live by oneself—live alone: For twenty-two years Junker lived by himself, completely alone in rooms designed for a nonexistent wife and children. live in oneself—(also: live within oneself ) rely on oneself for ideas, beliefs, etc.: They show us a man … who lived in himself and for himself. All his opinions were his own, […]
Difference between “Live a cat and dog life” and “live a dog’s life”
live a cat and dog life —(of two people) engage in constant quarreling (also: lead a cat and dog life): The couple had lived a cat-and-dog life almost since their honeymoon. live a dog’s life —(also: lead a dog’s life) lead a wretched unpleasant existence: Warr, unemployed and homeless, was left to live a “dog’s […]
Difference between Little world and Small world
little world— 1. the limited close circle of one’s family and friends: I see a chap who is a sort of great white chief in his own little world. 2. a group of things considered as constituting a unity: The archipelago is a little world within itself, or rather a satellite attached to America. small world […]
Difference between Little thing and Small thing
little thing— 1. a small child: There are the shops where she used to buy me toys when I was a little thing. 2. is used as a term of endearment: Poor little thing! He misses his mammy, you know! 3. smth. unimportant; a mere trifle: I never saw such an excitement over a little thing […]
Difference between Little talk and Small talk
little talk— 1. a brief comment or address: Let me illustrate by a little talk, which I think will have the twang of realism about it. 2. a short conversation: “Mr. Baker and I had a little talk about you today,” Newton said. small talk—light social conversation about unimportant things: After Willoughby was gone, Karen […]
Difference between Little men and Little men with hammers
little men—(also: little people) 1. men who are not tall: For lack of weight they make up by speed, and if they are little men they are the smaller targets. 2. ordinary or undistinguished people: Great men too often have greater faults than little men can find room for. 3. craftsmen or tradesmen doing business […]
Difference between Little madam and Little woman
little madam—said of a young girl who acts older than her years: You can see from the way she orders her brother about that she is a little madam. little woman—( coll.) a person’s wife: On Sunday afternoon Jack went off to play golf and the little woman hung some new curtains in the living […]
Difference between Little game and Small game
little game—scheming in order to win personal gain, advantage, or profit: How long do you mean to carry on this little game? small game— 1. a game in which the stakes are low: Some stuck to cards, and though no longer deep gamblers, rather played small game than sat out. 2. the smaller animals or […]
Difference between Little friend and Small friend
little friend— 1. is used of a pet animal as a term of endearment: All of us are or have been attached to a small animal. I am going to talk to you about my little friend. 2. (euph.) menstruation: Women have no shame connected to their “little friend” every month. Your museum is a […]
Difference between Little England and Little England beyond Wales
Little England—Barbados (an island nation in West Indies): In spite of Barbados being called “Little England” in the Caribbean, many islanders are weighing the possibility of a divorce from the mother country. Note: a) The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase Little Englander—(hist.) a person who advocated a “little England,” that is, […]
Difference between Listen in to something and Listen to something
listen in to something —(also: listen in on something) 1. listen secretly to a conversation: Little does he know that the shop’s owner is standing in the doorway, listening in to the conversation. 2. follow a radio broadcast: We recieved a positive response from everyone that contacted us after listening in to the show. listen […]
Difference between Listen for something and Listen out for something
listen for something—make a conscious effort to catch the sound of smth.; concentrate on hearing smth.: If beyond the silence we listen for the faintest undertones, we detect a stifled, continuous hum of insects. listen out for something— 1. = listen for something: You will be listening out for any human presence such as cutting […]