get the short end of the stick—(also: get the dirty end of the stick) have the disadvantage in a bargain, contest, etc.: Francine always gets the short end of the stick when it comes to school plays. Note: The expression is not equivalent in meaning to the phrase draw the short straw—be chosen to perform a […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between Get the jump on someone and Give someone a jump
get the jump on someone—(coll.) gain an advantage over a person: Each of these new developers hopes to get the jump on the other by adding more square footage to the units. give someone a jump —(coll.) 1. (also: give someone the jumps) make smb. frightened: Someone had skinned a dead calf and left it […]
Difference between Get the hots for someone and Give it hot to someone
get the hots for someone—(sl.) be strongly attracted to a person sexually: Just as I suspected, Angie. You’re starting to get the hots for James. give it hot to someone—(rare coll.) punish or scold smb. severely: I have given it hot to Grant Allen who did … much the same as Romanes is doing now […]
Difference between Get the dry horrors and Get the horrors
get the dry horrors—(Austral sl.) suffer from thirst, especially after drinking excessive amounts of alcohol: One of the effects is dehydration—which is why we get the dry horrors the next morning. get the horrors—(sl.) become frightened: I was so underprepared for the whole thing. It wasn’t till I started doing it that I really got […]
Difference between Get the bum’s rush and Get the rush
get the bum’s rush —(coll.) 1. be thrown out or dismissed unceremoniously: We tried to talk our way in, but got the bum’s rush, ending up in a heap on the sidewalk. 2. be rejected with deliberate coldness or contempt: You might expect a bit more modesty from a guy whose own work got the […]
Difference between Get the ball rolling and Set the stone rolling
get the ball rolling —(also: set the ball rolling ) start or initiate smth.: Regardless of how you go about credit report repair, it’s a good idea to get the ball rolling as soon as possible. set the stone rolling —(also: set a stone rolling ) start smth. which may lead to serious or unanticipated […]
Difference between Get stuck in something and Get stuck into something
get stuck in something— 1. become entangled in sand, snow, etc., so as to be unable to get away from a place: We were on our way to visit another village, but our car got stuck in the mud. 2. get involved with smth. so as to be unable to leave a place: It seemed […]
Difference between Get stuck for, Get stuck on and Get stuck with something
get stuck for something—be at a loss how to obtain smth.: He frowns importantly as he talks about his job, and waves his arms about when he gets stuck for words. get stuck on something—(coll.) feel a strong attraction to smth.: Turn them [cattle] on to your range when the grass is green … they […]
Difference between Get stuck and Get stuck in
get stuck— 1. become entangled in sand, snow, etc., so as to be unable to get away from a place: When we finally get stuck in the middle of the Sand Sea you’ll have to carry everything. 2. get involved with smth. so as to be unable to leave: Of all the days to get […]
Difference between Get steamed up and Get up steam
get steamed up —(coll.) become excited, angry or very annoyed: You can buy another copy of the book you’ve lost, so there’s no need to get steamed up. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase steam up—(of a transparent or reflective surface) become clouded by steam: My glasses steamed up so […]
Difference between Get something right and Set something right
get something right— 1. understand smth. clearly, so that there is no misinterpretation: Correct me if I didn’t get this right. Did you say that changes to the flight rules are approved? 2. restore smth. to order, good condition, etc.: I am sorry we didn’t get this right the first time, and I am afraid […]
Difference between Get something off one’s chest and Make a clean breast of something
get something off one’s chest—talk about worrisome thoughts or feelings to smb. so that it doesn’t bother one anymore: I finally talked to him and was able to get some of my problems off my chest. make a clean breast of something—fully confess to smth. bad or illegal: He denied the Montreal story, admitted it, […]