you are a dead man —(also: you are dead) 1. is used as a threat to kill: Speak one word, and you are a dead man! 2. is used as a caution: In this neighborhood, you don’t carry a knife or a piece, you are a dead man. Note: The expression does not correlate in […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
You and your vs You and yours
you and your—is used as a contemptuous dismissal of the thing or person mentioned: “I was born there…. It was called after my uncle.” “Shut up—you and your uncle!” you and yours —(coll.) you and your family (also: you and your near and dear ones): I and mine will be happy to see you and […]
Yellow trumpet vs Yellow trumpet flower
yellow trumpet—a plant (Sarracenia flava) whose leaves are shaped into the form of a pitcher: A fly perches on the lip of the yellow trumpet, also known as the trumpet or yellow pitcherplant. yellow trumpet flower—a tropical American shrub: Yellow bells (Tecoma stans), also called yellow trumpet flower, yellow elder, and yellow trumpetbush, is a […]
Yellow stripe disease vs Yellow stripe rust
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 […]
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 […]