go cold turkey —(sl.) rid oneself of drug addiction by sudden and complete withdrawal of the drug: I had to stop smoking, so I went cold turkey. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase talk cold turkey—(coll.) speak frankly and without reserve (also: talk turkey): It would be impossible for the […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between Go by the board and Go overboard
go by the board— 1. (also: come by the board) fall into the water from a ship: The ship gave a tremendous roll … and the mast went by the board. 2. said of an idea or an activity no longer practiced (often with the implication of regret): Now, within recent years the old materialism […]
Difference between Go bust and Go on the bust
go bust—(sl.) become bankrupt: Many hard working people have lost their homes because they have lost their jobs or because their businesses have gone bust. go on the bust—(sl.) engage in noisy merrymaking (also: go a bust): There was a slight probability of some of the party going “on the bust” after three months’ teetotalism.
Difference between Go broke and Go for broke
go broke—lose money and so be unable to continue in business: The paper was going broke and would cease publication. go for broke—use every possible effort; resort to extreme measures to achieve smth.: He decided to go for broke and put his reputation and job on the line.
Difference between Go below and Go under
go below—(Nautical) go to the lower (underwater) levels in a ship: Nora and I went below to our bunks to make our beds and settle in before the ship left the channel. go under— 1. (of a person or ship) go below the surface of the sea: Our boat went under in no time at […]
Difference between Go bang and Go with a bang
go bang—explode or burst with a loud noise: He saw flashes and heard an automatic go bang. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase bang go—used when it suddenly becomes obvious that smth. cannot be kept or achieved: Bang goes his influence, maybe his job, if the two countries reach a […]
Difference between Go bad and Go badly
go bad— 1. (of perishable products) become unfit for consumption or use: Fish and meat soon go bad in hot weather. 2. be unsuccessful: It sometimes happened, Gertrude admitted, that an artist’s work went bad and she lost interest in him. 3. stop functioning: They know how to record and the tapes are good, but […]
Difference between Go back on something and Go back to something
go back on something—fail to fulfill a promise, agreement, etc.: You should never go back on your promise to a child. go back to something— 1. return to smth. as in conversation: Let’s go back to what the chairman was saying. 2. bring smth. back to the mind: Whenever grandmother talks, she always likes to […]
Difference between Go away with something and Walk away with something
go away with something— 1. succeed in stealing smth.: The thieves went away with all belongings of the passengers including their clothes. 2. (often negat.) form an idea or belief: It is easy but wrong to go away with the idea that the Buddha was a very special kind of preacher. walk away with something— […]
Difference between Go at large and Go big
go at large—be permitted to move freely about at will: The question is to decide whether it is safe to allow the prisoner to go at large. go big—(coll., also: go big time) 1. operate on a large scale: I really like to barbecue and we decided to go big as the sale price was great. […]
Difference between Go at a walk and Go for a walk
go at a walk—go on foot or ride a horse at a slow pace: He watched her as she went past at a walk, the black Labrador and he both gazing wistfully. go for a walk—take a stroll; walk for pleasure or exercise: In the morning McManus went for a walk through the mimosa-bushes.
Difference between Go ashore and Run ashore
go ashore—leave a ship to go on land: We are now running into Gibraltar bay, and smartening up to go ashore. run ashore —(of a ship) be forced to the shore by bad weather, etc.: The ship ran ashore and the captain decided to dry out and come off on the rising tide. Note: The […]