lecture in something—give lectures in a subject to a group of students: Dr. Watson lectures in English literature. lecture on something— 1. lecture to students on a specific topic: This term he is lecturing on the nineteenth-century novelists. 2. give a long talk on a topic to a group of people: He goes round the […]
Difference between Lecture at someone and Lecture to someone
lecture at someone—talk to a person in a sententious, pompous manner: He doesn’t talk to you if you approach him, he lectures at you pedantically. lecture to someone—give a formal talk (to a group of students, etc.): He still finds the time to make frequent visits to Rio Grande University where he lectures to students […]
Difference between Leave someone with something and Leave something with someone
leave someone with something—leave a person in possession of smth. that may be a burden or responsibility: He asked me to hold this parcel for him a moment, then he went off and left me with it. leave something with someone—leave smth. in a person’s care: You won’t actually get to speak to the minister […]
Difference between Leave someone stew and Leave someone stew in one’s own juice
leave someone stew—(also: let someone stew) keep a person in a state of uneasy anticipation or suspense: I knew that the group would be wondering what was going to happen next to them but I decided to leave them stew on it for a while. leave someone stew in one’s own juice —(also: let someone […]
Difference between Leave someone cold and Leave someone out in the cold
leave someone cold—fail to impress or interest a person: An orator may discourse very eloquently on injustice and leave his audience cold. leave someone out in the cold—ignore or abandon smb.: Developing countries might be left out in the cold in current world trade talks. Note: The expression does not fully correlate in meaning with […]
Difference between Leave someone alone and Leave someone to oneself
leave someone alone— 1. go away from a person: Her parents had gone on holiday for a week, and left us alone in their big house. 2. (also: let someone alone) abstain from disturbing or interfering with a person: She yelled at me to go away and leave her alone. But I ignored her and […]
Difference between Leave someone a clear field and Leave someone the field
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 […]