dingo’s breakfast—(Austral. sl.) a drink of water, with nothing to eat: We quickly prepared for the hunt, had a dingo’s breakfast and we were off. dog’s breakfast—(sl.) an untidy mess; a distasteful mixture (also: dog’s dinner): The plot of the film is a dog’s breakfast of half-baked ideas. Note: Neither expression correlates in meaning with […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between Dine on something and Dine out on something
dine on something—have smth. for dinner: They dined on mince, as there was nothing else in the house. dine out on something—gain social success by telling interesting stories: You’ll dine out on it for weeks, won’t you, old boy? Note: Neither expression fully correlates in meaning with the phrase dine off something— 1. = dine […]
Difference between Dime a dozen and Ten to the dozen
dime a dozen, a—said of people or things that are very common and easy to get: Fad diets are a dime a dozen. It seems like every time we turn around there is a new diet. ten to the dozen —(also: nineteen to the dozen) talk very fast and without stopping: Everybody is talking ten […]
Difference between Dig one’s heels in and Dig oneself in
dig one’s heels in—act firmly; refuse to yield: It is not an indication of my lack of ability, but rather a sign that it is time for me to dig my heels in and exert more effort. dig oneself in —(also: dig in) 1. (of soldiers) dig a protective place for oneself: We were ordered […]
Difference between Dig a hole for oneself and Dig one’s own grave
dig a hole for oneself—(also: dig oneself into a hole) get oneself into an awkward or restrictive situation: Melton has dug a hole for himself that will take the remainder of his term to come out of. He has made so many promises in his few months in office… dig one’s own grave—be the cause […]
Difference between Different cup of tea and Not someone’s cup of tea
different cup of tea, a—(also: another cup of tea) a different state of affairs; smth. of an altogether different kind: London in wartime is a very different cup of tea from Winchester. not someone’s cup of tea—said of smth. that is not to a person’s taste or does not appeal to one: If Yeats isn’t […]
Difference between Differ in something and Differ on something
differ in something—(of two or more people or things) be unlike in some respect: The two brothers are like each other in appearance, but differ widely in their tastes. differ on something—(also: differ about something ) have different opinions on some matter: Since the discussion is not making any progress, perhaps it is best to […]
Difference between Differ from someone and Differ with someone
differ from someone— 1. be unlike another person in some way: John only differs from his brother in being less masculine and less sternly religious. 2. have different opinions on some matter: My dear sir, I am sorry to differ from you. I think that we are soldiers, and damned good ones at that. differ […]
Difference between Die on one’s feet and Die standing up
die on one’s feet— 1. die while still working; keep working till the end: Harvey spent the next week working on the generator. He had died on his feet. 2. fight and give one’s life courageously: Rather than surrender without a fight, the exhausted army fought bravely to the bitter end and died on their […]
Difference between Die in a ditch and Die in the last ditch
die in a ditch—die destitute in dire poverty: He who abstains from whisky will never die in a ditch. die in the last ditch—fight desperately defending smth. to the last: I can be sure never to see my country’s ruin: I will die in the last ditch. Cf.: last-ditch effort—a desperate final attempt: He is […]
Difference between Die for something and Die from something
die for something—(Progressive Tense) want smth. very urgently: Her husband moved past us into the bar…. “I’m dying for a margarita.” die from something —(also: die of something ) 1. die as a result of some cause: In a severe winter, wild animals can die from lack of food. 2. (Progressive Tense) be in an […]
Difference between Die away and Die out
die away —(of a sound or light) become weaker or fainter: The sound of the car died away in the distance. die out— 1. (of a group of living things) perish; become extinct: If too many of these rare animals are killed, their kind will die out. 2. (of practices, customs, ideas, etc.) cease to […]