Action man—a person who makes a show of being very vigorous and energetic. I had very little in common with the sort of larger-than-life action man I played in film after film. Man of action—somebody who does things and is not content to just meditate or talk. Foscolo was intended for a man of action and strife: ease […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
Act something out vs Outact someone
Act something out—give expression to thoughts, unconscious fears, etc. in one’s actions and behavior. Children often act out their troubled feelings in their games. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the intransitive phrasal verb act out—behave anti-socially or misbehave. The child with a learning problem may act out to divert attention from, for […]
Act one’s age vs Show one’s age
Act one’s age—behave in a manner appropriate to one’s age (often used in asking children to act in a more grown-up fashion).
Act of God vs Action of God
Action of God —(also: work of God) = act of God 2
Act foolishly vs Act the fool
Act foolishly—act without reason or good judgment.
Act as someone vs Act for someone
Act as someone—perform as an interpreter, guide, etc.
Act as angel vs Act like an angel
Act as angel—act as a sponsor for a firm, organization, etc.
Achilles of England vs English Achilles
This great captain, whose merit was acknowledged equally by friends and foes, received the appellation of the Achilles of England.
Achieve peace vs Win the peace
Achieve peace—achieve a state in which a nation or community is not at war with another.
Accurate in vs Accurate with
Accurate in something—free from mistakes in what one says or does.
According to Cocker vs According to Mrs. Beeton
According to Cocker—(U.S. also: according to Gunter) absolutely correct; exactly as it should be.
Accommodate someone to vs Accommodate someone with
Accommodate someone to something—adapt or adjust a person to something.