come down to earth—(also: come back to earth) stop daydreaming; return to practical realities (especially unpleasant): Now, Virgie, come down to earth and give me the low-down. What’s happened to Mrs. Bedford’s diamonds? go to earth—(also: go to ground) go into hiding; put oneself out of sight: The policeman … turned back to assist his […]
Difference between Come down on someone like a ton of bricks and Hit someone like a ton of bricks
come down on someone like a ton of bricks—(coll.) reprimand or punish a person severely: If I find you misbehaving, I’ll come down on you like a ton of bricks. hit someone like a ton of bricks—(coll.) make a person feel an unpleasant emotion very strongly: He said something that sounded innocent to him, but […]
Difference between Come down on someone and Come down to someone
come down on someone— 1. demand smth. firmly from a person: Things looked good until the State came down on me for sales tax. 2. reprimand or criticize a person severely: Many people came down on me for publishing my book. come down to someone—be passed on to smb.: This photo, which came down to […]
Difference between Come down in the last shower and Come out in the wash
come down in the last shower—(Irish coll., usually negat.) be naive and gullible: I’m sorry to disappoint you, if you expect me to take your work seriously, but unfortunately for you I didn’t come down in the last shower. come out in the wash— 1. (of the truth) be revealed or become clear later: The […]
Difference between Come down and Go down
come down— 1. collapse; fall: Several trees came down in last night’s storm. 2. (of a plane) be destroyed: Three of the enemy planes came down in the battle. 3. (of a plane) land: The plane came down safely in spite of the mist. 4. (of prices) be reduced: Prices are much more likely to […]
Difference between Come by something and Go by something
come by something— 1. obtain smth. (that is hard to get): Jobs were not so easy to come by when I was a boy. 2. happen to get smth. by accident: How did you come by that scratch on your cheek? go by something— 1. act according to smth.: If we go by instructions, we […]
Difference between Come by and Go by
come by—pay an informal visit: Why don’t you come by some afternoon and have coffee with me. go by— 1. (of time) pass: Less than a day on the job goes by before the announcement comes that the workers are, once again, on strike. 2. (of an opportunity, etc.) pass without being taken: Often the […]
Difference between Come between something and Go between something
come between something—happen between two events: The third race comes between the high jump and the throwing competition. go between something— 1. = come between something: The scene goes between the entrance of the murderer and the discovery of the body. 2. fit or pass into a position between two things: This picture goes nicely […]
Difference between Come between someone and Go between someone
come between someone— 1. interfere in the affairs of two other people: It is never wise to come between a man and his wife. 2. prevent a person from doing smth.: The true artist lets nothing come between himself and his work. go between someone—act as a messenger between two people: She was given a […]
Difference between Come before someone and Go before someone
come before someone— 1. be higher in rank or greater in importance than another person: Members of the Royal Family come before lords and ladies. 2. (of an issue, suggestion, etc.) be presented (to an authoritative body) for consideration or judgement: Each case that comes before the committee is treated individually. 3. appear before a […]
Difference between Come back at someone and Come back to someone
come back at someone—reply to a person forcefully or angrily: She came back at the speaker with some sharp questions. come back to someone— 1. return to a person’s memory: It is all coming back to me now. 2. reply to a person about smth. after a period of time: Can I come back to […]
Difference between Come back and Go back
come back— 1. return to a place: I’m going away and I may never come back. 2. become fashionable again; be restored: Some people would be glad to see corporal punishment come back. 3. return to the memory: At first I could not remember why everything seemed so familiar; then it all came back. go […]