Careen means to swerve or tilt while in motion. Despite improved suspension, the car careened during the race. Career means to move at full speed. The stock cars careered down the track. Carom means to collide and rebound. We held our breath as a few racing cars caromed off the wall.
Civic vs Civil vs Civilian
Civic, civil, civilian are not close synonyms but rather words whose meanings lend themselves to confusion.
Be a bomb vs Be the bomb
be a bomb—(coll.) be a failure or fiasco: Unfortunately, the film was a bomb and gained a reputation as being the only film on which Mr. Corman lost money. be the bomb—(U.S. sl., sometimes spelled “be da bomb”) be very successful; be received enthusiastically: The show was the “bomb” back in the day when it […]
Cardinal numbers vs Ordinal numbers
Cardinal numbers (1, five, 247, etc.) show quantity, not order. Despite all the traffic, we arrived one hour early for the concert. Ordinal numbers (first, second, third, etc.) show order or numerical sequence. Unlike in other years, this year our seats are in the third row.
Citizen vs Subject vs National
Citizen, subject, national are comparable when denoting a person who is regarded as a member of a sovereign state, entitled to its protection, and subject to its laws.
Be a bad life vs Live a bad life
be a bad life—be not likely to live long enough: Elizabeth all her days was reckoned a “bad life.” live a bad life—lead a life of wickedness or immorality: He is leaving a bad life and should be kept away from the young.
Circumstantial vs Minute vs Particular vs Particularized vs Detailed vs Itemized
Circumstantial, minute, particular, particularized, detailed, itemized are comparable when they mean dealing with a matter point by point.
Card shark vs Cardsharp
A card shark is a proficient, cutthroat, honest card player, and a cardsharp is a swindler.
Circumference vs Perimeter vs Periphery vs Circuit vs Compass
Circumference, perimeter, periphery, circuit, compass are comparable because all in their basic senses denote a continuous line enclosing an area or space.
Carat vs Caret vs Carrot vs Karat
Carat is a measurement (200 milligrams) used in weighing gemstones. Ty bought an engagement ring that had a 1.5-carat diamond. Caret is a proofreader’s mark (^) to indicate insertion. It’s also used in math to indicate exponentiation. Editors often insert many carets on a writer’s first draft. If the caret is not in the formula, […]
Be a back seat driver vs Be in the back seat
be a back seat driver—suggest unwanted advice; tell a person in charge how to do his job: It is always easy to criticize and be a back seat driver. be in the back seat—(also: take a back seat) take a subordinate position: Dad is now in the back seat. Jonathan is in control of the […]
Choose vs Select vs Elect vs Opt vs Pick vs Cull vs Prefer vs Single
Choose, select, elect, opt, pick, cull, prefer, single are comparable when they mean to fix upon one of a number of things as the one to be taken, accepted, or adopted or to make such a determination.