hard for someone—difficult for a person: It is hard for me to recall a face or a person’s appearance. hard on someone—treating smb. severely or harshly: You mustn’t be so hard on the poor child.
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between Hard drink and Hard drinking
hard drink—(of liquor) intoxicating; strong: With a hard drink in the hand the day lengthens and softens. Cf.: soft drink—a nonalcoholic, flavored, carbonated beverage: Sugary soft drinks have been given much of the blame for overweight children. hard drinking—indulging in alcohol to excess: It seemed as though no student’s education was complete without a spell […]
Difference between Hard cash and Hard coin
hard cash —(also: hard money) money in its proper form, as distinguished from checks, etc.: Not enough pilots seem ready to lay out hard cash for weather and flight-planning information. hard coin—(U.S. sl.) lots of money: Old Freddie is earning some hard coin these days.
Difference between Hard at something and Hard on something
hard at something—working diligently on smth.: She was hard at her lessons when we entered the room. hard on something—treating smth. severely or harshly: These rough roads are hard on your shoes.
Difference between Hard at it and Hard put to it
hard at it—very busy; working industriously: When we got to the field, the farmer and his son were already hard at it. hard put to it—find it very difficult to do smth.: Developing countries are hard put to it to raise the capital even for cheaper, though more pollutive, technologies.
Difference between Happy Families and Happy family
Happy Families—a game played with a pack of special cards: The well-known game of Happy Families is nothing but a variation of Spade the Gardener. happy family— 1. said of a group of people living together in harmony: All the Ashkenazic tribes lived very much like a happy family. 2. (Austral.) a popular name of […]
Difference between Happy day and Happy days
happy day—the day of marriage ceremony: “When’s the happy day?” Cubitt said and they all smiled. happy days—is used as a toast: “Happy days!” cried Mobbs. “Cheers!” said the Major gloomily. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase heavenly days—(exclam.) used to express amazement and disbelief with negative coloring: Heavenly days! […]
Difference between Hang up one’s fiddle and Hang up one’s fiddle at the door
hang up one’s fiddle—(dated) retire from business; give up an undertaking: I could see plain enough that it was time for me to hang up my fiddle. hang up one’s fiddle at the door —(UK dated) cease to be cheerful when in the company of one’s family: Jim is a happy man when he is […]
Difference between Hang someone out to dry and Leave someone hanging
hang someone out to dry—(coll.) not support or help smb.; abandon a person when he is in trouble: I made a mistake that made a customer very angry and my boss really hung me out to dry! leave someone hanging —(coll.) keep smb. waiting for a decision or answer: When Amal had to leave for […]
Difference between Hang one’s hat and Hang up one’s hat
hang one’s hat— 1. settle oneself; take up residence: She’s looking for somewhere to hang her hat, now that her twentyyear marriage has ended. 2. (on) depend upon smb.; rely on a person: Why that’s my preacher. I hang my hat on him every time. hang up one’s hat— 1. retire from a position or […]
Difference between Hang on and Hang one on
hang on—(coll.) 1. continue smth. persistently; persevere with smth.: I really want to go to sleep, but I am going to hang on for a couple more hours. 2. keep listening on the telephone; not hang up: Please hang on for a minute while I find out what team you are on. I will let […]
Difference between Hang it on someone and Hang one on someone
hang it on someone—(sl.) blame it on smb.: We can’t hang it on someone for their race…. But once you get past a certain age, being fat is a choice. hang one on someone—(sl., also: lay one on someone) strike a person with a blow: He hit me first, but then I hung one on […]