hot-blooded—easily excited or aroused emotionally: President Kibaki is no hot-blooded youth bursting with combative political flames. warm-blooded— 1. said of animals whose body temperature is internally regulated: The dinosaurs that nested at Egg Mountain were warm-blooded creatures. 2. (of people) eager or enthusiastic enough: There was once a time—believe it or not—when companies actually had warm-blooded […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between “hot and cold” and “hot and hot”
hot and cold—short for “hot and cold water” (in a hotel, etc.): He’s working out that plan for laying on hot and cold. hot and hot—said of dishes served in succession as soon as cooked: Her potato cakes came in hot and hot from a potoven.
Difference between Horse tail and Mare’s tail
horse tail —(also: pony tail) a type of women’s hair style with hair drawn back, tied and hanging down: She wore jeans and a cotton sweater, her hair was in a horse-tail. mare’s tail— 1. a tall slender marsh plant: This is an old photograph of the submerged aquatic plant called mare’s-tail, Hippuris vulgaris. 2. […]
Difference between Horse-play and Play the horses
horse-play—rough or boisterous behavior, passing the bounds of propriety: Dryden’s best comic attempts were but heavy horse-play. play the horses—bet on horserace results: No wonder his wife is penniless; he is always playing the horses and losing his money. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase horse around—(also: horse about) behave […]
Difference between Hop it and Hop to it
hop it—(UK sl.) be off; move away quickly: “Are we going to stick it here?” said one. “Didn’t the sergeant say something about hopping it?” hop to it—(U.S. coll.) start a job; do smth. immediately: If you finish your homework quickly you can watch TV tonight, so you’d better hop to it.
Difference between Hook someone up and Hook up with someone
hook someone up— 1. (coll.) establish an intimate relationship between two people; supply a person with a date: I’ve had some of the worst dates due to my friends trying to hook me. 2. (Police) take a person into custody (reference being to the act of handcuffing): Tags on the car are expired, let’s go […]
Difference between “hook, line, and sinker” and “lock, stock and barrel”
hook, line, and sinker—accept or believe smth. completely or without reservation (usually in the phrase “swallow something hook, line, and sinker”): You must not swallow hook, line and sinker all that you have been told or read. lock, stock and barrel—taking or including everything: Looking back it is hard to believe that we actually moved […]
Difference between Honors of war and Military honors
honors of war—privileges granted to a capitulating force: The French troops shall file out with all the honors of war, with arms and baggage, to the outside, where they will lay down their arms. military honors—the external marks of respect paid by troops to royalty or high military or civil officials: The allied troops rendered […]
Difference between Honorary degree and Honors degree
honorary degree—a degree conferred by the university, etc. as an honor, without the usual requirements: I got an encouragement out of the blue in the form of an honorary degree from Berlin. honors degree—a degree conferred by the university, etc. requiring some specialization and a high level of attainment: Applicants should preferably be of honors degree […]
Difference between Honor-man and Man of honor
honor-man—(also: honors man) a person obtaining an “honors degree” from a university, etc.: He entered Queens University at Kingston, Ontario, and again was honor man of his class in anatomy. man of honor—a person with a reputation for loyalty, truthfulness, etc.: Are you or are you not willing to act like a man of honor […]
Difference between Homestay and Stay-at-home
homestay—a visit to smb.’s home in a foreign country (often a stay by an exchange student): As Howell discovered during her homestay, much of the education in a study abroad program takes place beyond the classroom. stay-at-home— 1. said of smb. preferring a quiet domestic life to traveling or leading a busy social life: Thoreau […]
Difference between Homecraft and Housecraft
homecraft—an art or craft pursued in the home: Clock production was part of the homecraft of the peasant people of Dalarna province in Sweden. housecraft—the art of managing a house; skill in domestic duties: The girls did housecraft activities such as cleaning and cookery and also studied typing.