build up something— 1. increase or develop smth. steadily: You must now build up your strength after your illness. 2. praise or promote smth.: An advertising agency can build up a product so much that everyone will want it. build up to something—lead up to smth. gradually or indirectly: You could tell by the way […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
Build bridges with someone vs Burn bridges with someone
build bridges with someone—try to make new friends or establish cooperation with an opponent: We must work with leaders of these countries and build bridges with them—both economically and politically. burn bridges with someone—do smth. that makes former relationship with smb. difficult or impossible: Robb has moved considerably leftward, and he has burned bridges with […]
Build a fire under someone vs Burn someone at the stake
build a fire under someone—(also: light a fire under someone) do smth. to motivate or stimulate a person; make smb. work better or harder: These students are incredibly motivated. You don’t have to build a fire under them. Note: a) The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase throw someone into the frying […]
Difference between Buddy up to someone and Buddy up with someone
buddy up to someone—(coll.) become immoderately familiar or friendly with smb.: Now the former loser is an overnight success, and suddenly everyone wants to buddy up to him. buddy up with someone—(coll.) join with a person to form a pair (to share accommodation or do smth. together): I buddied up with Carl, and we shared […]
Difference between “Brown, Jones, and Robinson” and “Tom, Dick, and Harry”
Brown, Jones, and Robinson—(dated) used as a generic name for middle-class Englishmen: A verbatim report of the conversation of Brown, Jones, and Robinson would be uninteresting. Tom, Dick, and Harry—anybody at all; the average person: Thoreau’s great fault was disdain for men (for Tom, Dick, and Harry): inability to appreciate the average life—even the exceptional […]
Difference between “British Cicero, the” and “Cicero of the British Senate, the”
British Cicero, the —(hist.) the name given to William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, a British politician (1708–1778). Cicero of the British Senate, the —(hist.) the name given to George Canning, a British politician (1770–1827): Canning was famous for his flowery orations, and was even nicknamed “The Cicero of the British Senate.”
Difference between Bring the house down and Pull the house down
bring the house down—(of a performance) produce loud and prolonged applause; be received very successfully: There was one scene which never failed to bring the house down. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase shout the house down—(coll.) make a terrible commotion: I can’t study while my little brother is shouting […]
Difference between Bring something under control and Take control of something
bring something under control—manage to obtain one’s authority or power over a situation, etc.: The fire started yesterday afternoon and was finally brought under control late last night. take control of something— 1. assume charge of a situation, etc.: That opportunity resides in creating a new generation of entrepreneurs who will take control of the […]
Difference between Bring something to the ground and Get something off the ground
bring something to the ground— 1. (of a plane) land: He made the landing as carefully as he could and brought the plane to the ground with as much care as possible. 2. topple smth. by a blow or shot: But it was the arrow of the elder man which pierced the animal and brought […]
Difference between Bring something to naught and Set something at naught
bring something to naught—(of plans, efforts, etc.) ruin or render useless: An alliance between them, albeit temporary… was quite effective enough to bring the best efforts to naught. set something at naught—(dated) disregard smth.; consider smth. to be of little value: The tendency of all lunacy is to set at naught first the optional and […]
Difference between Bring something to light and Shed light on something
bring something to light—reveal smth.; make smth. known: Facts of the utmost importance will be brought to light by the ringing of birds. shed light on something—(also: throw light on something ) clarify or explain smth.: Recent research has shed new light on the causes of the disease.
Difference between Bring something to a pretty pass and Bring something to pass
bring something to a pretty pass—reduce smth. to an unfortunate condition: But what has brought the company to such a pretty pass since I last worked for it? bring something to pass —(dated) cause smth. to happen; carry out or accomplish smth.: Strafford really went some way towards bringing his scheme to pass.