Man of Steel— 1. a nickname for the movie superhero Superman: There will never be another Man of Steel, on film or in real life, like Chris. 2. is used of the name Stalin adopted by the Russian dictator Joseph Dzhugashvili (1879–1953): It seems more than ever the world needs another Stalin, another Man of […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between Man of service and Serviceman
man of service —(dated) a veteran soldier: The parallel between Cincinnatus and Washington as men of service is striking. serviceman— 1. a man serving in the armed forces: Some servicemen had prewar business experience which was being amplified by their military duties. 2. a man providing service or maintenance: The knowledge that the course provides […]
Difference between Man of property and Property man
man of property—a wealthy individual: They are all men of property and always entertained a respect for property. property man—(Theater) a man in charge of stage properties (also: property master): The property man, needing assistance, hired clearers to help move and shift properties between scenes.
Difference between Man of nerve and Nervous man
man of nerve—a bold and courageous man: The study of his life would have told them that this was a man of nerve, character, and old-fashioned common sense. Cf.: have the nerve—have the necessary courage or audacity to do smth.: They’ve got a stressful and dangerous job and I wouldn’t have the nerve to do […]
Difference between Man of men and Man’s man
man of men—an outstanding man; a man of supreme excellence: But that John should come under her will so, John who was a man of men! man’s man—a man who likes to be in the company of other men and who enjoys activities which men typically enjoy: He had had comparatively little to do with […]
Difference between Man of mark and Marked man
man of mark—a noteworthy person: This French tutor was a man of mark who had held a lectureship in Paris. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the compound marksman— 1. smb. who attains a certain standard in shooting at a target: I am an indifferent marksman both at range and on safari. […]
Difference between Man of figure and Man of figures
man of figure—a person of influence: He has all that can be said of any man of figure, wit, and virtue in town. man of figures—smb. versed in arithmetic or statistics: When Jane could not balance her checking account, she sought assistance from Steve, who was a man of figures.
Difference between Man of blood and Man of blood and iron
man of blood—(arch.) smb. guilty of bloodshed; a man responsible for the murder or death of any one: David was called a man of blood not because he enraged in wars which were legitimate but on account of Uriah, whose blood he criminally shed. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase […]
Difference between Man in the street and Street man
man in the street—the common man; just anyone selected at random: But what does the man in the street think about all this? street man—(U.S. sl.) a petty criminal (as a pickpocket, drug peddler, etc.) who operates on the streets: He is playing partner to the pusher whose street man is keeping the girl hooked.
Difference between Man in the moon and Moon man
man in the moon—a vague, unidentified person; an imaginary person: “Then you don’t know how things are settled?” “No more than the man in the moon.” moon man—an astronaut who journeys to the moon: The moon men (or lunarnauts, as they will doubtless come to be called) must be able to park their spacecraft.
Difference between Man in the middle and Middleman
man in the middle—a person between two opponents: And now, Specter is the man in the middle when it comes to the current wrangling over judicial nominees. middleman—a person who buys from the producer and sells to the merchant: If we can buy from the producer, we can save the money we pay to the […]
Difference between “Man and boy” and “Old and young”
man and boy—from boyhood onwards: I have worked here, man and boy, for several different corporations, for twenty years now. old and young—people of all ages: Then old and young came from every side with roses, the loveliest that bloomed in each garden.