go flat— 1. spread out lying at full length: I would usually go flat on the ground in case the door was trapped with a grenade. 2. (coll.) lose enthusiasm or interest: I get quite interested for about five minutes and then—poof! I go flat like a burst balloon. 3. (of a battery) run down; […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between Go fishing and Gone fishing
go fishing—(U.S. sl., also: be on a fishing expedition) undertake a search for facts (especially using improper methods): When you’re involved in litigation, you’re almost inviting the other side to go fishing through your ancient records. gone fishing—(U.S. sl.) 1. said of a person unaccountably absent from duty: President Bush hung out the “gone fishing” […]
Difference between Go far and Go far afield
go far— 1. be successful, especially in one’s career: This band is full of talent and will certainly go far. 2. (of food, money, etc.) last long; be sufficient: A pound does not go so far today as it did twenty years ago. 3. produce a certain effect; promote smth.: The loan will go far […]
Difference between Go dry and Run dry
go dry—(U.S. hist.) enact legislation for the prohibition of alcohol: The decision of the United States to go dry was a great social experiment. run dry— 1. (of a river, well, etc.) be dried up; not yield water, etc.: What shall we do if the well runs dry? 2. (of a cow) be no longer […]
Difference between Go down to the wire and Go under the wire
go down to the wire —(also: come down to the wire) continue to the very last moment or the very end: The game will go down to the wire but in the end the Uconn Huskies should pull away as national champions. go under the wire —(also: come under the wire) 1. be at the […]
Difference between Go down the wrong way and Go the wrong way
go down the wrong way—said of food stuck in one’s throat causing one to choke and cough: The child coughed and coughed because a piece of bread had gone down the wrong way. go the wrong way— 1. take the wrong path or road: He mentioned this to the driver, who realized that yes, in […]
Difference between Go down the river and Go up the river
go down the river— 1. (coll.) slowly decay and fall to pieces through neglect: “Mike’s car has gone down the river.” “I thought the champion was wealthy,” said Mr. Queen. “Not any more.” 2. (U.S. hist.) go into slavery: Percy Driscoll slept well the night he saved his house-minions from going down the river. go […]
Difference between Go down like a lead balloon and Go down like ninepins
go down like a lead balloon—fail to have the intended effect; produce disapproval or disappointment: His jokes about women drivers went down like a lead balloon. Note: The expression is not antonymous in meaning to the phrase balloon goes up, the—used when a situation suddenly becomes serious or critical: The balloon went up when I […]
Difference between Go down like a bomb and Go like a bomb
go down like a bomb—(UK coll.) 1. be very successful; be received with great enthusiasm (also: go down a bomb): All the songs went down like a bomb…. You could hear a pin drop as he sang the melancholic ballad in the deathly silence. 2. (rare) fail to have the intended effect; produce disappointment: His […]
Difference between Go down in smoke and Go up in smoke
go down in smoke—(also: go down in flames) fail or end suddenly; come to nothing: This whole program went down in smoke after the protests started. go up in smoke—(also: go up in flames) 1. be destroyed by fire: After his house went up in smoke, insurance and fire officials suddenly realized he was involved […]
Difference between Go down in flames and Go up in flames
go down in flames— 1. be destroyed by fire: When the house went down in flames, the mayor accused McCown’s followers of burning it. 2. (also: go down in smoke) fail or end suddenly; come to nothing: It’s interesting to look back and see how many of our plans went down in flames. go up […]
Difference between Go current and Go with the current
go current— 1. be in circulation or in common use: Now what would be nice, is if users of these packages could test them out as much as possible before they go current. 2. be generally accepted: He returns forever to the old stories of the Prophets as they went current in the Arab memory… […]