left at the mercy of someone—left in smb.’s absolute power: Once the Roman army withdrew, England was left at the mercy of various marauding tribes. left to the tender mercies of someone—(ironic) left to be dealt with by smb. who is not likely to show any kindness or sympathy: I found her father left to […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between Lecture in something and Lecture on something
lecture in something—give lectures in a subject to a group of students: Dr. Watson lectures in English literature. lecture on something— 1. lecture to students on a specific topic: This term he is lecturing on the nineteenth-century novelists. 2. give a long talk on a topic to a group of people: He goes round the […]
Difference between Lecture at someone and Lecture to someone
lecture at someone—talk to a person in a sententious, pompous manner: He doesn’t talk to you if you approach him, he lectures at you pedantically. lecture to someone—give a formal talk (to a group of students, etc.): He still finds the time to make frequent visits to Rio Grande University where he lectures to students […]
Difference between Leave someone with something and Leave something with someone
leave someone with something—leave a person in possession of smth. that may be a burden or responsibility: He asked me to hold this parcel for him a moment, then he went off and left me with it. leave something with someone—leave smth. in a person’s care: You won’t actually get to speak to the minister […]
Difference between Leave someone stew and Leave someone stew in one’s own juice
leave someone stew—(also: let someone stew) keep a person in a state of uneasy anticipation or suspense: I knew that the group would be wondering what was going to happen next to them but I decided to leave them stew on it for a while. leave someone stew in one’s own juice —(also: let someone […]
Difference between Leave someone cold and Leave someone out in the cold
leave someone cold—fail to impress or interest a person: An orator may discourse very eloquently on injustice and leave his audience cold. leave someone out in the cold—ignore or abandon smb.: Developing countries might be left out in the cold in current world trade talks. Note: The expression does not fully correlate in meaning with […]
Difference between Leave someone alone and Leave someone to oneself
leave someone alone— 1. go away from a person: Her parents had gone on holiday for a week, and left us alone in their big house. 2. (also: let someone alone) abstain from disturbing or interfering with a person: She yelled at me to go away and leave her alone. But I ignored her and […]
Difference between Leave someone a clear field and Leave someone the field
leave someone a clear field—give a person a free hand; abstain from interference: And I’ve never written yet—that is, never sent a letter away. I’ve been very good to them in leaving them a clear field. leave someone the field— 1. (of an army) retreat after having been defeated by the enemy in battle: Shortly before […]
Difference between Leave it to someone and Leave someone to it
leave it to someone—let another person deal with a matter: The professionals all take a greater share of responsibility if a project is to be a success instead of leaving it to the “jack of all trades”—the project engineer. leave someone to it—leave a person alone to proceed with smth. without interfering with his work: […]
Difference between Leave alone and Leave well alone
leave alone —(also: let alone) not to mention; not counting: We shall never get six of us in the car, leave alone bags and boxes. leave well alone —(also: leave well enough alone) make no change to smth. that is satisfactory (in case one makes things worse): It’s a great deal of trouble and unnecessary […]
Difference between Leap in the dark and Shot in the dark
leap in the dark—a hazardous action of which one cannot foresee the consequences: Who’d marry if he was afraid he’d regret it later? What is life, old boy, but a leap in the dark? shot in the dark—a wild guess or try made at random: The suggested solution was just a shot in the dark, […]
Difference between Lean on something and Lean towards something
lean on something—depend on smth.; rely on smth. for support: Christianity may lean on the civil and ecclesiastical power. lean towards something—have a tendency to act in a particular way; tend to some quality or condition: Do some oriental philosophies lean towards fatalism?