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 […]
Difference between Like water and Like water off a duck’s back
like water—(of money) spend in great quantity or recklessly: She spends money like water to create a luxurious home far beyond the means of her humble husband. like water off a duck’s back—(of criticism, etc.) have no effect or make no impression whatsoever: I keep telling him it’s foolish to gamble, but it’s like water […]
Difference between Like death and Like grim death
like death—(U.S. also: like death warmed over) feeling or looking very unwell or completely exhausted: Much of the time I feel like death. I am in rather a bad temper. like grim death—gripping smth. very firmly; clinging to smth. tenaciously: By clinging like grim death to the gunwale, we just managed to keep inside the […]
Difference between Like a wet rag and Like a wet weekend
like a wet rag—utterly exhausted: At the end of a day I’m just like a wet rag. All I’m good for is to plotz in a chair. like a wet weekend—sad and miserable: Try to be a bit more cheerful. I don’t want you standing around looking like a wet weekend.
Like a scalded cat vs Like a singed cat
like a scalded cat— 1. rushing madly without regard to where one is going: He leapt over the fence and was down the roadway like a scalded cat. 2. screaming in a shrill, piercing voice: But why should you squall like a scalded cat? like a singed cat—said of smb. who is better than appearance […]
Difference between Like a dream and Like in a dream
like a dream— 1. like smth. imaginary or unreal: How could a cat appear in my apartment? I looked up, and for a moment I thought the cat had vanished like a dream. 2. (coll.) said of smth. that functions exceptionally well: The car goes like a dream but I should get the belts changed […]
Difference between Like a clock and Like one o’clock
like a clock—(also: like clockwork) in an orderly way; with regularity and precision: He manages my whole farm like a clock. like one o’clock—(coll.) vigorously; eagerly: “Toads are valuable animals,” answers Jane. “They eat the snails like one o’clock.”