high ground— 1. a mountainous region in a country: The river then does really occupy a hollow, enclosed on three sides by high ground. 2. an advantageous position or moral superiority: The document is an attempt to win back the political high ground. high land — = high ground 1: It is the high land nearest […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between High class and Upper class
high class— 1. said of high quality items: The place was a “saloon” … drinking and smoking went on during the performance, but the pieces put upon the stage were all of a high class. 2. exclusive; select: It was a high-class school at Brighton, where girls are taught to use lipstick and adore the […]
Difference between High-brow and High-browed
high-brow— 1. (of people) highly intellectual or aesthetically refined: I’m not a very high-brow individual and I usually don’t enjoy abstract art. 2. (of things) sophisticated and requiring intellectual effort to be understood: Prior to going off on a high-browed tirade about “assumed incompatibilism,” you may want to learn the definition. high-browed— 1. (of a […]
Difference between High-boy and Tallboy
high-boy—(U.S.) a tall chest of drawers (often raised on legs), usually in two parts, one standing on the other: During the Queen Anne period in America, the highboy attained its characteristic form. Cf.: lowboy—(U.S.) a low chest of drawers, about three feet high on short legs: This is a reproduction of a lowboy likely built […]
Difference between High beam and High beams
high beam—said of car lights set for maximum long-range illumination of the road ahead: Eddie drove the old Sedan de Ville cautiously, the headlights on high beam. high beams—horizontal cross timbers of a hayloft, garret, etc.: Larry lifted the sticky brown carpet … stripped paint from the high beams in the living room.
Difference between High ball and Highball
high ball—(Sport) said of a ball that is thrown quite high: All was well until Maya threw a high ball at me and I ran backwards to get it. highball—(U.S.) 1. liquor mixed with ice and water, usually served in a tall glass: He offered to mix me a highball from a decanter and siphon […]
Difference between High and low and Up and down
high and low— 1. in every conceivable place; everywhere: We searched high and low for the best career coach to serve our clients. 2. said of people of high and low station: In the public forum he was outspoken and called both high and low people to task. 3. the maximum and the minimum temperature, […]
Difference between High and dry and High-dried
high and dry— 1. (of a stranded ship) cast on the shore: The small Mexican brig which had been cast away in a south-easter … now lay up, high and dry. 2. in a helpless or abandoned position: Millions of old people were left high and dry during periods of economic decline. 3. (U.S. diners) […]
Difference between Hide one’s head and Hide one’s head in the sand
hide one’s head— 1. lower one’s head because of shame or embarrassment: Tim hid his head in shame as two police officers came and led him away. 2. keep out of sight (to avoid danger, etc.): The hart pursued by hounds chooses rather to give up its life than to hide its head in the […]
Difference between Hide and hair and Neither hide nor hair
hide and hair —(coll.) 1. completely; wholly: And I don’t mean to do the thing by halves. No; I shall save you, hide and hair. 2. (in the phrase “eat someone up hide and hair”) hurt or otherwise seriously harm a person: Mother had often said that anybody could eat us up hide and hair […]
Difference between Here we go and There you go
here we go— 1. (also: here goes) said by a person ready to begin smth. that takes skill, luck or courage: “Here we go,” Turk murmured grimly, climbing in behind the wheel. “It’s Sydney or the bush! Keep your fingers crossed.” 2. (also: here we go again) is used when smth. unpleasant or undesirable should […]
Difference between Here goes and There goes
here goes—(also: here we go) said by a person ready to begin smth. that takes skill, luck or courage: “Here goes!” said Charley, as he jumped off the high diving board. there goes—is used to express regret when circumstances prevent one getting smth.: When I was in the States, I heard they canceled the project […]