yellow stripe disease—a virus disease of sugarcane characterized by striping of the foliage: Sugar cane varieties have been imported which are resistant to the highly troublesome yellow-stripe disease. yellow stripe rust—a rust of wheat, rye, barley, and other grains caused by a fungus: The main diseases to check for are yellow stripe rust (Puccinia glumarum) and […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
Yellow boy vs Yellow man
yellow boy— 1. the Winchester 1866 rifle: This weapon could hold sixteen cartridges. Known as the “Yellow-boy” because of its brass frame, it was developed from the Henry repeating rifle. 2. (dated) a gold coin: And if you’ll only go along with me, this day twelve months you’ll all have more yellow boys in your […]
Yellow Book vs Yellow newspaper
Yellow Book—rule book for listed companies which governs their behavior: The Financial Yellow Book brings you accurate information on 822 public and private financial companies in the United States. yellow newspaper—a newspaper of unscrupulously sensational character: The man who in a yellow newspaper makes a ferocious attack on good men is a potent enemy of […]
Yellow black vs Yellow nigger
yellow black—(U.S. sl., may sound offensive) said of a lightskinned Black American (also: high yellow black): It has always been somewhat bothersome for me as a so-called “high-yellow” black American when people approach me about my ancestry. yellow nigger—(U.S. sl., taboo) an offensive name for an East Asian: He recalled that he was denounced as […]
Wrong in the head vs Wrong-headed
wrong in the head—crazy; insane: When we read the first part of the saga, we naturally presumed Andy was somewhat wrong in the head. wrong-headed— 1. persistent in erroneous opinion: To us, at that time, he was a wrong-headed young man who had thrown away a good career, and was vain enough to think he […]
Writing on the wall vs Writing on water
writing on the wall —(also: handwriting on the wall) warning signs of impending disaster: Many Britons invested in private pensions and private health care because they could see the writing on the wall for the welfare state. writing on water—said of an action that will not yield lasting results and is therefore futile: Seeking wisdom […]
Write something down as vs Write something off as
write something down as—classify or regard smth. as: The corporation had made a number of tests with it … and they had written it down as a failure. write something off as— 1. = write something down as: The way I justify this silly exercise in hard labor is that I can write it off […]
Write for something vs Write off for something
write for something— 1. write pieces for a newspaper, magazine, etc.: Students past and present have written for the Oxford student newspaper and the University radio station. 2. request smth. by post: “And haven’t you written for further particulars?” “I have been thinking of doing so. You would advise me to write to the doctor?” […]
Wring one’s hands vs Wring someone’s hand
wring one’s hands— 1. squeeze one’s hands together to express despair, sorrow, etc.: His face was pale, and he stared at his feet while wringing his hands nervously. 2. be very worried or upset about smth.: Our President is all day in security sessions, briefings, debriefings, staying up all night wringing his hands over this […]
Worth while vs Worthwhile
worth while—(predic.) worthy of the time or effort spent (also: worth one’s while): We had to wait for the food but the wait was worth while as the food was exceptional! worthwhile —(attrib.) said of smth. of sufficient value or importance: The report suggests that patient education regarding the side effects of drugs is a […]
Working paper vs Working papers
working paper—a paper produced as a basis for discussion rather than as a final statement: The Government published a working paper which set out some possibilities. working papers—official documents legalizing the employment of a person not yet legally of age: Before being employed the boy had to produce his working papers.
Working man vs Workman
working man—a man who has a job in industry; member of the working class: Greyhound racing is sometimes said to be the working man’s substitute for horse racing. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase working girl— 1. said of a girl, usually single, who supports herself by working in an […]