move a finger—(also: not lift a finger) not make the slightest effort to do smth.: It is unbelievable but my husband will not move a finger to help me on the domestic front. not move a muscle— 1. remain perfectly motionless: Find yourself a comfortable, out-of-sight place to sit, keep quiet, and don’t move […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between Not like the color of someone’s money and See the color of someone’s money
not like the color of someone’s money—be reluctant to take smb.’s money (because it is tainted in some way or for personal reasons): I’m not used to people telling me they don’t like the color of my money. see the color of someone’s money—have proof that a person has money and can pay: When I […]
Difference between Not know which way to look and Not know which way to turn
not know which way to look —(also: not know where to look) be quite embarrassed: She came up to me and talked and laughed till I did not know which way to look. I felt that I must be the jest of the room. not know which way to turn —(also: not know where to […]
Difference between Not know how the other half lives and Not know what the other hand is doing
not know how the other half lives—not know how other, especially poorer people live: People with steady jobs, decent income, and money in the bank often don’t know how the other half lives. not know what the other hand is doing —(used in allusion to the saying “one hand does not know what the other […]
Difference between Not in the same street and Up another street
not in the same street—(coll.) not nearly so good as smth.; much inferior (also: not in the same league): Although the fruit is sweet it’s not in the same street as an edible delicacy. up another street—(coll.) quite another thing: You want a few details…. That’s about what you want; but giving you the information […]
Difference between Not in so many words and Without many words
not in so many words—stated indirectly; not in these exact words: She would sometimes allude to this herself, though not in so many words. But the implication was clear. without many words—without much discussion or deliberation: When he had a duty to perform, Dobbin was accustomed to go through it without many words or much […]
Difference between Not in one’s backyard and Not in one’s province
not in one’s backyard—is used to express objection to the siting of smth. considered unpleasant in one’s own locality: Many people want to see more prisons being built, but not in their backyard. not in one’s province —(also: outside one’s province) outside the area of one’s learning or activity: What happened to the juvenile after […]
Difference between Not in it and Not with it
not in it— 1. not engaged in smth. as partners, competitors, etc.: For the most part the faculty members were not in it [distance education programs] for the money. 2. (coll.) not worthy of comparison with the thing stated first: Have you seen his new BMW? The old Opel isn’t in it! not with it—(coll.) […]
Difference between Not in a condition and Out of condition
not in a condition—(followed by Infinitive) unable to do smth. because of an illness, fatigue, etc. (also: in no condition): Tupman was not in a condition to rise, after the unwonted dissipation of the previous night. out of condition—in bad shape; physically unfit: The way was rough and all three of them after so many idle […]
Difference between Not have a leg to stand on and Not have the legs
not have a leg to stand on—(of an argument, opinion, etc.) be not supported by facts or sound reasons: He said that the government did not have a leg to stand on in regard to that bill. not have the legs —(of a ball in golf ) have not enough momentum to reach the desired […]
Difference between Not half bad and Not so bad
not half bad —(coll.) quite good: The machine is not half bad. It’s very quiet, and it performs as well as the PC on general office applications. not so bad—only a little bad: The weather is not so bad now as we are off the mountain but there is still mist covering the peaks.
Difference between Not half and Not the half
not half —(coll.) 1. not nearly; not at all: But why don’t you come to my room? I have some Scotch—not half bad. 2. (emphatic) only a fraction or a small part of smth.: So, I have to read that and write about it. And that’s not half of my homework. not the half — […]