men in the street—common people: This BBC camera crew went round collecting close-ups of men in the street saying what they think of things. street people—people who live in the streets; homeless people: There are a lot of cold street people at this time of the year.
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between Meet something and Meet with something
meet something— 1. be next to smth.; join together: We had rounded Cape Point, where the Atlantic meets the Indian Ocean. 2. encounter or confront smth.: Sometimes he meets a situation for which his moral rules do not provide. 3. deal satisfactorily with smth.: We will be able to meet this challenge—not on our own […]
Difference between Meet someone and Meet with someone
meet someone— 1. become acquainted with a person: I remember being swept completely off my feet when I first met Jim. 2. encounter a person for (casual) socializing: I first met him for coffee one evening. I was really unsure of our suitability after this first date…. 3. encounter (a friend, etc.) unexpectedly: I last […]
Difference between Mediterranean disease and Mediterranean fever
Mediterranean disease—(also: Mediterranean anemia) thalassemia (a hereditary hemolytic anemia): This interesting disease presents three important abnormalities together characterizing a syndrome which may be designated “Mediterranean disease.” Mediterranean fever—(also: Malta fever) an enteric fever caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella: One should avoid direct contact with strange dogs as fleas, who live by sucking the […]
Difference between Medical man and Medicine man
medical man—a doctor; a physician: A medical man, who may be called up at any moment, must make sure of his “beauty-sleep.” medicine man—a witch-doctor or magician in primitive societies: They will not revisit their own camp until it is first visited by their priest or medicine man.
Difference between Meddle in something and Meddle with something
meddle in something—intervene in smth. which is not one’s concern: In reality, of course, powerful states have often meddled in the internal affairs of their weaker neighbors. meddle with something—get involved with smth., making unauthorized or unwanted changes: When a classic recipe is fabulous, don’t meddle with it, and just do what you’re told.
Difference between May be and Maybe
may be—could be: You’ll get help, it may be me or somebody else; rest assured that the problem will be solved. maybe—(used as an adverb) perhaps; possibly: The two of them laughed at some joke they had shared, or maybe me?
Difference between Match up to something and Match with something
match up to something—come up to some standard: His performance did not match up to the glowing account we had received of him. match with something—correspond or harmonize with smth.: These curtains do not match with the decorations. Note: Neither expression fully correlates in meaning with the phrase match something— 1. = match with something: The […]
Difference between Master of oneself and One’s own master
master of oneself—a person who is in full control of his faculties and emotions: “I’ll get cousin Daniel to drive me over at once,” said Samuel, master of himself and of the situation. one’s own master—smb. who is independent of other people and is able to make his own decisions: The university vicechancellors are no […]
Difference between Martyr for something and Martyr to something
martyr for something—smb. who is made to suffer severely for a cause, etc.: His father had died a martyr for that cause, which he now wanted so basely to betray. martyr to something—a person who is acutely afflicted by smth. such as a disease: The deceased had been a martyr for years to rheumatic gout.
Difference between Marked for something and Marked with something
marked for something—singled out or destined for success, some grim fate, etc.: Mr. Edwards is a longtime faithful employee who was marked for advancement in the company. marked with something—characterized by smth.; showing clear signs of smth.: His life is marked with achievements earned through hard work and faith.
Difference between Mark the time and Mark time
mark the time— 1. (of the clock) show time: In the days when no clock marked the time, “cock-crowing” became a familiar phrase, as today, when referring to the earliest hour of dawn. 2. record or indicate specific time: As the two girls entered the hall they saw that the tall clock marked the time […]