San Jose—a city in California located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay: A friend who lives in San Jose came to the hotel one night and took us to dinner. San José—the capital of the nation of Costa Rica: Many foreigners living in Costa Rica, especially the beach areas, must come to San […]
Difference between Same again and Same as ever
same again—used when ordering another drink of the same kind as the last: A thump on the counter brought the barmaid…. “Same again, ladies?” same as ever—said of a person or thing not changed over a period of time: I have been perfectly charmed and overjoyed today, to find you just the same as ever.
Difference between Sally Ann and San Fairy Ann
Sally Ann—(sl.) the Salvation Army (a charitable and religious organization to care for the poor and homeless): The Salvation Army? You’d never get me sleeping there…. Everyone knows you pick all sorts of things up from the Sally Ann. San Fairy Ann—(a jocular representation of the French phrase “ca ne fait rien”) it doesn’t matter; […]
Difference between Sale price and Selling price
sale price— 1. the price a customer pays for a product: I have learned the lowest sale price of many items we purchase regularly and wait until it is at or below that price. 2. low price at a sale: This Lindermans wine I bought at a sale price of ￡3.99 at my local Safeway—normal […]
Difference between Saint John, Saint John’s and Saint Johns
Saint John— 1. the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, Canada: Saint John is located in the south of New Brunswick, one of the Maritime Provinces on Canada’s Atlantic coast. 2. a river that rises in Maine and flows northeastward through New Brunswick, Canada: Plans? Just fishing with my daughter on the Saint […]
Difference between Saint Helena and Saint Helens
Saint Helena—a small island in the South Atlantic Ocean: Saint Helena is a British Overseas Territory and one of the last relics of the colonies. Saint Helens—an active volcano in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States: The Cascade range was volcanically inactive for over 120 years prior to the Mount Saint Helens eruption […]
Difference between Saint Anthony’s fire and Saint Elmo’s fire
Saint Anthony’s fire—an inflammatory disease of the skin caused by alkaloids produced by a fungus that infests rye and wheat: Outbreaks of Saint Anthony’s Fire were common in countries where populations subsisted on rye bread. Saint Elmo’s fire—a naturally occurring corona discharge from a pointed conducting object, such as a ship’s mast, etc.: Ball lightning […]
Difference between Saigon moment and Sputnik moment
Saigon moment—(usually in military contexts) used when people realize that they will lose or fail (originally of the U.S. negative experience in the Vietnam war): “We are waiting for the final chapter, for your Saigon moment,” a rebel commander bragged in a taunt to U.S. President Bush. sputnik moment—used when people realize that they are […]
Difference between Safety man and Safety officer
safety man— 1. a person responsible for safety: As John began to get into his diving things again he wished that somebody could be left in the boat as safety man. 2. a man guarding a temporarily disused mine-shaft: These officials, known as “safety men,” will eat their dinner in semi-darkness hundreds of feet below […]
Difference between Safe against something and Safe from something
safe against something—protected from possible dangers (such as fire, etc.) should they happen: I try to make sure my house is as safe against hurricanes as possible. safe from something—said of dangers that cannot possibly harm a person or thing: A person once infected with the smallpox is safe from having it a second time.
Difference between Rust bowl and Rust bucket
rust bowl—(U.S.) said of the declining industrial areas, especially of the Middle West: His policies are turning our great industrial Midwest and the industrial base of this country into a rust bowl. rust bucket—(sl.) 1. (U.S.) an old, worn and rusty ship: To try to get the jump on the weather, ore carriers will put […]
Russian Easter egg vs Russian egg
Russian Easter egg—hand painted wooden or porcelaine decorative egg: She plays an American wife who comes across a Russian Easter egg that has been in her family for years. Russian egg—an egg poached and served with mayonnaise on a lettuce leaf: I yelled an order for Russian eggs. It comes up a salad the size […]