good man— 1. a morally excellent and virtuous man: You are a good man. And God knows your motives are pure…. 2. used as an exclamation of approbation: She held out her hand. “Good man! that is what I call a friend!” well man—a man who is free from sickness: Two days later he “began […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between Good Joe and Quality Joe
good Joe—(coll.) a good fellow: Ted’s a little slow on the uptake, but he’s a good Joe. quality Joe—(U.S. Underworld) an innocent or honest person: These quality Joes just don’t understand how it is on the street.
Difference between Good hour and Happy hour
good hour—a period not less than an hour: He played a good hour on the violoncello. Note: The expression is not antonymous in meaning to the phrase bad hours— 1. inconvenient time: City officials would limit access to federal benefits by having offices only open during bad hours. 2. the early hours of the morning […]
Difference between Good for you and Good of you
good for you—(non-predicative) used as an expression of approval: You’re not about to lay cash on the line without decent answers to a question or two. Good for you. good of you—(predicative) used in approval of smb.’s kind or generous act: It was very good of you to help Harry with his bike. I’m proud […]
Difference between Good for someone and Good to someone
good for someone— 1. beneficial or helpful for a person: These classes are good for students who work better at a slower pace or are fairly new to computers. 2. (of food) nutritious or wholesome for people: Green leafy vegetables are good for you. They contain important nutrients that keep your children healthy. good to […]
Difference between Good few and Good many
good few, a—a fairly large number: We had a good few days with Kristen, talking, shopping, and exploring Nashville. good many, a— = good few, a: They will have to face the bitterest cold for a good many days during the Polar night.
Difference between Good day and Well day
good day— 1. one’s lucky day; a day favorable for smth.: Monday was a good day for the mayor because all the major players from both parties were willing to play along. 2. a day on which the weather is fine: It was a good day and we had perfect weather conditions in Cumbria, no […]
Difference between Good business and Pretty business
good business—said of a profitable and rewarding occupation: The new journalism, with its “mammoth combines,” is good business, but bad democracy. pretty business—(ironic) said of a miserable state of affairs: A pretty business indeed for a man to be hemmed up in a strange place without anything to interest you.
Difference between Good at something, Good on something and Good with something
good at something—proficient in a subject or an activity: Boys and girls rate themselves as being equally good at science at the primary-school level. good on something—skilful in one’s performance on a musical instrument: Hayes said that Pearl was “quite good” on the violin and also proficient on the mandolin. good with something—competent in the […]
Difference between Good as a play and Good as gold
good as a play—said of smth. very entertaining or intensely amusing: Are they not as good as a play, trying their hand at legislation? good as gold— 1. (of a child) well behaved; not giving trouble: As soon as a few were bumped off by way of example, all the others became as good as […]
Difference between Golden cage and Golden handcuffs
golden cage —(also: gilded cage) said of a situation where a person is living in luxury but without freedom: After years of living in a golden cage she finally makes an attempt to regain control over her own life. golden handcuffs—substantial monetary incentives offered to a valued employee to persuade him to remain with the […]
Difference between Golden ager and Golden oldie
golden ager—(U.S. euph.) an elderly person: Frank bought himself a drink in the bar while watching the golden agers gossip in the lounge area. golden oldie —(UK coll.) anything old but classic: The majority of nature photographers will be using cameras at least a few years old, and often some golden oldies.