bus boy—(also: busboy) a person whose duty is to clear and reset tables in a restaurant: They felt embarrassed, the way a professional fighter would feel after beating hell out of a bus boy. busman—the driver of a bus: Mark was an asset to the club with his experience working as a busman in the […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between Burst at the seams and Come apart at the seams
burst at the seams— 1. be full to overflowing; be crammed with people or things: The little hall was practically bursting at the seams. 2. be unable to contain one’s pride, uncontrolled laughter, etc.: We laughed so hard we just about burst at the seams. come apart at the seams —(also: fall apart at the […]
Burn the water vs Set the Thames on fire
burn the water—(Fishermen) spear salmon by torchlight: Water-bailiffs are sent up the rivers at certain times to prevent “burning the water.” Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase boil the ocean—try smth. way too ambitious that cannot reasonably be completed: Don’t attempt to boil the ocean. If your initial concept is […]
Burn the earth vs Scorch the earth
burn the earth—(U.S. coll., dated) go at full speed: When they reached the brow of the hill, I was half a mile in the lead, burning the earth… scorch the earth—devastate all buildings, etc. in an area so as to leave nothing to the advancing enemy: The Russians fell back upon their main line of defense, […]
Burn the candle at both ends vs Butter one’s bread on both sides
burn the candle at both ends—dissipate one’s energy by doing too much: But as you are determined to live it up and have a good time, you must watch your health and try not to burn the candle at both ends. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase row with both […]
Burn someone down vs Burn someone up
burn someone down—(U.S. coll.) humiliate a person: You just want to burn down everybody to make yourself seem better. burn someone up—(U.S. coll.) 1. irritate smb. or make very angry: What burns me up is the fact that seven per cent of all the families earned $500 a year or less. 2. reprimand or scold […]
Burn down vs Burn up
burn down—(of buildings) be destroyed by fire: The old house burned down last night in the big fire. burn up —(of objects other than buildings) 1. be consumed by fire: We found our tent burned to the ground and all my books burned up. 2. be destroyed by great heat: Most meteors have burned up […]
Burn away vs Burn out
burn away— 1. continue to burn: The fire was still burning away cheerfully in the grate. 2. become less or be destroyed by burning: Half the oil in the lamp had burnt away. burn out— 1. burn visibly: The lamp burned out in the darkness of the night. 2. stop burning because there is no […]
Burn a hole in someone’s pocket vs Make a hole in someone’s pocket
burn a hole in someone’s pocket—(of money) make a person eager to spend it: It’s Sunday, everything’s closed, and there’s Bob with $10 burning a hole in his pocket. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase have money to burn—have so much money that one can spend it freely: You must […]
Difference between “Bun is in the oven, the” and “Fat is in the fire, the”
bun is in the oven, the— 1. (euph.) is used to allude to pregnancy: They have to get married because the bun is in the oven…. So my question is, am I invited? 2. things have started moving: We have no idea as to a release date as there is a lot of work still […]
Difference between Bully for someone and Bully someone
bully for someone—(exclam.) used as a mocking expression of approval: If he is acquitted, then bully for him. If he is convicted, then he goes to jail. bully someone—intimidate a person; frighten smb. into a certain course using violent threats: He saw, that he had no chance of bullying the servant.
Difference between “Bullion State, the” and “Golden State, the”
Bullion State, the—(U.S.) a nickname of the State of Missouri: Missouri has been known as the Bullion State (possibly an allusion to the nickname of Missouri senator Benton, who was known as “Old Bullion”). Golden State, the—(U.S.) a nickname of the State of California: The Golden State’s golden days seem to be a thing of […]