give someone lip —(sl.) talk in a rude or disrespectful way to a person: “I was doing a practical session in a hospital,” he said, “and one of the patients was giving me lip.” give someone lip service—give smb. verbal expression of support, etc. not backed up by action: Each time they are very sympathetic […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between Give someone freedom and Give someone his freedom
give someone freedom— 1. allow a person to do what he wants: They gave him freedom to go anywhere on his scooter provided he informed them first. 2. (of a prisoner or slave) make free: Augustus in a dearth, gave freedom to twenty thousand slaves. give someone his freedom— 1.= give someone freedom 2: They […]
Difference between Give someone five and Give someone high five
give someone five—(coll.) 1. (also: give someone a hand) help a person: Hey, give me five over here for a minute, will ya? 2. slap smb.’s raised palm in greeting or as a congratulation: Reno put out his hand for me to give him five. give someone high five— = give someone five 2: The […]
Difference between Give someone an idea and Give someone ideas
give someone an idea—give a person a general notion of smth.: I will now give you an idea of the type of thing you will be required to do. give someone ideas —(also: put ideas into someone’s head) give smb. a falsely high opinion of oneself: Mrs. Serafino was not effusive in her thanks to […]
Difference between Give someone a tip and Give someone a tip-off
give someone a tip— 1. give a gift of money to a waiter, porter, etc.: I gave him a tip, a small one, because I try to be nice to the people who make me angry. 2. provide a person with privileged information likely to bring useful results: Some politicians gave him a tip that […]
Difference between Give someone a ticking-off and Tick someone off
give someone a ticking-off—(coll.) scold or reprimand a person: The referee gave Mike a ticking-off. Not that he cared. tick someone off— 1. put a mark by smb.’s name on a list: I ask each kid one question, ticking them off as they answer. 2. mark smb. as a potential object for vengeance or hostility: […]
Difference between Give someone a thick ear and Give someone one’s ear
give someone a thick ear—slap a person on his ear, especially as a punishment: He’d give you a thick ear if he heard you say that. Or Rosie would. Sam’s too polite. give someone one’s ear—(formal) listen attentively to a person; pay close attention to smb.’s words: If I was struggling with a decision he […]
Difference between Give someone a shake-down and Shake someone down
give someone a shake-down—provide smb. with an improvised sleeping accommodation: You can give him a shakedown here to-night, can’t you? Note: The expression is not antonymous in meaning to the phrase give someone a shake-up— 1. make a person suffer a nervous shock: Don’t disturb her. Let her sleep. That accident gave her a nasty […]
Difference between Give someone a shake and Give someone the shake
give someone a shake—(coll.) 1. shake a sleeper to rouse him: I thought he was sleeping, so I gave him a shake to wake him. 2. rouse smb. to action: Danny was not playing as well as he is now at the start of the season. We needed some way to give him a shake. […]
Difference between Give someone a rush and Give someone the bum’s rush
give someone a rush —(sl.) 1. bestow lavish attention on a girl or woman: An actor gives her a mild rush, and she dreams of a glamorous life with him. 2. give a person a feeling of exhilaration: Methadone is addictive, too, but it doesn’t give the pleasurable “rush” that heroin addicts speak of. give […]
Difference between Give someone a run-through and Run someone through
give someone a run-through—(coll.) give a person a brief survey of facts (also: give someone a run-down): I asked Dr. Leake (my mentor here) to give me a run-through on some critical astronomy concepts. run someone through—pierce or stab smb., as with a sword, etc.: Thorn is the tough, gritty warrior who wouldn’t think twice […]
Difference between Give someone a run-down and Run someone down
give someone a run-down—(coll.) give a person a brief survey of facts (also: give someone a run-through): After she gave me a rundown of her “typical day,” it was apparent why she was exhausted. Note: The expression is not equivalent in meaning to the phrase run it down to someone—(U.S. sl.) describe or explain a […]