black box— 1. a flight recorder in an aircraft: The flight recorder is an indestructible “black box” which automatically records the key functions in the aircraft. 2. any apparatus of unknown internal design: Crime squads are searching for the manufacturer of a black box which contains a device that can reverse electricity meter readings. 3. […]
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between Black book and Little black book
black book— 1. a register listing persons that have committed offences against morality, etc.: The German government was in a position to blackmail 47,000 prominent British “perverts” whose names figured in a “black book.” Cf.: be in someone’s black books—be out of favor with a person: Beatrice managed to leave a very uncomfortable impression upon […]
Difference between Black board and Blackboard
black board—any board of black color: Some chess players like to have contrasting colors to lessen eye strain, thus black pieces on a brown board or brown pieces on a black board. blackboard—a board of either a dark color or white that is written on, especially in classrooms: Over half of what is written on […]
Difference between Black bird and Blackbird
black bird—any of the birds that have black feathers: If we cross a black bird with a white, all the offspring are grey. blackbird—a common European songbird (Merula turdus): Black lark is another very large lark, more closely resembling a blackbird in size…
Difference between Black and white film and Black film
black and white film—a monochrome film or motion picture: He submitted a strong script that led Fox to substitute color film and wide screen for black-and-white and the conventional small-screen ratio. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase black and white—(U.S. diners) chocolate soda with vanilla ice cream: Ever since a […]
Difference between Black and tan and “Black and Tans, the”
black and tan—(UK sl.) a drink composed of porter and ale: He asked for a pint of black and tan, and had to explain to the waiter what it was. Black and Tans, the—(UK hist.) an armed force specially recruited in 1921 to combat Sinn-Fein (an Irish movement dedicated to the unification of Northern Ireland […]
Difference between Black Act, the and “Black Acts, the”
Black Act, the—(UK hist.) the English statute of 1722, directed against certain lawless persons who designated themselves “The Blacks”: The Waltham blacks committed such enormities, that Government was forced to interfere with that severe Act called the Black Act. Black Acts, the—(UK hist.) acts of the Scottish Parliament passed between the accession of James I […]
Difference between Bitten by the same bug and Tarred with the same brush
bitten by the same bug—said of people who have the same interest or hobby: My cousin and I were bitten by the same bug. We collect coins. tarred with the same brush—said of people considered to have similar objectionable qualities: As the numbers of immigrants increase, refugees are tarred with the same brush as illegal […]
Difference between Bite one’s tongue and Bite the tongue
bite one’s tongue— 1. hold back a remark one was about to make: The thought … almost slipped out between his lips, but he bit his tongue in time. 2. refrain from discussing smth. embarrassing, etc.: However, one recent story proved extremely hard to bite one’s tongue over. Note: The expression is not equivalent in […]
Difference between Big word and Little word
big word— 1. a long word that is difficult to spell: Her gift [the dictionary] will always be there on the shelf, helping me to get the big words straight. 2. a rare word, especially when used in pompous speech: He is using the big words in an attempt to make himself look smart. 3. […]
Difference between Big stick and Big sticks
big stick—a display of force or power: Happily the revolution in Paraguay is too far down in South America to arouse the “big stick” in Washington. big sticks— 1. (Loggers) a forest or trees: Felling one of these “big sticks” is a dangerous occupation, says Howard, a lifelong logger. 2. (Austral. sl.) Australian rules football […]
Difference between Big shot and Large shot
big shot—(sl.) 1. an important person: I was asked to dine with Thomas Lamont, along with a number of big-shots in the American newspaper world. 2. a substantial injection of a drug: The final chase scene hit me hard, like a big shot of heroin in the mainline vein. 3. a generous portion of liquor, […]