give ear to something—listen sympathetically to a suggestion, etc.; heed smth.: They read up on long-distance cycling and gave ear to the advice of friends and relatives. have an ear for something—have the ability to learn music or languages quickly: He had an ear for languages, which he enjoyed, and by this time he spoke […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between Give credence to and Lend credibility to
give credence to something— 1. put trust in smth.; believe smth.: The jury gave credence to these claims and awarded Lawrence just compensation. 2. make smth. appear more convincing: This gave credence to the hypothesis that Israel had not shared with Washington all the information. lend credibility to something— = give credence to something 2: […]
Difference between “Give and take” and “Give or take”
give and take— 1. willingness to compromise (in the hope of obtaining a satisfactory agreement, etc.): With a bit of give and take you can both make sure your home doesn’t suffer. 2. a lively talk or debate, especially one filled with ridicule: Addison’s sensitive modesty disqualified him for the rough give and take of […]
Difference between Give an eye to someone and Give someone the eye
give an eye to someone—look after a person; give attention to smb.: Now go into the garden and give an eye to the children. give someone the eye— 1. (also: give someone the big eye) look at a person with an open display of romantic interest: He was standing over by the bar and kept […]
Difference between Give a promise and Give promise
give a promise—undertake to do or not to do smth.: He gave a promise that he would come again and bring assistance, and he kept it. give promise— 1. be a token of smth.; indicate smth. beforehand: A heavy mist gave promise of a hot day, and it turned out a “scorcher.” 2. show qualities […]
Difference between Give a pledge and Give the pledge
give a pledge— 1. make a solemn promise: During his inauguration speech he gave a pledge not to declare the island independent during his term of office. 2. promise to pay money or make a donation: A senior member of your staff, Charlie Phillips, acting on your behalf, gave a pledge of $10 000 to […]
Difference between Give a name to something and Give one’s name to something
give a name to something—assign a name to a thing: Go to a village and ask a peasant what his religion is. He will not be able to give a name to his religion. give one’s name to something—(also: lend one’s name to something) allow one’s name to be associated with smth.: He gave his […]
Difference between Give a name to someone and Put a name to someone
give a name to someone—name a newborn child: One should not give a name to a child that will be difficult to pronounce or to write. put a name to someone—remember the name of a person: I would find it difficult to put a name to everyone in this room.
Difference between Girl Guide and Girl Guider
Girl Guide—(UK) a girl between about 10 and 16 who is a member of the Girl Guides Association (an organization of girls corresponding to the Boy Scouts): She had on a starchy white blouse and blue skirt. Looked like a goddam girl guide. Girl Guider—(UK) an adult leader in the Girl Guide movement: An old […]
Difference between Girl-boy and Girlie-boy
girl-boy— 1. (derog.) a girlish boy whose behavior is more suitable for a girl than for a boy: Little boys are laughed at as effeminate, silly girl-boys if they want to make patchwork or play with a doll. 2. a girl considered boyish in behavior or manner: My first baby was a girl-boy, she was […]
Difference between Girdle of Venus and Venus’s girdle
girdle of Venus—(Palmistry) a line believed to denote sensitive intellectual nature: Fussing over life-lines and measuring the girdle of Venus seems a desperate and futile way to fill the emptiness in many a woman’s life. Venus’s girdle—a ribbonlike gelatinous sea creature found in the Mediterranean Sea: In Cestum, or Venus’s Girdle, elongation takes place to […]
Difference between Gin house and Gin palace
gin house— 1. a building where cotton is pressed: There was a large quantity of yellow unpicked cotton lying in the gin house. 2. a bar retailing chiefly gin: Used to be some little stores out there and I think a gin house … on the Avenue Highway. gin palace—(UK dated) a large bar furnished […]