dash it—(interj.) is used to express one’s annoyance about smth.: Dash it, Tony … you really ought to be careful. make a dash for it—(coll.) run away very quickly (to avoid being caught): We all began to ask each other why he hadn’t made a dash for it.
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between Dark matter and Gray matter
dark matter—objects not directly detectable by astronomers, thought to exist in the universe to account for observed gravitational effects: The composition of dark matter is unknown, but may include new elementary particles. gray matter— 1. brownish-gray nerve tissue, especially of the brain and spinal cord: The researchers found increased gray matter density in women in […]
Difference between Dark horse and White horse
dark horse—a candidate, etc. of whom little is known but who may unexpectedly come to the front: Every now and then a dark horse is heard of, who is supposed to have done wonders at some obscure small college. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase gray mare, the—(dated) the wife […]
Difference between Dark age and Dark Ages
dark age—a period in which there is a lack of culture and progress in a society: Shortly before 1700 B.C. a dark age settled over Egypt which was to last some one hundred and fifty years. Dark Ages, the—the period of European history between about A.D. 500 and about A.D. 1000: During these, which are […]
Difference between Dare I say and I dare say
dare I say—said when one knows that what he is going to state may raise objections: Dare I say that many of Desai’s films have been like that. Making use of the current favorites—actors, plots, stories and turning them into a movie. I dare say—said when one assumes smth. to be likely orpossible: I dare […]
Difference between Damn all and Damn it all
damn all —(coll., emphatic) not a thing; nothing at all: What is the State doing for the Theater? Damn all. damn it all—(exclam.) is used to express anger or impatience: Damn it all, am I to stand here all day cooling my heels on your pleasure!
Difference between Saddy-long-legs and Long-legs
daddy-long-legs—a long-legged flying insect (Pholcus phalangioides): On breezy days, the daddy long-legs get blown onto rivers in big enough numbers to cause quite a stir in the trout world. long-legs—a wading bird (Himantopus himantopus): Longlegs is a long-legged three-toed black-and-white wading bird of inland ponds and marshes or brackish lagoons.
Difference between Czech Republic and Czechoslovakia
Czech Republic, the—the country that made up the greater part of Czechoslovakia dissolved in 1992, with Slovakia having become another independent republic: Political dialogue between Slovenia and the Czech Republic is marked by intense political contacts. Czechoslovakia—the country dissolved in 1992 (now used only in historical contexts): Essentially, the Dubcek regime in Czechoslovakia has been […]
Difference between Cut the knot and Tie the knot
cut the knot—find the solution to a problem by a single decisive action: He had cut the knot, by-passing all preliminaries. tie the knot—(coll.) 1. get married: Diane and Bill tied the knot yesterday in front of family and friends. 2. perform a wedding ceremony: It only took a few minutes for the ship’s captain […]
Difference between Cut something away, Cut something off and Cut something out
cut something away—detach smth. by cutting: If you cut away some of the dead wood, you will have a healthier tree. cut something off— 1. remove smth. by cutting: The man cut off a succulent piece of meat and handed it to me. 2. disconnect smth. such as gas, electricity, etc.: Our water supply has […]
Difference between Cut someone off with a shilling and Cut someone off without a shilling
cut someone off with a shilling—disinherit a person: Anastasius made a poor match, married against his father’s wish, and was cut off with a shilling. cut someone off without a shilling — = cut someone off with a shilling: I know that one of my forebears was cut off without a shilling when he married […]
Difference between Cut someone off and Cut someone off at the pass
cut someone off— 1. (also: cut someone off short) interrupt a person: The doctor came in and started to explain the procedure, but I cut him off. 2. (usually Passive) isolate or separate a person (from smth.): We were cut off by the incoming sea and nearly drowned. 3. (usually Passive) kill a person: Mary […]