not in a condition—(followed by Infinitive) unable to do smth. because of an illness, fatigue, etc. (also: in no condition): Tupman was not in a condition to rise, after the unwonted dissipation of the previous night. out of condition—in bad shape; physically unfit: The way was rough and all three of them after so many idle […]
Difference between Not have a leg to stand on and Not have the legs
not have a leg to stand on—(of an argument, opinion, etc.) be not supported by facts or sound reasons: He said that the government did not have a leg to stand on in regard to that bill. not have the legs —(of a ball in golf ) have not enough momentum to reach the desired […]
Difference between Not half bad and Not so bad
not half bad —(coll.) quite good: The machine is not half bad. It’s very quiet, and it performs as well as the PC on general office applications. not so bad—only a little bad: The weather is not so bad now as we are off the mountain but there is still mist covering the peaks.
Difference between Not half and Not the half
not half —(coll.) 1. not nearly; not at all: But why don’t you come to my room? I have some Scotch—not half bad. 2. (emphatic) only a fraction or a small part of smth.: So, I have to read that and write about it. And that’s not half of my homework. not the half — […]
Difference between Not even think of something and Not think much of something
not even think of something—(usually imper.) not even consider the idea: Except that I want to see your sin-stained countenance, I should not even think of a week in Paris. not think much of something—(also: think little of something) have a poor opinion with regard to smth.: He gives very good dinners, but I don’t […]
Difference between Not count one’s chickens before they are hatched and Not cross one’s bridges before one comes to them
not count one’s chickens before they are hatched —(usually imper.) not anticipate some expected benefit because it may not happen: You’re expecting to make a lot of money but don’t count your chickens before they are hatched. not cross one’s bridges before one comes to them—(usually imper.) not worry unnecessarily about future problems until they […]
Difference between Not born yesterday and Yesterday’s man
not born yesterday— 1. not naive or easily fooled: It shouldn’t surprise anyone who wasn’t born yesterday that these ads that sound too good to be real are just that. 2. old enough to know or remember smth.: Anyone who wasn’t born yesterday remembers the old Mexican Village restaurant, or at least has heard tales […]
Difference between Not a thing and Not the thing
not a thing—nothing at all: “And you didn’t hear anything, or see anything?” asked Perry Mason. “Not a thing.” not the thing—not proper or befitting: New York was a metropolis, and in metropolises it was “not the thing” to arrive early at the opera.
Difference between Not a bit and Not a little
not a bit—not at all; not in the least: I haven’t slept all night and I am not a bit tired. not a little—to a considerable extent: They were not a little surprised to see me, and not a little annoyed either. Note: The expression does not fully correlate in meaning with the phrase no […]
Difference between Northwest Territories and Northwest Territory
Northwest Territories—a huge area of sub-arctic and arctic Canada: When the nights are dark in autumn and winter, the northern lights come out in the Northwest Territories of Canada. Northwest Territory—(U.S. hist.) an area created by Congress in 1787, covering present-day Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota: A committee of Congress, headed by […]
Difference between North light and North Lights
north light—a window, especially in a studio roof facing north: I went to his tiny studio. He’d simply put a high north light in the roof of a small bedroom. North Lights—(also: Northern Lights) the aurora borealis: I stood looking up at the North Lights, which shot up the heaven to a great height.
Difference between Normal school and Special school
normal school—an institution with a two-year program for the training of teachers (chiefly for the elementary grades): One key element of the teacher training philosophy was to maintain a “practice” or “demonstration” school attached to the Normal School. special school—a school for the teaching of children who are mentally or physically handicapped: The baby had […]