let someone in for something—involve a person in smth. unpleasant; cause smb. to have trouble: The boy’s careless treatment of the car has let me in for a large repair bill. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase put someone in for something—enter a person for an examination, contest, etc.: How […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between Let someone down and Let someone down easy
let someone down—disappoint a person; fail to support or aid smb.: I leave it to you, Stephen. I know you’ll not let me down. Note: The expression is not antonymous in meaning to the phrase let up on someone—treat a person less harshly or severely: By the time Jon turned eight, our financial problems became […]
Difference between Let one’s hair down and Put one’s hair up
let one’s hair down—(also: let one’s back hair down) throw off restraint in one’s behavior: Those who are doomed to a life of formality look forward to the week-end when they can let their hair down. put one’s hair up—assume adult responsibilities: Lively young thing, I recall—but she’ll have put her hair up by now. […]
Difference between Let off steam and Put on steam
let off steam—(also: blow off steam) give vent to one’s repressed emotions (by talking in an unrestrained manner, etc.): This special session will give politicians a chance to let off steam. put on steam—(also: get up steam) build up strength or energy; become more active: Get on a little faster; put a little more steam […]
Difference between Let it all hang out and Let it go hang
let it all hang out—(coll.) let the truth be known; not disguise anything: No names, of course, will be used; he doesn’t expect everyone will be as willing as he is to let it all hang out. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase hang it all—(exclam.) used to express one’s anger, […]
Difference between Let go of something and Let go with something
let go of something—stop holding smth.; release smth.: As soon as I let go of the leash, the dog ran away. let go with something—give vent to laughter, angry words, etc.: The lawyer let go with a vicious attack on the tactics of his opponent. Note: Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase let […]
Difference between Let go of someone and Let someone go
let go of someone—stop holding a person: He shouted at the cops, “Let go of me! You have to let go of me!” let someone go— 1. allow smb. to leave: Taking the man prisoner might jeopardize the mission, so he decides to let the prisoner go. 2. discharge a person from employment: Since we […]
Difference between Let alone and Let well alone
let alone —(also: leave alone) not to mention; not counting: It is hard to get a gardener who can prune a gooseberry-bush, let alone raise a cucumber. let well alone —(also: leave well alone) make no change to smth. that is satisfactory (in case one makes things worse): Was he a fool? Could he not […]
Difference between Lending library (UK) and Lending library (U.S.)
lending library (UK)—a library from which books may be taken away without direct payment: He looked a little on the young side … to spend his life in lending libraries. The perpetual student? lending library (U.S.)—a library from which books may be taken away with direct payment: This payment does not cover verification and location […]
Difference between Leg-show and Show a leg
leg-show—a theatrical performance by scantily-dressed women: At a leg-show of these days you saw far less of the female form than is now exhibited in the streets. show a leg—is used to urge people to get up or do smth. with more effort: In the morning, the boatswain’s mate would awaken the crew with the […]
Difference between Left-hand man and Left-handed man
left-hand man—one’s associate who is not really important or effective (a play on the expression “right-hand man”—a person’s chief assistant): When he attempted to characterize me as Gritz’s “right-hand man,” I hastened to point out that I barely qualified as his “left-hand man.” left-handed man—a man who uses chiefly the left hand for ordinary tasks: […]
Difference between Left-hand and Left-handed
left-hand— 1. said of smth. situated on the left side: Carry on past the school and take the left hand turning towards Heddington. 2. said of a car with left-hand steering: By the way, it’s kind of weird drive a left-hand car in a left-hand side lane (a continental car in UK). 3. (of bidirectional […]