lay figure— 1. a wooden figure of the human body, used as a model for the arrangement of draperies, etc.: Her aunt asked her to stand as a sort of lay figure on which to display them [shawls]. 2. smb. of little importance; an insignificant person: At chapel the registrar is the important person, and […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between Lay down one’s job and Lie down on the job
lay down one’s job —(also: lay down one’s office) resign from a position of power or responsibility: Buddy Darden is just one of the people who was brave enough to lay down his job in Congress. lie down on the job—be irresponsible or careless in one’s job; fail to work as hard as one should: […]
Difference between Lay cash on the barrelhead and Lay cash on the line
lay cash on the barrelhead—(also: put cash on the barrelhead) pay money at the time of the transaction: It remains to be seen whether the Russians are ready to lay cash on the barrelhead. lay cash on the line —(also: put cash on the line) allocate money; make a financial commitment: You’re not about to […]
Difference between Lay away money and Lay out money
lay away money—save some money: I am trying hard to lay away enough money to buy a house. lay out money—spend a certain amount of money: She had to lay out a lot of money to get her car fixed.
Difference between Lay a weight on something and Lay weight on something
lay a weight on something—(also: put a weight on something) add weight to smth.; make smth. heavy: Try either bending a warm board carefully by hand, or lay a weight on it overnight. lay weight on something—emphasize smth.; treat smth. as being particularly important: We have laid weight on the problem of quality ever since […]
Difference between Lay a finger on something and Lay one’s finger on something
lay a finger on something—harm or interfere with smth. however slightly: Nobody is going, within the foreseeable future, to lay a finger on the trade unions. lay one’s finger on something—(also: put one’s finger on something) 1. find or locate smth.: So far I haven’t been able to lay my finger on the book you […]
Difference between Lay a finger on someone and Put the finger on someone
lay a finger on someone—(also: set a finger on someone) touch or harm a person however slightly: I never ever laid a finger on him. We were very good friends. put the finger on someone —(sl.) inform against smb.; denounce a person to the police: If I’m grabbed with this junk I’ll rot in jail […]
Difference between Lawman and Man of law
lawman—(U.S.) 1. a law-enforcement officer: Had he actually seen the rough law-men bundle the startled widow into the Black Maria? 2. a sheriff or marshal: A retired lawman, still sporting a tin star, demonstrated how he could kill with either hand. man of law—(UK dated) a lawyer: Another man of law now came in, straight […]
Difference between Law of nature and Law of the jungle
law of nature—(also: natural law) 1. is used to refer to a particular phenomenon always occurring if certain conditions are present: A fundamental law of nature must capture a causeand-effect relation about the workings of the real world. 2. is used of ideas, etc. as implanted by nature in the human mind: Right libertarians are […]
Difference between Law Day and Lawful Day
Law Day—(U.S.) the day established by a resolution of Congress in 1961 to draw attention to the principles of justice and the practice of law: For the last several years the American Bar Association has been sponsoring “Law Day” on May 1. Lawful Day—(hist.) a day on which the courts sat; a day on which […]
Difference between Laundry list and Shopping list
laundry list—said of a large number of usually unpleasant things: General Motors is charged by its critics with primary responsibility for a laundry list of social ills, including air pollution. shopping list—said of a long list of items to be considered, acted upon, etc.: Ground-to-air missiles were on the “shopping list” of defense equipment taken […]
Difference between Latency period and Latent period
latency period—(Psycholog y) the period between the ages of 4 or 5 and about 12 years, which separates pregenital sexuality from the beginning of puberty: I remember a very definite change when I reached what in modern child psychology is called the “latency period.” Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase […]