shoot the cat—(UK sl.) be sick; vomit, especially as a result of excessive drinking: I’m cursedly inclined to shoot the cat. shoot the sitting duck—do smth. with guaranteed success; defeat smb. who is an easy prey: I don’t like enemies who aren’t formidable. There’s no fun in shooting sitting ducks.
Difference between Shoot someone down and Shoot someone down in flames
shoot someone down— 1. kill a person by a shot (usually implying merciless cruelty): I have witnessed several of their battles, and it appears to be the first object to shoot down, or otherwise kill a man. 2. bring down an aircraft (hence a pilot) by shooting: His father believes he is still alive fifteen […]
Difference between Shoot for the moon and Shoot the moon
shoot for the moon—(also: shoot for the stars) be extremely ambitious; try to do smth. very difficult or impossible: It is better to succeed in changing your diet gradually, than to shoot for the moon and then give up. shoot the moon—(sl.) leave rented accommodation by night without paying the rent: I told him who […]
Difference between Shoot a star and Shoot for the stars
shoot a star—(Nautical) take the star’s meridional altitude so as to get the position of the ship: It takes several minutes to find and shoot a star. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase shooting star—(also: falling-star) a meteor that darts across the sky: Another gale-warning often is given by shooting […]
Difference between Shoot a goal and Shoot at the goal
shoot a goal—(Sport) score a goal: The ball had come in from the right, and McLuckie killed it, and shot a goal. shoot at the goal— 1. (Sport) kick the ball, etc. in an attempt to score a goal: In the last hockey game, Mike Modano shot at the goal several times. 2. have smth. […]
Difference between Shoot a bolt and Shoot one’s bolt
shoot a bolt—send a bolt of a door, etc. into its fastening: The frame into which the bolts shoot is made of great strength. shoot one’s bolt—(coll.) do all that one is capable of; exhaust all of one’s resources: The home players had shot their bolt, and in thirty minutes the Birmingham team added two […]
Difference between Ship’s mate and Shipmate
ship’s mate—an officer on a merchant ship ranking immediately below the captain: Big Jim was the ship’s mate on the Bloody Moon, a ship owned by Captain Morgan. shipmate—a person belonging to the same crew: Before Pete experienced any kamikaze attacks, he and his shipmates used to discuss the safest place on a ship.
Difference between Ship’s clerk and Shipping clerk
ship’s clerk— 1. an officer responsible for accounts and stores in a passenger liner: He appears to have been a somewhat humorless person, very dedicated to his profession as ship’s clerk. 2. (U.S. Navy) an officer supervising records, reports, etc.: The torpedoman, ship’s clerk, photographer and aerographer entered the warrant ranks during WWII. shipping clerk—a […]
Difference between Shipmaster and Shipping-master
shipmaster —(also: master of the ship) captain or commander of a vessel: No shipmaster is permitted to use an anchor which has not been tested and stamped with a government mark. shipping-master—an official supervising the signing-on and discharging of seamen: When the crew is first engaged, the agreement shall be signed in duplicate, and one […]
Difference between Ship company and Ship’s company
ship company—(also: shipping company) commercial company engaged in transporting passengers and cargo by ship: The day of building tramp steamers by means of money raised from single ship companies has passed away. ship’s company—the whole crew of any ship: It was certainly a good run ashore for the ship’s company, with the Principality of Monaco […]
Difference between Sharp as a needle and Sharp as a wet noodle
sharp as a needle—(also: sharp as a razor) very intelligent; quick to learn or realize things: The child was as sharp as a needle and soon began to use quite difficult words. sharp as a wet noodle—(U.S. ironic) very dull, stupid: You can tell from the things he says that he’s about as sharp as […]
Difference between Shake the pagoda tree and Shake the plum tree
shake the pagoda tree—(UK hist.) make a fortune rapidly in India: Many a Banya or Brahman who had helped to “shake the pagoda tree” retired quietly to his ancestral village. shake the plum tree—(U.S.) appoint applicants to public offices as a reward for their loyalty to the party in power: As chairman of the Republican […]