clean animals— 1. animals that are habitually clean: Rats are obsessively clean animals that spend a good 20 percent of their day cleaning themselves. 2. animals considered fit for food by religious custom: God tells us that the clean animals were to be used for food and the unclean animals were not to be used […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between Classic play and Classical play
classic play—a play that serves as a standard; one that has come to be regarded as one of the best: Molly has a dream of acting in a classic play, but all the parts she likes are written for men. classical play—a play which is Roman or ancient Greek: A classical play (ancient Greek drama […]
Difference between Clasp hands and Clasp one’s hands
clasp hands—shake hands showing more emotion than in the usual handshake: At half-past three my friend and I clasped hands upon the mountain top. clasp one’s hands—press hands together with the fingers interlaced: Setting aside her glass, Sandra crossed her feet, clasping her hands behind her head.
Difference between City of Angels and City of Saints
City of Angels—Los Angeles (California, USA): From The City of Angels to the City of Saints: The struggle to build a railroad from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City. City of Saints— 1. Montreal (Quebec, Canada): Martin said he came from a city of saints, where all the streets were named after saints. 2. Salt […]
Difference between City man and “city man”
City man—(UK) a person engaged in commerce or finance: He had made his mark in the mercantile world as a thoroughly representative City-man. city man— 1. an inhabitant of a city (as contrasted with a countryman): Mr. White might have made a whole book out of being a city man on a farm. 2. a […]
Difference between City Editor (UK) and City Editor (U.S.)
City Editor—(UK) the editor dealing with financial news in a newspaper or magazine: Often comment by the City Editors precipitated a run on shares. City Editor—(U.S.) the editor dealing with local news: The City Editor directs the work of the reporters, whose duty is to gather all the local intelligence of the day.
Difference between Citizen of nature and Natural citizen
citizen of nature—a human being as an integral part of the natural world (knowing no boundaries created by men): The laws of nature defined his natural rights and made him, as it were, a citizen of nature. natural citizen —(also: natural-born citizen) a person born in the country and having the legal status of citizen: […]
Difference between Cicero of Germany and German Cicero
Cicero of Germany, the —(hist.) the name given to Johann III, elector of Brandenburg (1455–1499): Cicero of Germany, Elector of Brandenburg, could speak four hours at a stretch, in elegantly flowing Latin, with a fair share of meaning in it too. German Cicero, the —(hist.) the name given to Johann Sturm, printer and scholar (1507–1589): […]
Difference between Chosen few and Chosen people
chosen few—(also: select few) a relatively small number of persons selected for a position of favor or privilege: The Professor is giving a dinner-party tonight, but that’s just for the chosen few. chosen people—(also: God’s chosen people) 1. the Jews, especially in the Old Testament: This was a greater miracle than that of the cloud […]
Difference between Chocolate soldier and Toy soldier
chocolate soldier —(derog.) 1. a soldier unwilling to fight: They are chocolate soldiers who merely go to see battles and coolly urge others to fight them. 2. a militiaman or conscripted soldier: Conscripts, known as “chocos” (chocolate soldiers) were not required to serve outside prescribed areas. toy soldier —(also: tin soldier) 1. a miniature figure […]
Difference between Chinese auction and Dutch auction
Chinese auction—an auction, commonly in a charity type setting, in which bidders buy tickets which are essentially their chances to win items: We will have our usual Chinese auction, which has been so popular in the past. Dutch auction—an auction in which the auctioneer progressively lowers the price until a bidder agrees to buy: Sarah […]
Difference between China syndrome and Chinese restaurant syndrome
China syndrome— 1. (dated) possibility of a catastrophe as a result of a nuclear reactor meltdown: If the heat in the molten fuel cannot be dissipated by conductivity, then the danger from the so-called China Syndrome would be much higher. 2. (Business) relocating manufacturing operations to China to reduce labor costs: It was pointed out […]