home phone—a telephone at a person’s place of residence: “This was intercepted yesterday afternoon on the Milettis’ home phone,” the magistrate explained. house phone—a telephone connected to the switchboard of a building but not directly to the exchange: The lighted button was his private line, not his house phone. Everyone understood that his private line […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between Home-keeping and Housekeeping
home-keeping— 1. looking after the house (managing the cleaning, cooking etc.): Marriage is more difficult because you must agree on home keeping, child rearing, dealing with inlaws…. 2. (attrib.) said of smb. keeping at home; home-staying: I’m very good mixer but I don’t like noisy groups; I’m a home-keeping person. housekeeping— 1. = home-keeping 1: […]
Difference between Home Guard and National Guard
Home Guard, the—(UK) a volunteer force formed to defend a homeland while the army is fighting elsewhere: Those who could not serve in the Army signed up as Local Defense Volunteers in what became known as the Home Guard. National Guard, the—(U.S.) the volunteer forces of each state, which the governor can summon in an […]
Difference between Home ground and Home zone
home ground— 1. the area where smb. lives; one’s familiar surroundings: Students benefit by experiencing interviews with prospective employers on their own home ground. 2. an area of smb.’s special strength or competence: Obviously Scorsese has done moderately well with other types of films but contemporary urban crime is his home ground. home zone—streets specially designed […]
Difference between Home boy and House-boy
home boy— 1. a boy who is fond of staying at home: A lonesome little English home boy was playing his mouth organ softly in the dusk. 2. (U.S. coll.) a man from one’s hometown or neighborhood: Like many of her home boys and girls who left the state to search for something else, she […]
Difference between Holy Roman Empire and Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire, the—the Western part of the Roman Empire as revived by Charlemagne in A.D. 800: Francis II put an end to the Holy Roman Empire by his abdication in 1806. Roman Empire, the—that established by Augustus in 27 B.C. and divided by Theodosius in A.D. 395 into the Western or Latin and Eastern […]
Difference between Holy Joe and Holy Willie
Holy Joe—(Nautical) a parson; a devoutly religious person: They all have these Holy Joe voices when they start giving their sermons. Holy Willie—a hypocritically pious person: The Holy Willies were just like the slave-owners who outlawed traditional African religions. Note: Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase Holy Moses—(exclam.) used to express strong feelings […]
Difference between Holy cow and Sacred cow
holy cow—(exclam.) is used to express strong feelings of astonishment, pleasure, or anger: “Holy cow!” Tod roared. “Will I ever forget the look on the McGloys’ faces…” sacred cow—said of smth. so cherished that it is regarded as above criticism: Tories regard interest and profit as sacred cows to be fattened at the expense of […]
Difference between Hold with something and Keep with something
hold with something—approve of or support smth.: I do not hold with heavy drinking and wild parties. keep with something—remain or stay with smth.: Keep with the convoy during the whole voyage.
Difference between Hold up and Keep up
hold up— 1. (of a structure, etc.) stay erect; remain in good condition: This building holds up well despite its age. 2. (of weather, supplies, etc.) continue; last: Will the water supply hold up through the summer? 3. remain in control of oneself: How does he hold up under such a responsibility? keep up— 1. […]
Difference between Hold the line against someone and Hold the line at someone
hold the line against someone—take a firm opposing stand with regard to smb.: You’ve been holding the line against those who have sought to legislate the Second Amendment into oblivion. hold the line at someone—preclude a person from being invited or admitted to a place: The Browns and the Smiths could be invited, but I […]
Difference between Hold the field and Keep the field
hold the field— 1. keep one’s position against attack; remain undefeated: American troops held the field but it was not a clear-cut victory. 2. be not superseded or displaced: Petroleum spirit still holds the field as a propelling force, both in the cars exhibited here and in those seen in London streets. keep the field […]