leave someone a clear field—give a person a free hand; abstain from interference: And I’ve never written yet—that is, never sent a letter away. I’ve been very good to them in leaving them a clear field. leave someone the field— 1. (of an army) retreat after having been defeated by the enemy in battle: Shortly before […]
Difference between Leave it to someone and Leave someone to it
leave it to someone—let another person deal with a matter: The professionals all take a greater share of responsibility if a project is to be a success instead of leaving it to the “jack of all trades”—the project engineer. leave someone to it—leave a person alone to proceed with smth. without interfering with his work: […]
Difference between Leave alone and Leave well alone
leave alone —(also: let alone) not to mention; not counting: We shall never get six of us in the car, leave alone bags and boxes. leave well alone —(also: leave well enough alone) make no change to smth. that is satisfactory (in case one makes things worse): It’s a great deal of trouble and unnecessary […]
Difference between Leap in the dark and Shot in the dark
leap in the dark—a hazardous action of which one cannot foresee the consequences: Who’d marry if he was afraid he’d regret it later? What is life, old boy, but a leap in the dark? shot in the dark—a wild guess or try made at random: The suggested solution was just a shot in the dark, […]
Difference between Lean on something and Lean towards something
lean on something—depend on smth.; rely on smth. for support: Christianity may lean on the civil and ecclesiastical power. lean towards something—have a tendency to act in a particular way; tend to some quality or condition: Do some oriental philosophies lean towards fatalism?
Difference between “Leading man” and “Man of light and leading”
leading man —(also: main man) 1. a person that guides, directs, or leads: The leading man in charge of this search had signaled his intention to resign. 2. an actor who plays the leading role: Mario was a character actor, but … he suddenly became a leading man in numerous action pictures. man of light […]
Difference between Leader of an orchestra (UK) and Leader of an orchestra (U.S.)
leader of an orchestra (UK)—the senior violinist who acts as an assistant to the conductor: Where does the leader of an orchestra normally sit—to the left or the right of the conductor? leader of an orchestra (U.S.)—the conductor: People notice the leader of an orchestra but often forget the importance of the section heads.
Difference between Lead to something and Lead up to something
lead to something— 1. (of a road, etc.) provide a way for smb. to reach a place: She hurried across the square to the street which led to the bridge. 2. be the cause of smth.; result in smth.: “Accident proneness” implies the possession of those qualities which lead to an undue number of accidents. lead […]
Difference between Lead someone in a string and String someone along
lead someone in a string—have complete control over another person: It is a sad condition for one who ruled womankind as he, that a woman should lead him in a string. string someone along —(coll.) deliberately mislead a person into believing or doing smth.: He’ll never marry her, he’s just stringing her along! Note: The expression […]
Difference between Lead someone a dance and Lead the dance
lead someone a dance—cause a person much exertion or trouble with no adequate result: The prettiest of all the girls was the schoolie, and didn’t she lead the lads a dance. lead the dance—take the lead in a course of action: There is still a very subtle struggle for control. Who will lead the dance […]
Difference between Lead a cat and dog life and Lead a dog’s life
lead a cat and dog life —(of two people) engage in constant quarreling (also: live a cat and dog life): They have led a cat-and-dog life almost since the day they were married. lead a dog’s life —(also: live a dog’s life) lead a wretched unpleasant existence: Poor woman! She’s led a dog’s life since […]
Difference between Lay-by (UK) and Lay-by (U.S.)
lay-by (UK)— 1. a roadside parking or rest area for drivers: The holidaymakers had stopped in a lay-by at Oban and Miss Coldrick thinks she left the camera on the car boot. 2. an agreement to purchase goods by paying for them by installments: When making a lay-by you should receive from the trader a […]