floral clock— 1. a large public clock set out in colorful plants on the ground: One of Edinburgh’s most popular attractions, the Floral Clock is located in West Princes Street Gardens. 2. an arrangement of plants that open or close at certain times: Few of us would want to plant an entire garden as a […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between Floor-walker and Walk the floor
floor-walker—a person employed in a large store to direct customers, oversee sales, etc.: I next went into a store further up Broadway. When I entered I approached the floor-walker. walk the floor—pace nervously across the floor, especially while waiting: While Bill waited for news of the operation, he walked the floor for hours on end.
Difference between Floor girl and Floor woman
floor girl—a woman to run errands and do odd jobs about a shop: The floor girl directed me to an area where she would fetch and introduce me to the store manager. floor woman—a woman employed to supervise a group of working women in a factory, etc.: I had a knowledge of sewing and because […]
Difference between Flog a dead horse and Work for a dead horse
flog a dead horse—(also: beat a dead horse) pursue a futile goal; try to revive interest in a dead issue: You can see it in the players’ eyes and faces they’re totally fed up with playing. You’re flogging a dead horse. work for a dead horse—(also: work out the dead horse) do work for which […]
Difference between Float someone’s boat and Paddle one’s own canoe
float someone’s boat—(coll.) said of smth. that excites or interests a person: He describes himself as a music addict—music theatre, in particular, really floats his boat. paddle one’s own canoe —(also: hoe one’s own row) be independent; follow one’s interests or inclination: The Labor Party wished, as it were, to paddle its own canoe—to build […]
Difference between Fling something away and Fling something off
fling something away— 1. throw smth. away; get rid of smth. unwanted: Let’s fling that old furniture away and buy some new. 2. waste smth. such as an opportunity, etc.: You shouldn’t fling away a chance like that. 3. say smth. casually or carelessly: You flung away that last line, we couldn’t hear you. fling […]
Difference between Flight deck and Flying deck
flight deck— 1. the uppermost deck of an aircraft carrier serving as landing and takeoff area: Brown successfully took off in about half the length of the flight deck. 2. the forward compartment in some airplanes used by the pilot, copilot and flight engineer: Rebel snipers fired on one of the planes and hit it. […]
Difference between Flea bite and Flea-bitten
flea bite—a trifling inconvenience; a small problem: The great Battle of Marathon was a mere flea-bite for an empire that stretched from India to Egypt. flea-bitten—said of smth. worn and broken down by hard use: Up to now the landlords have held back from replacing any of the old flea-bitten furniture.
Difference between Flashing light and Flashlight
flashing light—a lighting device, used in lighthouses, etc., giving forth sudden flashes: Another change has been the displacement of the semaphore-type of direction indicator by flashing light signals. flashlight— 1. = flashing light: The practice of a flashlight on sails as something approaches in the darkness is a good one. 2. (also: flash-lamp) a portable […]
Difference between Flapjack (UK) and Flapjack (U.S.)
flapjack (UK)—a flat cake made from rolled oats, fat, brown sugar and syrup or honey: Not sure if it’s usual for British people to eat flapjacks for breakfast, it just happened to be in my line of sight… flapjack (U.S.)—a thin crispy pancake of large diameter, commonly measuring 12” or more: There’s much more on […]
Difference between Flammable liquid and Inflammable liquid
flammable liquid—liquid capable of being inflamed or easily set on fire: This report provides an evaluation of the hazards associated with flammable liquid storage lockers. inflammable liquid — = flammable liquid: No inflammable liquid or inflammable substance shall be unloaded, loaded, transported or kept except in accordance with regulations.
Difference between Fix someone up with something and Fix someone with something
fix someone up with something—arrange for a person to have smth.: His father tried to fix him up with a job at the local municipality. fix someone with something—confront a person with an angry, hostile, etc. look: He fixed me with a steady look, rather owl-like with his heavy rimmed glasses.