try one’s hand—attempt to do smth. unfamiliar: I’m new at this, and just wanted to try my hand. try one’s wings—try out a recently acquired ability: Marjorie just had her twelfth French lesson and wants to try her wings by speaking with our visitors.
Category: Confusing Phrases
Try doing something vs Try to do something
try doing something—do smth. as a test to see whether it is satisfactory: If you can, try sleeping on your back, it will eliminate some of the additional pressure placed on the jaw. try to do something—make an attempt at smth. (especially without much expectation of success): The police is still seeking for the people […]
Trust someone for something vs Trust someone with something
trust someone for something—allow credit for smth. such as goods to a customer: Can you trust me for a packet of cigarettes until Friday. trust someone with something—give a person the care of smth. with complete confidence: I’ve trusted him with everything I have—money, house, horses.
Trust in something vs Trust to something
trust in something—have faith or confidence in smth.: We felt that we could trust in his wide experience. trust to something—act in dependence on smth.; rely on smth.: I don’t know if it will work, but I’ll just trust to luck. Note: Neither expression is equivalent in meaning to the phrase trust something— 1. believe […]
Trust in someone vs Trust to someone
trust in someone—have faith or confidence in a person: I slowly found myself able again to hope and trust in the human race. trust to someone—act in dependence on a person; rely on smb.: The people of England are discovering that it is no good trusting to the old politicians. Note: Neither expression is equivalent […]
Trouble someone about something vs Trouble someone for something vs Trouble someone with something
trouble someone about something—bother a person concerning smth.: I am sorry to keep troubling you about that letter, but until it is found I cannot answer it. trouble someone for something—put a person to the inconvenience of doing or giving smth.: Could I trouble you for the newspaper, please? trouble someone with something—worry smb. by […]
Trouble oneself about something vs Trouble oneself with something
trouble oneself about something —(also: trouble about something) worry about smth.; be concerned about smth.: If you trouble yourself about every little thing that goes wrong, you will never have any peace of mind. trouble oneself with something —(also: trouble with something) be involved with smth.; preoccupy oneself with smth.: I have a good breakfast […]
Trouble man vs Trouble-maker
trouble man—(U.S.) a workman employed to locate causes of problem and to make needed repairs: “Troubleman” McCarley located the difficulty, and repair crews worked until morning restoring service. trouble-maker—a person that ferments strife and disagreement: My brother was a troublemaker and now they’re taking it out on me.
Tremble at something vs Tremble with something
tremble at something—regard smth. with fear: To depart from Fashion in a Fashion-Book is so shocking a thing that we tremble at the very idea of it. tremble with something—shiver because of fear, cold, etc.: The children waited outside the school, trembling with cold.
Treat someone to something vs Treat someone with something
treat someone to something—supply food, entertainment, etc. at one’s own expense to a person: He told me that I was the only one to ever treat him to dinner, aside from his father. Isn’t that sad? treat someone with something— 1. act or behave towards a person in a manner specified: They treated me with […]
Tread water vs Walk on water
tread water— 1. keep one’s head above water by remaining upright and pumping the legs: Two common ways of treading water are kicking extended legs back and forth and also kicking in an alternating manner, one leg at a time. 2. expend some effort but not make much progress: I realized that I was just […]
Tread on someone’s heels vs Tread on someone’s toes
tread on someone’s heels—follow a person very closely: We were walking up the hill, and our pace was much the same—I was treading on his heels without much effort. tread on someone’s toes—offend a person by treating him insensitively: As I was mentally formulating responses to it, I also became aware that I should be […]