clever at something—quick in learning and understanding smth.: Some of you boys and girls are very clever at working sums. clever with something—skilful in using a tool, etc.: She was a beader: she was that clever with her fingers she could do all kinds of things.
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between Clear something off and Clear something out
clear something off— 1. remove smth. unwanted in order to leave a clear space: Please clear your papers off so that I can serve dinner. 2. pay one’s debts, remaining payments, etc.: I hope to clear off my mortgage in a few months’ time. 3. dispose of the goods, etc. (selling them cheaply): The manager […]
Difference between Clear land and Clear the land
clear land—remove trees and brushwood (to cultivate the soil): I have been clearing land for eight days, and now begin to feel the effects of poison—from ivy, doubtless. clear the land— 1. = clear land: There were three ways by which the first settlers cleared the land. The first was called “slashing.” 2. (Nautical) maneuver […]
Difference between Clear away and Clear off
clear away— 1. (of clouds, fog, etc.) vanish; disappear: The mist cleared away as the sun came out. 2. clear the table: Mother always clears away when we have finished eating. clear off— 1. (coll., often imper.) be off; go away (also: clear out): I told them to clear off and threatened to call the […]
Difference between Clear as crystal and Clear as mud
clear as crystal— 1. (of water, etc.) unclouded; transparent: The cave was long and wide and pervaded by cold water, clear as crystal. 2. (of a situation) very clear; easily understood: I don’t know why you can’t understand the instructions—they’re as clear as crystal to me. Note: The expression does not fully correlate in meaning […]
Difference between Clear a ship and Clear a ship for action
clear a ship—pay the charges at the custom-house and receive permission to sail: The custom’s official told me that only the captain could clear the ship and that I had to go back and get him. clear a ship for action—(also: clear the decks) remove all encumbrances from the deck of a ship ready for […]
Difference between Clean someone out and Clean up on someone
clean someone out—(coll.) take everything from a person; deprive or cheat smb. of his money, etc.: “She cleaned me out,” says Williams. “She used me to get to America.” clean up on someone—(U.S. coll.) defeat an opponent (in a fight): Chavez looked tired and Tszyu cleaned up on him, clocking him with a clean left […]
Difference between Clean-shaven and Closely shaven
clean-shaven—said of a man not having a moustache or beard: He provided a list of celebrated clean-shaven men and also of celebrated beavers, as bearded men are termed. closely shaven—said of a man with a neat, smooth shave: He was tall, spare, with closely shaven face and gray hair, worn rather long.
Difference between Clean shave and Close shave
clean shave—(sl.) said of an act of swindling: We doubt if any lady is aware of the very clean shave she is constantly undergoing. close shave—a dangerous situation that a person just manages to avoid: I did not so much as get my feet wet when the bridge fell, though it was a close shave.
Difference between Clean room and Dirty room
clean room— 1. (also: white room) a room that is virtually free of dust or bacteria (used in assembly of precision equipment): The plant is a state-of-the-art facility that forms transistors onto large glass substrates, in a class–100 clean room. 2. (med.) operating theater with a “clean-room” atmosphere: It was a hospital clean room he […]
Difference between Clean-fingered and Clean-handed
clean-fingered— 1. (of a musician, etc.) having quick and nimble fingers: The clean-fingered playing and thoughtful approach distinguish his performance of the earlier pieces. 2. honest; incorruptible: Desire for clean-fingered lottery regulators ensured that none of them was remotely connected to the gambling industry. clean-handed—not guilty of any wrongdoing: Mature, democratic institutions with clean-handed politics […]
Difference between Clean as a new pin and Clean as a whistle
clean as a new pin—spotlessly clean; very tidy: He was always glad to see me in the galley which he kept as clean as a new pin. clean as a whistle— 1. = clean as a new pin: It was not long before the dismal little boarded-up house was as clean as a whistle. 2. […]