make a bad break—(coll.) say or do smth. tactless or inappropriate: Belton felt that he had made a bad break and looked around a little uneasily at the principal. make a clean break—separate from a person that one has a connection with: When I suggested a trial separation she said I didn’t have the guts […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between Made to be sold and Made to sell
made to be sold—said of goods manufactured to be purchased: Village workshop rugs were made to be sold, not used within the tribe in which they were made. made to sell—said of goods manufactured to secure a ready sale without regard to quality: In some cameras, “made to sell,” no care is taken to adjust […]
Difference between Made man and Well-made man
made man—a man whose success or prosperity is assured: And don’t bother your head about losing your job. You’re a made man now. Cf.: self-made man—a man risen to a high position by one’s own effort: He was of the climber type, a selfmade man in the earlier and less inspiring stages of the making. […]
Difference between Made from something and Made of something
made from something—is used with reference to the source material from which smth. different is produced: Cheap alcohol, made from potatoes or beetroot, is utilized to a considerable extent in place of petrol. made of something—is used with reference to the source material which still exists in its original form in the finished product: The […]
Difference between Mad as a March hare and Mad as a wet hen
mad as a March hare—crazy; insane: Anyone who thinks the moon is made of green cheese is mad as a March hare. mad as a wet hen—(also: mad as a hornet) very angry; extremely irritated: Mrs. Harris was mad as a wet hen when the rabbits ate all her tulips. Note: Neither expression fully correlates […]
Difference between Mad about something and Mad for something
mad about something—(coll.) 1. very enthusiastic about smth.; excessively interested in smth.: Most of the folks I’m particularly close to are as mad about sport as I am. 2. very angry about smth.: Viola says she got mad about that interview in the paper, about marriages being broken up. mad for something—(coll.) 1. craving or […]
Difference between Lunar politics and Lunatic policy
lunar politics—said of matters of no practical concern: Hume’s subtle intellect takes up a great many problems and shows us that they are essentially questions of lunar politics. lunatic policy—madly foolish, idiotic policy: I’m afraid we’re a long way from the degree of understanding that is required to change our lunatic policy into a more […]
Difference between Lucky strike and Stroke of luck
lucky strike— 1. a fortunate discovery: Would they … come back to civilization with the story of a lucky strike to account for the gold they brought? 2. a chance piece of good fortune: It was a lucky strike that we were able to land so close to the boat, so we could follow the […]
Difference between Lucky man and Man of luck
lucky man— 1. a man who is fortunate or successful: If he’s a friend of yours, you’re a lucky man, for if ever a fellow was one of the salt of the earth, he is. 2. a bridegroom: The six gentlemanly cowboys swore that whoever should prove to be the lucky man, the others would […]
Difference between Luck it out and One’s luck is out
luck it out—(also: luck out) achieve success by good luck in a difficult situation: Rock City isn’t the easiest of places to find if you don’t know Nottingham but somehow we lucked it out. one’s luck is out—one has bad luck: Such are the perils of any racing these days, but I did begin to […]
Difference between Lower world and Underworld
lower world— 1. mortal earth as opposed to heaven: Innumerable high-dressed gentlemen, gods of this lower world, are gone all to inorganic powder. 2. the realm of the dead: In the mysteries of Eleusis, the return of Cora from the lower world was regarded as the symbol of immortality. underworld— 1. the community of criminals: […]
Difference between Lower one’s ears and Prick up one’s ears
lower one’s ears —(coll.) get a haircut (also: get one’s ears lowered): I’m debating weather or not to lower my ears before school, leaning towards the more hippie of the options. prick up one’s ears —(coll.) become attentive or alert to listen: A bleating sound caught Baldred’s attention. He pricked up his ears as it […]