man about town—(dated) a man who socializes in fashionable circles: A young man afraid of marriage may compensate by specializing in dating and courting, becoming a “man about town.” Note: The expression is not equivalent in meaning to the phrase man of the town—(arch.) one belonging to the shady or “fast” side of town life; […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between Make way for something and Pave the way for something
make way for something— 1. move away or be removed so that some other thing is able to stand there: In the end, the cinema is pulled down to make way for a parking lot. 2. move aside so as to allow room for smth. such as a vehicle to pass: When an ambulance approached, […]
Difference between Make waves and Raise waves
make waves— 1. (usually of wind) cause waves to rise or appear: See over to the right, is that something stirring, or is it just the wind making waves? 2. unsettle a comfortable situation; stir up trouble: He is a solid dependable Scotsman who runs a company at a profit and doesn’t make waves. 3. […]
Difference between Make up the weight and Make weight
make up the weight— 1. supply what is wanting to complete a given weight: Train with your full packs—fill them with old clothes, etc. just to make up the weight that you would be carrying. 2. supply deficiencies; make smth. complete: Baptists teach the following great doctrines, which make up the weight and substance of […]
Difference between Make up for someone, Make up on someone, Make up to someone and Make up with someone
make up for someone—take the place of smb. who is absent, can’t work, etc.: Have you got a supply of new friends to make up for those who are gone? make up on someone—(Sport) gain on a contestant who is ahead of one in a race: He managed to make up on other runners in […]
Difference between Make time for someone and Make time with someone
make time for someone—schedule time to see a person: She makes time for kids who are less fortunate, visiting sick children in hospitals in the cities where she competes. make time with someone—(coll.) make romantic advances; flirt with a person: John plays the tough guy who tries to make time with the cafe cashier, whom […]
Difference between Make the feathers fly and Make the fur fly
make the feathers fly —(coll.) 1. (also: make the dust fly) start working with the utmost vigor: When Mrs. Hale did her spring cleaning she made the feathers fly. 2. quarrel violently; create a disturbance: Let’s keep our sense of humor and try not to make the feathers fly in all this controversy. make the […]
Difference between Make sport for someone and Make sport of someone
make sport for someone—provide amusement for a person: The squire made sport for the children of the village by engaging a Circus for the week. make sport of someone—ridicule smb.; jest at a person: We made sport of the old couple who kept the Bull; and they deserved it for always giving short measures.
Difference between Make someone’s blood boil and Make someone’s blood freeze
make someone’s blood boil—make smb. very angry or indignant: It used to make my blood boil to think that such things couldn’t be prevented. Note: a) The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase warm someone’s blood—(also: warm someone’s heart) make a person feel eager or excited: The real estate section of the […]
Difference between Make someone open his eyes and Make someone open his eyes wide
make someone open his eyes— 1. make smb. stare in surprise; amaze a person greatly: It really makes me open my eyes in amazement when people think it is impossible to live like this. 2. cause a person to realize smth.; make smb. see reason: It was the humiliation in Adelaide that made them open […]
Difference between Make play with something and Play about with something
make play with something—make effective use of smth.: Clever politicians make play with the subject for their own ends, and the general result is confusion, extravagance, and injustice. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase make a play for something—make a conspicuous attempt to gain or acquire smth.: Tony is left […]
Difference between Make over something and Make something over
make over something—(coll.) pay a lot of attention to smth.; make a fuss over smth.: Aunt Jane made over the wedding gifts as if they were for her instead of Susan. make something over—remake or refashion smth.: I’ll have to make this dress over, it’s all the wrong shape. See also: do something over / […]