Admit of something—leave room for something.
Category: Confusing Phrases
Admiral of the White vs White Admiral
Admiral of the White—admiral of the White Squadron (one of the three divisions of the Royal Navy in the 17th century).
Address oneself to someone vs Address someone
Address oneself to someone—speak or appeal to a person.
Add to taste vs Add to the taste
Add to taste—(in recipes) add in the amount preferred.
Add to something vs Add up to something
Add to something—increase or enhance something.
Add in something vs Add on something
Add on something—attach something at the end of a calculation, list, etc.
Add fuel to the fire vs Add insult to injury
Add insult to injury—wound a person’s self-respect even further; add to the damage already done to somebody’s feelings.
Add color to something vs Give color to something
Add color to something—(of a story, account, etc.) provide details that would interest and excite readers or listeners. The lecturer told a few jokes to add color to his talk. Give color to something—(also: lend color to something ) give plausibility to an account, etc. His torn clothing gave color to his story that he had been […]
Adapted for something vs Adapted to something
Adapted for something—(of things) made suitable for a new use, situation, etc. The book was adapted for television as a four-part series screened by the BBC. Adapted to something—(of people) accustomed or suitable to something. I am not adapted to this business. I was bred a farmer, and ought not to have left that occupation.
Adam and Eve on a log vs Adam and Eve on a raft
Adam and Eve on a log—(U.S. diners) two poached eggs with link sausage. Adam and Eve on a log are two poached eggs with link sausage, but there are plenty of other short order cook gems like “Bowl of Red” (chili peppers with meat). Adam and Eve on a raft—(U.S. diners) two poached eggs on toast. There were […]
Adam and Eve vs Adam-and-Eve
Adam and Eve— 1. said of men and women in general. The great dual law which makes Adam and Eve one humanity, the dry land and the seas one globe. 2. (U.S. diners) two poached or fried eggs. Diner lingo is one example of a mnemonic device that aids memory. “Adam and Eve” refers to two eggs, usually poached. […]
Actual time vs Real time
Actual time—the time to be compared with the standard or expected time. The actual time of its [Indian summer] occurrence and the character of the weather appear to vary for different regions. Real time— 1. the time during which an event occurs. The date displayed by monitors is from the previous day, making it almost impossible to know the […]