be there for me—help me when I need it; be supportive: They told us that they would be there for me and help me through the difficult time I was about to face. be there or be square—you better be there because everyone of importance will be there: Cassidy is having a gallery opening…. There’s […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between Be the cock in the henhouse and Rule the roost
be the cock in the henhouse—said of a male in an all-femaleenvironment: He made her tell patients that breast exposure was a “normal procedure,” and referred to himself as “the only cock in the henhouse.” rule the roost—be the boss or manager, especially at home: But who really rules the roost? Possibly his wife Sybil—equally […]
Difference between Be talked out and Be talked out of something
be talked out—be tired by talking: Well, you now know all my opinions on the subject; my throat is dry, I’m talked out. be talked out of something—be persuaded not to do smth.: He had to be talked out of leaving at the beginning of this week.
Difference between Be taken ill and Take it ill
be taken ill—come down with a disease: The assigned attorney originally scheduled to try the case was taken ill suddenly. take it ill—(formal) be offended: I beg you not to take it ill that I failed to answer your greeting. My anger prevented a reply…
Difference between Be stuck up and Be stuck-up
be stuck up— 1. (sl.) said of an armed robbery: It was only the previous night that he had been “stuck up,” with a pistol at his head. 2. (coll.) be hindered from proceeding on a journey, etc.: Luckily, we got stuck up in a town and not in the middle of nowhere. be stuck-up—(coll.) […]
Difference between Be stuck on someone and Be stuck with someone
be stuck on someone—(sl.) feel a strong attraction to a person: You’d say she was kind of stuck on the fellow at the first meeting although it was a blind date. be stuck with someone—(coll.) be unable to get rid of an unwanted person: The truly sad thing is that I am stuck with him […]
Difference between Be stuck for something and Be stuck on something
be stuck for something—(coll.) be unable to obtain smth.: An undergraduate is no longer “stuck” for a dinner, a seat at a play, a railroad ticket. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase stick up for something—(coll.) declare oneself in favor of smth.; support a cause: I shall always like him […]
Difference between Be stiff-necked and Have a stiff neck
be stiff-necked —(also: be hard-necked) be stubborn or haughty: She was stiff-necked, but he would make her see reason. have a stiff neck—suffer from a condition in which the head cannot be moved without pain: By the time the train pulled into the station, he had a stiff neck and an aching back. Note: The […]
Difference between Be someone’s right-hand man and Stay on the right side of someone
be someone’s right-hand man—act as a person’s chief assistant: I’m counting on you being my right-hand man. stay on the right side of someone —(also: keep on the right side of someone) continue to be friendly with smb.: It will pay you to stay on the right side of the boss, as if you annoy […]
Difference between Be sold on someone and Be sold out to someone
be sold on someone—(U.S. coll.) be accepted by a person as worthy: When we first moved in, our neighbors seemed cold and unfriendly, but now we are sold on them. Cf.: be sold on something—be persuaded to recognize the worth or desirability of smth.: Parliament, and presumably the citizens, were sold on the idea of […]
Difference between Be soft in the head and Have a hard head
be soft in the head—(coll.) be foolish or mentally retarded (also: be weak in the head): One of the curses of being a science-fiction writer is that unsophisticated people assume you to be soft in the head. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase be weak-minded—be not firm or resolute enough: […]
Difference between Be set on doing something and Be set to do something
be set on doing something—be determined to do smth.: Roberts was outraged, and thereafter he and Nieuwendyk were set on leaving the team. be set to do something—be ready and prepared to do smth.: We were set to enjoy the weekend in a deluxe room overlooking Downtown Disney.