at a birth—during a single act of reproduction:
Category: Confusing Phrases
Associate with someone vs Be associated with someone
associate with someone—spend a lot of time in smb.’s company (especially if that person is objectionable):
Assimilate sth into sth vs Assimilate sth to sth
assimilate something into something—adapt smth. making it part of a larger group: The costs of assimilating a traffic artery into an existing urban area are a massive community burden. assimilate something to something—make smth. like smth. else: The laws of the defeated country were assimilated to those of the stronger country.
Ask the question vs Put the question
Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase beg the question—
Ask someone to leave vs Ask someone’s leave
ask someone’s leave—(formal) ask smb.’s permission:
Ask someone in vs Ask someone out
ask someone in—invite a person into one’s home, office, etc.:
Ask for someone’s hand vs Ask someone for a hand
ask for someone’s hand—propose to a woman:
Ask another vs Ask me another
ask another—is used as an expression of boredom or a protest against a worn-out joke:
As thick as peas in a pod vs Like two peas in a pod
as thick as peas in a pod—(also: as thick as peas in a shell) intimate or very friendly:
As security vs For security
for security—in order to ensure safety from possible harm:
As one man vs To a man
as one man—(of a group of people) acting unanimously and at exactly the same time (also: as a man):
As of now vs For now
as of now—from this moment: