slip road—(UK) a road that runs parallel to a motorway, allowing to gain or lose speed safely while joining or leaving it: Temporary closure of a slip road at Carrington signals the final phase in the massive motorway widening project. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase slippery road— 1. a road […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between Slip off and Slip out
slip off—go away or leave quietly: Some say he’s slipped off, to join his friend abroad. slip out— 1. = slip off: So I came downstairs without any noise and slipped out. 2. (of news, information, etc.) leak out; be revealed without intention: She did not identify her boyfriend at first but his name eventually […]
Difference between Sleep round the clock and Sleep through the clock
sleep round the clock—sleep for twenty-four hours: The climbers, when they returned, were so tired that they fell into bed and slept round the clock. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase sleep around—have sexual relations with many people: As far as I could discover, he had no reputation for sleeping […]
Difference between Sleep it off and Sleep on it
sleep it off—sleep until one is sober; sleep until one feels normal: Shortly after he took off, he realized he had had too much to drink and decided to pull over and sleep it off. sleep on it—think about smth. for a while before coming up with a decision: If you’re facing a problem you […]
Difference between Sky pilot and Skyman
sky pilot— 1. a person licensed as a pilot: Hats off to these sky pilots for providing yet another valuable forest management tool. 2. (sl.) a priest; a military chaplain: At the mission you would get a sermon, say 15 minutes of religion from a sky pilot. skyman—(coll.) a paratrooper: During the days following the […]
Difference between Skin-deep and Skinny dip
skin-deep— 1. involving a surface only: We sent for a doctor … and on his examining Pagolo, we discovered that the wound was only skin-deep. 2. having little substance; superficial: The technical reviews of digital cameras are skin-deep compared to the in-depth reviews by the online photography sites. skinny dip —(a consonant nominal phrase) bathing […]
Difference between Skin someone for something and Skin someone of something
skin someone for something—(hyperbolic) punish or reprimand a person severely for an offense, etc. (also: skin someone alive for something ): I don’t think we should mention this unfortunate encounter to your father. He would skin me for compromising you. skin someone of something —(sl.) cheat a person of money or property by swindling: Kyranians […]
Difference between Skin a cat and Skin the cat
skin a cat— 1. (coll.) be a miser; spend as little as possible (also: skin a flint): She was very economical and wasted nothing, some said, “she would skin a cat for its hide and tallow.” 2. accomplish smth. (in allusion to the saying “there’s more than one way to skin a cat”): “The poster […]
Difference between Ski race and Ski run
ski race—(also: skiing race) a contest of speed between skiers: There should be a competent course patrol for all ski races made up from the personnel of the club. ski run— 1. an instance of traveling on skis: It is on one of these long ski runs alone that a man can think out his […]
Difference between Skeleton at the feast and Skeleton in the cupboard
skeleton at the feast—a person or thing that in the midst of pleasures acts as a reminder of life’s troubles: However, all’s well that ends well, and I haven’t come back to be a skeleton at the feast. skeleton in the cupboard, a —(also U.S.: skeleton in the closet, a) an embarrassing personal secret or […]
Difference between Sit up with someone and Sit with someone
sit up with someone—keep a person company remaining late out of bed: Charlotte sat up with her late at night and the two of them watched the snow fall together. sit with someone— 1. stay with smb. who is in need of care: Brigi sat with her boys in the hospital when they were sick, […]
Difference between Sit loose to something and Sit loose upon someone
sit loose to something—be indifferent to or independent of smth.: Buchan was delighted, especially because a university member could sit fairly loose to party. sit loose upon someone—said of opinions, principles, etc. that a person holds loosely to and can easily abandon: He whose opinions sat loose upon him, was always deemed a bad, and […]