off one’s feed— 1. (of animals or fish) being without appetite: If the fish are off their feed, or won’t eat at a time when they normally would, then you have some evaluation steps to take. 2. (coll., of people) feeling unwell or in low spirits: He confided to Bee that the dear old Squire […]
Difference between Off one’s block and Off the blocks
off one’s block—(Austral. sl.) crazy, eccentric, or foolish: Lexus is actually lying, or merely mistaken. Jeniard looks like he thinks Lexus is off his block. off the blocks —(also: out of the blocks)—said of a fast start of an activity: One of the first off the blocks has been Sainsbury which is set to launch […]
Difference between Off one’s beam and Off the beam
off one’s beam —(coll.) crazy or behaving as if mad: I think the guy up there who said he was poor and proud of it is off his beam. off the beam—wide of the mark; wrong: He acknowledged that sunny predictions by some in the administration were off the beam.
Difference between Off hand and Out of hand
off hand—without preliminary preparation or consideration: I cannot give you the information off hand. out of hand— 1. immediately; without delay: The situation needs to be dealt with out of hand. 2. out of control: For a moment there was great danger of a “rough house” out of hand. See also: off one’s hands / […]
Difference between Off color and Without color
off color— 1. (coll.) feeling unwell or in low spirits: Maybe you just felt off-color for a few days after the sunbathing. 2. (of a joke, etc.) slightly indecent or distasteful: That joke you told was off color and embarrassed her. 3. not of the best kind or quality: He had mighty little English, and […]
Difference between Off–Broadway and Off-off Broadway
off–Broadway—is used of the New York experimental theaters located in an area other than Broadway: The play began life at an off–Broadway theater. off-off Broadway—is used of the most radical or avant-garde of New York theaters: Off-Broadway and off-off Broadway are for those who genuinely love theater.
Difference between “Off again, on again” and “Off and on”
off again, on again—(also: on again, off again) subject to frequent change: The weather was terrible, so the mission was off-again on-again. The fighter escort was never able to get off… off and on—(also: on and off ) from time to time; not regularly: It’s been raining off and on since I got home, and […]
Difference between Of one’s own and On one’s own
of one’s own—said of smth. belonging to a person: The eldest boy Charles was of an age to be flying off and building a nest of his own. on one’s own— 1. relying on one’s own effort, ability, etc.: Muller was on his own in a strange town, in a foreign land. 2. alone; by […]
Difference between Of no effect and To no effect
of no effect—(predic.) useless; unsuccessful (also: of no avail): Such an authorization, if given, was of no effect since it would be contrary to statute and regulation. to no effect—(also: to no avail) 1. unsuccessfully; in vain: Senators in the past have called for similar changes but to no effect. 2. = of no effect: There […]
Difference between Of no consideration and On no consideration
of no consideration—(also: of no account) not important; insignificant in the eyes of others: In our day it seems incredible that the landscape was at one time of no consideration to artists. on no consideration—(also: on no account) certainly not; in no circumstances: On no consideration will he allow gambling. He has been proof against […]
Difference between Of no avail and To no avail
of no avail—(predic.) useless; unsuccessful (also: of no effect): All their efforts to save him from his folly were of no avail. to no avail—(also: to no effect): 1. unsuccessfully; in vain: We pulled him out of the river and tried to revive him, but to no avail. 2. = of no avail: The interviewee […]
Difference between Of no account and On no account
of no account—(also: of no consideration) not important; insignificant in the eyes of others: “His grandfather was a distinguished man.” “Was he?” replied the man of Chicago. “That’s of no account with us.” on no account—(also: on no consideration) certainly not; in no circumstances: The British Trade Union representative will, on no account, be late […]