half one (two, etc.)—(UK coll.) thirty minutes after one (two, etc.) o’clock: Instead of arriving at half one in Cape Town, I was only there at half four. half past one (two, etc.)—a commonly used variant of the former: At twenty past twelve we arrived at Farmers Bridge Locks, which we completed by half past […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between Half-hourly and On the half hour
half-hourly—done or occurring every half hour: We’ll be running more trains, with half-hourly departures to Paris and hourly departures to Brussels. on the half hour—occurring exactly thirty minutes after an hour marked on a clock: The clock should chime once on the half hour and twice on the hour.
Difference between Half-holiday and Half-term holiday
half-holiday—a day of which half is free from work or duty: Wall-street took the half holiday that the law allowed her yesterday. The Exchanges closed at noon. half-term holiday—(UK, also: half-term) a short vacation for schools halfway through a semester: Oliver arranged for them to spend three days out of their half-term holiday at a […]
Difference between Half a man and Half-baked man
half a man—a man lacking in spirits, strength, or courage: If only half a man—like Buck—shouts “Lynch him!” you’re afraid to back down—afraid you’ll be found out to be what you are—cowards. half-baked man —(coll., derog.) an unwise and inexperienced man: I would rather see the children in the hands of a man whose principles […]
Difference between Hair-raising story and Hairy story
hair-raising story— 1. a thrilling and scary story: I remember her telling the hair-raising story of how she was alone in her little hut somewhere in the jungles of Africa. 2. a story that shocks people: Naylor tells some hair-raising stories of how politicians have often been the chief culprits, stashing away foreign aid funds […]
Difference between Habitable planet and Inhabitable planet
habitable planet—a planet capable of supporting life: The possibility of another habitable planet is so tantalizing that scientists will devote countless hours to studying every piece of data. inhabitable planet— = habitable planet: Today marks the beginning of hope that another inhabitable planet could exist beyond earth. Note: The expression is antonymous in meaning to […]
Difference between Gutter child and Gutter man
gutter child—a neglected boy running at large; a child of low birth or breeding: The gutter child and the infant prince are alike open to the workings of the desire for esteem… gutter man—a man who cleans out the gutters of buildings: We await the gutter man. We have had to try to contact him […]
Difference between Gun for it and Gun it
gun for it—(coll.) go after smth. in earnest; try hard to obtain smth.: Learn where you want to be in life and then gun for it with everything you’ve got … and never stop trying. gun it—(coll.) cause a vehicle to accelerate rapidly or suddenly: Trials include accelerating tests where you’ll need to gun it […]
Difference between Gun chamber and Gun room
gun chamber— 1. the part of a gun that receives the loaded charge: According to Massalamani his own gun chamber got jammed, so he could not shoot. 2. an apartment on a warship used by the midshipmen and junior officers: He lost the advantage that the suddenness of his irruption into the gun chamber had […]
Difference between Gulf Country and Gulf State
Gulf Country—(Austral.) the back country of the gulf of Carpentaria in the northern part of Queensland and the Northern Territory: It’s hard to travel in the remote Gulf Country without hearing about Wollogorang Station. Gulf State— 1. an American state bordering the Gulf of Mexico: The Gulf States or their representatives in Congress killed the […]
Difference between Guilty about something and Guilty of something
guilty about something—feeling unhappy and ashamed because one has done smth. wrong: Arthur felt guilty about using spray-on polish instead of the old-fashioned wax kind. guilty of something—being responsible for an offence or crime: An amnesty was granted, with few exceptions, to all who, during the late troubles, had been guilty of political offences.
Difference between Guard ship and Guardship
guard ship—a warship stationed at some harbor to act as a guard: In a short time he returned with the commander of the guard-ship, who was also captain of the port. guardship—(also: guardianship) attention implying responsibility of a guardian or keeper: . After having left the two prisoners, who were “under his guardship” downtown, he […]