fish story—an exaggerated story; an incredible tale (about fishing): A friend who does not tell fish stories, says he has seen them [herring] in such schools that he could not row his boat through them. fishy story—a doubtful, questionable story suggestive of deception: He gives me a fishy story about how he bought the bike […]
Difference between Fish slice and Slice of fish
fish slice— 1. (UK) a fish-carving knife; a kitchen tool used for turning or serving fish: A fish slice can be used to lift fish fillets or pieces of meat. 2. a thin, wide, flat piece cut off (cooked) fish: Sprinkle lime juice over the fish slices and season with salt. slice of fish — […]
Difference between First time out of the box and Just out of a bandbox
first time out of the box—(coll.) said of one’s first experience with smth.: This is the first time out of the box with these cars and nobody has had a lot of time to work with them yet. just out of a bandbox—said of a person looking extremely smart and neat: They are all exceedingly […]
Difference between First time and For the first time
first time—said of the very first occasion of smth. (similar events could possibly follow later though not necessarily): She put on her hat and shawl and, realizing it was the first time she was to leave him at home, she hugged and kissed him. Note: The expression is not equivalent in meaning to the phrase […]
Difference between First school and Primary school
first school—(UK) a school for children aged between five and eight or nine: The village would consent to the school becoming a first school, rather than a primary. primary school—a school for the first four to eight years of education: I started primary school in a class together with fifteen other children, who were all […]
Difference between First lady and First woman
first lady, the— 1. the wife of a president: The first lady carries no official duties…. Nonetheless, she attends many official ceremonies. 2. a woman who is most important or better than any other at smth.: Dubbed the “First Lady of Song,” Fitzgerald has clearly earned her title. 3. (U.S. diners) spare ribs: The phrase […]
Difference between First floor (UK) and First floor (U.S.)
first floor (UK)—the floor immediately above the ground floor: Roos and Paul live on the first floor (that’s the second floor to us Americans). first floor (U.S.)—the ground floor (more or less on a level with the ground outside): The Museum Shop is on the first floor next to the entrance.
Difference between “First and last” and “First or last”
first and last— 1. coming before anything else in order, rank, etc.: They say that exquisite painting is the first and last business of a painter. 2. in essence; for the most part: You are a scientist first and last. Your other activities are merely field tests of the work you do here. Note: The […]
Difference between First Americans and First-generation Americans
first Americans —(also: Native Americans) North American Indians: Who knows whether the first Americans who came across the Bering Strait in pre-history were indeed the first. Cf.: First Nations—used with reference to Canadian Native Americans: All members of First Nations who are entitled to benefits are entered in the Indian Register. first-generation Americans—Americans of immigrant […]
Difference between Fire someone and Fire someone up
fire someone—(often Passive) dismiss a person from a job: A police officer claims that he was fired because a Web site he operates criticizes the Police Department. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase burn someone—(sl., usually Passive) 1. reprimand a person severely: Having been burned for speaking my mind often […]
Difference between Fire ship and Fireboat
fire ship —(hist.) a ship carrying explosives sent among the enemy’s ships to set them on fire: In order to protect them against fire ships, stockades, raised on piles, were placed higher up the river. fireboat— 1. a boat equipped with pumps for extinguishing fires on boats and piers: Her tenure as a fireboat served […]
Difference between Fire line and Line of fire
fire line— 1. a strip of cleared or ploughed land intended to check a forest fire: It became clear that the truck would survive once it outsped the fire line. 2. a police barrier around a building on fire: It is the responsibility of the police department to keep unauthorized persons outside this fire line. […]