dead fire— 1. extinguished or extinct fire: Mr. Evans was sitting there, staring at the dead fire, the poker in his hand. 2. (also: St. Elmo’s fire) a naturally occurring electrical discharge, usually in stormy weather: We looked up, and saw a dead-fire sticking to the cross-trees of the mast. death-fire— 1. a fire causing […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between Dead end and Living end
dead end— 1. an end of a passage, such as a street or pipe, that affords no exit: The passage was a dead end. Ten meters in front of her, a solid stone wall stood, trapping her. 2. a point beyond which no progress can be made: The project turned out to be a dead […]
Difference between Dead bird and Dead pigeon
dead bird—(Austral. sl.) a sure thing; a certainty: I used to prowl where jockeys herd, And tipped them for a sure “dead bird.” dead pigeon—(sl., also: dead duck) 1. a person or thing regarded as useless or a failure: The Dominion Stores Ltd. was a dead pigeon and everyone knew it. 2. a dead person: […]
Difference between Dead beat and Deadbeat
dead beat—(also: dead beaten) extremely tired: It took me a very short time to get between the blankets, and soon I was asleep, for I was dead beat after my ride. deadbeat—(sl.) 1. an idler who is not working or looking for a job: Al was a deadbeat barely on the right side of the […]
Difference between Dead and alive and Half dead
dead and alive—(also: dead-alive) 1. (of a place) spiritless or boring: This is rather a dead and alive place but I like the climate for I have not known a sick day since I have been up here. 2. (of people) miserable; inactive and dull: Part of my early days in London I was familiar […]
Difference between Dead-alive and Living dead
dead-alive —(also: dead and alive) 1. (of a place) spiritless or boring: Do you think I could hold out a week in this deadalive place? Not me! 2. (of people) miserable; inactive and dull: You will die in a home for old people surrounded by deadalive persons. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning […]
Difference between Daytime and Time of day
daytime—the part of the day when there is natural light: In the Tokyo area, users’ charges of electricity at nighttime are rated lower compared to that in the daytime. time of day— 1. the hour shown on a clock: Perhaps it was a student who committed suicide at this very time of day, on this […]
Difference between Day order and Order of the day
day order—(Stock market) a customer’s order that expires at the close of the day: A day order is canceled if it is not executed before the close of business. order of the day— 1. an agenda: The order of the day will be issued each day with detailed information on Conference. 2. a statement issued […]
Difference between Day off and Off day
day off—a day away from work, school, etc.: The bus-driver spends his “day off ” in driving on a pal’s bus, on the box-seat by his pal’s side. Note: The expression is not equivalent in meaning to the phrase day out— 1. a day away from home when one is free from duty: Ollie just […]
Difference between Day-man and Man of the day
day-man—a man who does work during the day or on a day-shift: A company taxi is usually driven by both a dayman and a night-man. man of the day— 1. an outstanding man of his time: Hamsun was a man of the day, who, despite his age, strove to make his ideal into a reality. […]
Difference between “Day and night” and “Day or night”
day and night—continually; all the time: We worked day and night to finish the project before the end of the month. day or night—at any time whatever: The Internet is the best shopping mall in the world and one that you can visit day or night.
Difference between Date back to something and Date from something
date back to something—go back in time to a particular date: The rare binding of this manuscript dates back to the late middle-ages. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase backdate something— 1. put an earlier date to a document than the actual one: The vet backdated the vaccination dates for […]