hold a parade— 1. organize a procession of people or soldiers to celebrate a special day or event: The King is glad to know that the Boy Scouts are holding their first annual parade. 2. (legal) conduct a procedure in which the witness is asked to pick out the criminal from among a group of […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between Hold a job and Hold down a job
hold a job—have a job; be employed: The number of unemployed workers who had not held a job in over twelve months nearly doubled in the 1990s. hold down a job—keep a job for a reasonable length of time: He never held a job down for long because of the drink, he was always getting […]
Hold a candle for someone vs Hold a candle to someone
hold a candle for someone—(also: carry the torch for someone) retain admiration or love for a person (especially if the feeling is not mutual)
Difference between Hoist one’s flag and Hoist the flag
hoist one’s flag— 1. (of an admiral) take up command: In May 1804, Northesk was promoted to the rank of rear-admiral, and, in the following month, hoisted his flag in the Britannia. 2. show one’s feelings or intentions: The discussion ranged round what we should do … but the parson hoisted his flag by saying […]
Difference between Hog-wash and Pig-washing
hog-wash —(sl.) 1. weak inferior liquor: He had had enough of that sort of hog-wash ladled out to him for genuine liquor. 2. said contemptuously of writings of any kind: He taught sociology and I told him straight that hogwash was not one of my subjects. pig-washing—(Metallurg y) the refining of molten pig-iron by treatment […]
Difference between Hog it and Pig it
hog it—(U.S. sl.) appropriate smth. greedily or selfishly; not share smth. (monopolizing the road, etc.): Now I will really hog it a bit: this is a lovely piece of road. pig it—(sl.) live squalidly or in dirty surroundings: You can’t expect two masterminds like us to pig it in that room downstairs. Note: a) The […]
Difference between Hoe one’s own row and Ring one’s own bell
hoe one’s own row—(U.S.) be independent; follow one’s interests or inclination (also: paddle one’s own canoe): Now that I have hoed my own row … they deluge me with congratulations. ring one’s own bell —(also: blow one’s own trumpet) announce one’s own successes; praise oneself: He was a good team member. He’s not out there […]
Difference between Hobson’s choice and Sophie’s choice
Hobson’s choice—the option of taking the one thing offered or nothing: There is presently only one stock exchange in Hong Kong and in that respect companies desiring a listing are given Hobson’s choice. Sophie’s choice—(originally the title of the book by W. Styron) a choice between two persons or things that will result in the […]
Difference between Hit the road and Hit the streets
hit the road —(coll.) get going; leave: Billy and I hit the road early but were sidetracked by coffee and breakfast and didn’t start in earnest until eight. hit the streets —(coll.) 1. go out into the street: Within about two minutes of hitting the streets we’d picked up a boy who insisted on being […]
Difference between Hit the high spots and Hit the spot
hit the high spots —(coll.) say or do only the important or obvious things: I said into the telephone, “Just hit the high spots and don’t be too specific. I’m in a hurry.” hit the spot—(coll.) be exactly what is required (especially of food and drink): Seed tea hits the spot during the hot summer […]
Difference between Hit the ground and Hit the ground running
hit the ground—(also: hit ground) 1. fall to the ground suddenly (to avoid being shot, etc.): The voice was cut out by a sudden blast of gunfire. He hit the ground and readied his rifle. 2. (of a storm, etc.) come with forcible impact: We watched a straight and narrow tornado hit the ground a […]
Difference between Hit the bull’s eye and Hit the eye
hit the bull’s eye—(also: strike the bull’s eye) 1. attain the intended object; succeed: The public is a very curious animal and … how difficult it is to tell what will hit the bull’s eye. 2. guess the right thing; give a correct answer: I implemented a policy of giving partial credit for answers that […]