witness something— 1. see smth. happen: We witnessed the meeting between the two great men. 2. observe an event in order to give testimony on it if required: Will you witness his signature on this deed? 3. give evidence of smth.; show smth.: Her pale face witnessed the agitation she felt. witness to something— 1. […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
With reason vs Within reason
with reason—with good cause; justifiably: The police complain, with reason, about wasting manpower in a hopeless pursuit of speeders. within reason—within reasonable limits: Seniors like Brett were allowed, within reason, to decide their own working hours.
With one’s eyes wide open vs With wide-open eyes
with one’s eyes wide open— 1. stare in amazement or wonder: He just stared and stared with his eyes wide open. So much so, he kept missing his mouth with his spoon. 2. do smth. fully aware of the consequences: He knows what he is doing and he is doing it with his eyes wide […]
With one’s eyes closed vs With one’s eyes open
with one’s eyes closed —(also: with one’s eyes shut) do smth. very easily, without much effort: I could do her work with my eyes closed. with one’s eyes open—do smth. fully aware of the consequences: I moved to this country with my eyes open; so I’m not complaining. See also: keep one’s eyes open / […]
With child vs With young
with child—(liter.) going to have a baby; pregnant (also: big with child): She pretended to be with child, and when her time drew near, she journeyed to her home. with young—(of animals) pregnant; bearing young: A mare goes somewhere about eleven months with young.
With an eye for something vs With an eye to something
with an eye for something— 1. quick to notice or appreciate smth.: Everyone with an eye for color and form knows those mellow, lichened roofs of Colly Westons. 2. watching out for smth.; ready to notice smth.: He drowsed over the Irish sea, but always with an eye for the landfall of the Scottish coast. […]
With all respect to someone vs With respect to someone
with all respect to someone —(also: with all due respect to someone) is used before a statement to politely disagree or criticize a person: With all respect to my noble friend, I believe that he was wholly wrong in what he said. with respect to someone —(also: in respect to someone) as regards a person: […]
With a single eye to something vs With one eye on something
with a single eye to something—exclusively concerned with or concentrating on smth.: His predecessors are the only Roman emperors who can be said to have ruled with a single eye to the welfare of their subjects. with one eye on something —(also: with half an eye on something) 1. directing one’s attention only partly to […]
Wise someone up vs Wise up to someone
wise someone up —(sl.) instruct a person about smth.; give smb. information: Let me wise you up about the way we do things around here. wise up to someone —(sl.) figure out a person: It’s time you wised up to John and what he has been doing.
Wise men of Gotham vs Wise men of the East
wise men of Gotham—(UK ironic) fools; simpletons: “I would pay no attention,” I replied, “to the wishes of those few wise men of Gotham who would arbitrate this matter.” Note: The expression is unrelated in meaning to the phrase Gotham City—(U.S.) a nickname for New York City: I figured the one place he’d never find […]
Wise in something vs Wise to something
wise in something—showing wisdom and good judgment in smth.: He was very wise in his rulings and tried to govern all his people equally and fairly. wise to something—informed about smth.; being aware of smth.: I’m wise to the fact that he [comedian] dips in the Farmers’ Almanac for his comedy stuff.
Wise guy vs Wise man
wise guy —(derog.) an impudent person who parades his knowledge; smb. disagreeably self-assertive: He got what he deserved this time. I believe he has learned his lesson and will not be such a wise guy in the future. wise man— 1. a man of good judgment: A man who knows a little bit of the […]