show someone the door—ask a person to leave; dismiss smb. without ceremony: Exasperated by the man’s insolence, Ted finally showed him the door. show someone to the door—escort a person to the door as a parting gesture: The Reverend Thomas took his leave and apologized…. She told him not to worry as she showed him […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between Show one’s cards and Show one’s colors
show one’s cards—reveal one’s plans or intentions: The Prime Minister had not shown his cards so far as to who would be given the brief to hold the discussions. show one’s colors—show what one is really like; show one’s true self: His most recent incarnation as an opponent of immigration has perhaps shown his colors […]
Difference between Show of hands and Show one’s hand
show of hands—a method of voting in which people raise their hands: The chairman of the meeting called for a show of hands on the proposed measure. show one’s hand—reveal one’s true and previously hidden plans, intentions, etc.: It was only after Hitler became Chancellor that he really showed his hand.
Difference between The show must go on and Stop the show
show must go on, the—is used to say that an activity must continue no matter what unfortunate event has occurred: She may never perform again, perhaps her back is broken but the show must go on. stop the show—(of an actor, singer, etc.) give an outstanding performance: Twelve-year-old Reggie Jackson stopped the show last night […]
Difference between Show girl and Showman
show girl— 1. a chorus girl in a musical comedy; an actress in a nightclub show: He found it hard to believe that she was an actress, and a show girl at that. 2. a woman employed in the showrooms of dress-makers, shops, etc., to show off clothes: Not the least interesting thing about these […]
Difference between Show a face and Show one’s face
show a face—(dated) demonstrate bravery or audacity: De la Haye and Douglas were both wounded, but the little party continued to show a face to their foes. show one’s face—(often negat.) appear somewhere, especially when one is not welcome in a place: After what she said, she had better not show her face around here […]
Difference between Shouting head and Talking head
shouting head—(derog., also: barking head) a television commentator who speaks in a loud voice and whose comments tend to be aggressive: We have instead shouting heads trying to interrupt each other to get their talking points across. talking head—a television commentator whose upper body is all that is shown on the screen: Former TV talking […]
Difference between Shout at someone and Shout to someone
shout at someone—talk to a person angrily in a loud voice: She shouted at us for spoiling her lovely evening. shout to someone—address smb. in a very loud voice that can be heard from a long distance away: Davis was struggling to carry the heavy wireless set; I shouted to him to ditch it and […]
Difference between Short time and Small time
short time— 1. fewer than the regular number of hours allotted to daily or weekly work: 80,000 textile workers were flung out of work, and thousands more were on short time. 2. (sl.) a brief visit to a prostitute: They [sailors] make straight for the nearest bar and then on to the brothel for what […]
Difference between Short talk and Tall talk
short talk—a brief lecture or address: The Director said that he would like me to broadcast a short talk under my own name. tall talk —(coll.) boastful or pretentious talk (also: big talk): Tall talk is luckily an object of suspicion to Englishmen. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase talk […]
Difference between Short order and Tall order
short order—(U.S.) an order for food to be prepared and served up quickly: A good short-order cook in a well-designed kitchen can plate 100 meals an hour during morning rush. tall order—an excessive or unreasonable demand; a difficult task: Miss Maple considered: “It would be better, I think, to find the body first. Don’t you?” […]
Difference between Short in something and Short of something
short in something—(also: short on something ) not having enough of smth.: Though I was at that time rich in fame—for my book ran like wildfire—yet I was very short in money. short of something— 1. = short in something: Elizabeth, always short of money, railed against the required outlay. 2. not fully amounting to […]