sweat it out—(sl.) endure smth. unpleasant till it ends; await smth. anxiously: Mr. Khrushchev is just sweating it out for an announcement of a manned flight in orbit. Cf.: don’t sweat it—(U.S. sl.) don’t worry about it: Joe Trippi suggests the best solution: don’t sweat it. Just do what needs to be done now in […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between Swear on a stack of Bibles and Swear on the Bible
swear on a stack of Bibles—promise solemnly that what one says is true: Your telephone company will swear on a stack of Bibles that nothing will disrupt service to you, the valued customer. swear on the Bible— 1. place one’s hand on the Bible in a court of law pledging to tell the truth: A […]
Difference between Swear at something and Swear on something
swear at something—curse smth.: The accident was holding up traffic heading for a major football event, and he could hear people swearing at the delay. swear on something— 1. (also: swear by something ) call smth. held holy as witness to the truth of what one says: I swear on my soul that this really […]
Difference between Swear against someone and Swear at someone
swear against someone—(legal) swear a charge against a person: No one endeavored to make him swear against the prisoner. swear at someone—use profane language toward a person: All the drivers were swearing at each other at the top of their voices.
Difference between Swallow the Bible and Swallow the dictionary
swallow the Bible—(U.S. coll.) perjure oneself (with reference to swearing on the Bible in a court of law): They will stick together, stretch conscience and at times “swallow the Bible.” swallow the dictionary—(coll.) use long or difficult words (used showing disapproval): Have you swallowed a dictionary? We shall have to sack this fellow if he […]
Difference between Susceptible of something and Susceptible to something
susceptible of something—capable or permitting of smth.: It is unfortunate that Borlase did not express himself more clearly, for his language is susceptible of two interpretations. susceptible to something—easily affected or influenced by smth.: There is one major flaw in Timon’s character. That is, he is very susceptible to flattery.
Difference between Suggestion about something and Suggestion of something
suggestion about something—an idea proposed with respect to smth.: If you have a suggestion about how we can improve our service, we would like to know about it. suggestion of something— 1. an indication of the presence or possibility of smth.: The word, though not uncommon even colloquially, has often a suggestion of archaism. 2. […]
Difference between Sugar daddy and Sweet man
sugar daddy —(sl.) an older man who gives expensive gifts to a young woman in return for sexual favors or companionship: Bill was having an affair with Sue Ellen, who happened to count on Marshall as her sugar daddy. sweet man—(sl.) a man who is fond of the society of women: Eddoes was a real […]
Suffer from a cold vs Suffer from the cold
suffer from a cold — have a viral infection of the nose, throat, and bronchial tubes:
Difference between Suck it up and Suck up to someone
suck it up —(sl.) make the effort required to deal with smth. difficult or unpleasant: The airline should have sucked it up and simply canceled the flights altogether when the weather situation became clear. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase suck it in—(sl.) pull in one’s stomach (to make oneself […]
Difference between Such as it is and Such as there is
such as it is—just the way it is (usually used to suggest that smth. is of poor quality): We must either accept the book, such as it is, or write another more worthy of credit. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase as such— 1. as that kind of thing: It […]
Such and such vs Thus and thus
such and such —(also: so and so) is used to refer to a person or thing whose name one does not remember or does not want to be precise: We don’t have to wonder, like the early explorers did, at what time we will reach such and such a location. thus and thus—(also: thus and […]