see someone off— 1. bid a person goodbye at an airport, train station, etc.: The decks were crowded with voyagers and those who had come to see those voyagers off. 2. (coll.) force a person to go away: I know an audience of stuffed shirts when I see one. Besides—I just had to see that pompous […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between See snakes and See the lions
see snakes—(U.S.) have visionary hallucinations caused by alcoholism (also: see pink elephants): Alcohol abuse may pollute your brain so that you will see snakes and spiders. see the lions—(U.S. coll.) see all the noteworthy attractions of a place: The rest of the day was spent in seeing the lions—and first the Cathedral.
Difference between See red and See the red light
see red—(coll.) become enraged; lose one’s temper: Happily violence is short-lived, only for a very little while do even the gentlest persons “see red.” see the red light—have premonition of disaster; see danger ahead: He saw the red light and got out of the country just when the revolution started.
Difference between See life and See life whole
see life— 1. acquire experience of life: Vicky began to like the place and her company less and less. She had to remind herself that at least she was seeing life. 2. engage in social gaieties and active pleasures: He’s made a good deal of money and he’s seeing life, I fancy. see life whole—have […]
Difference between See into something and See to something
see into something—(also: look into something ) consider a matter; inquire into smth.: Let me know as many particulars as you can remember—for I must see into the charge. see to something—deal with smth.; attend to or take care of smth.: Who is seeing to the arrangements for the wedding?
Difference between See how the cat jumps and That cat won’t jump
see how the cat jumps —(also: see which way the cat jumps) see what direction events are taking: Had I time, I believe I would come to London merely to see how the cat jumped. that cat won’t jump—(also: that cock won’t fight) that argument is doubtful; that idea isn’t going to work: “They talk […]
Difference between A second time and The second time
second time, a—another time; once more: I rang the bell, but nobody answered it, so I had to ring a second time. second time, the—the second occasion: I had to retake my exam and passed with flying colors. It’s always easier the second time.
Difference between Seating room and Sitting room
seating room—(of a canteen, chapel, etc.) seating capacity; places where people can sit: We have seating room for thirty pupils in this classroom. sitting room—a room in which members of a family commonly sit: A feature of modern living rooms is the room divider, screening the dining area from the main sitting room.
Difference between Seasonable clothing and Seasonal clothing
seasonable clothing—clothing that is appropriate or suitable for the season: Each resident possesses adequate, clean, wellfitting, and seasonable clothing and has a safe place to keep it. seasonal clothing—clothing pertaining to a particular season: It is preferred that only seasonal clothing be stored in the resident’s wardrobe and that out of season clothing be stored […]
Difference between Search for someone and Search someone
search for someone—try very hard to find a person: Family members began searching for the boy and found him in the vehicle, police said. search someone—examine smb. to make certain whether any article (stolen or prohibited) is concealed in his clothing: A power is given to officers to search persons suspected of concealing prohibited goods.
Difference between Seal something off and Seal something up
seal something off—prevent access to and exit from an area or space: Police have sealed off the street where the gunman is hiding. seal something up—close smth. tightly: They sealed up the cracks in the window to stop the icy wind from blowing in.
Difference between Seaboard and Surfboard
seaboard—the part of a country which borders on the sea; the coastline: Come winter, Tundra Swans are to be found along the seaboard of the western (and to a lesser extent the eastern) United States. surf board—a narrow buoyant board used in surfing in which the surfer is carried along the face of a breaking […]