dispense something— 1. deal out or distribute smth.: Young ladies have been dispensing tea to hungry comrades. 2. prepare and give out medicine: The firm has been dispensing ointments and lotions for generations. dispense with something— 1. do without smth.; manage in spite of not having smth.: He is not yet well enough to dispense […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between Disconnected from and Disconnected with
disconnected from something—physically separated from smth.; not joined to smth.: Make sure the television is disconnected from the mains supply before you open up the back. disconnected with something—having no relationship with smth.: The accident rate seems to be disconnected with the road conditions and weather.
Difference between Dirty work and Dirty work at the cross-roads
dirty work— 1. the necessary work which is dirty, hard, or unpleasant: We never had enough applicants. Most folks just don’t want to do the dirty work. 2. unlawful activity, especially undertaken on behalf of another person: Do you generally get other people to do your dirty work for you? dirty work at the cross-roads— […]
Difference between Dirty one’s hands and Have clean hands
dirty one’s hands— 1. get involved with routine and practical work: He is easily approachable, and willing to dirty his hands doing the work he has been elected to do. 2. do smth. that one considers unpleasant or distasteful: These are people with more secure jobs who have never had to dirty their hands to […]
Difference between Dirty dog and Dirty pig
dirty dog—used as an insult of a person who has behaved badly, meanly or selfishly: I see you’ve finished all the whisky, you dirty dogs. You might have saved me a little. dirty pig—used as an insult of a disgusting person (dirty in his personal habits, etc.): He doesn’t have any friends and people are […]
Difference between Dirt money and Dirty money
dirt money—money paid to workman handling dirty materials or working in dirty conditions: Wharfies get dirt money for working on filthy, dusty merchant ships. dirty money— 1. = dirt money: When any class of work involves special unpleasantness, “black money” or “dirty money” is sometimes stipulated for. 2. money earned by dishonorable or corrupt means: […]
Difference between Dirt-eater and Dirt-eating
dirt-eater —(dated) 1. (also: clay-eater) miserable people who appease their hunger with a kind of aluminous earth: Distinguished from other southerners by hookworm disease were dirt-eaters scattered in sand barrens and pine woods. 2. a contemptuous name for “poor whites” in some parts of the southern United States: It rests with you whether you will […]
Difference between Direct something at someone and Direct something to someone
direct something at someone— 1. aim or point smth. at a person: Wary troopers directed stun guns at the medley of bodies in case of disorder. 2. intend smth. for a person: Are you directing your remarks at me? direct something to someone— 1. address or send smth. to a person: Please direct all the […]
Difference between Dip the flag and Drop the flag
dip the flag —(of a ship) give a salute to another ship by making the flag go down for a moment and then up again: Today, “dipping the flag” is an act of courtesy; men-of-war do not do it to one another. drop the flag— 1. (Sport) indicate the start or finish of a race […]
Difference between Dip one’s toes in the water and Get one’s feet wet
dip one’s toes in the water —(of an activity) proceed gently with much caution: Companies will dip their toes in the water by hiring temporary employees until they are certain their markets have recovered. get one’s feet wet—gain one’s first experience of smth.; do smth. for the first time: Don’t be afraid to get your […]
Difference between Dinner lady and Kitchen maid
dinner lady—(UK) a female cook or canteen worker in a school: They walked home, along with their friends, and made free with my house and kitchen whilst I was busy being a dinner lady at school. kitchen maid—a woman employed in the kitchen; a junior female servant in a great house: Daisy was taken on […]
Difference between Dining car and Dinner wagon
dining car—a railroad car in which meals are served: People in the dining car were much easier to talk to than the people in the first class lounge. dinner wagon—a tray with shelves beneath (usually on castors) for the service of a dining-room: He would not even know the difference between a tea trolley and […]