Gilt, as an adjective, means covered with gold (from the verb gild). She is wearing an elaborate gilt necklace to the party. Gilt, as a noun, refers to a thin gold covering or layer. Over the years much of the gilt wore away from the necklace. Guilt, a noun, is the responsibility for a wrongdoing […]
Category: Confusing Words
Difference between Gild and Guild
Gild means to cover with a golden appearance. The beautiful Canadian sunset gilded the grass in the valley. Guild refers to an association of trades people. Steven Spielberg is a member of the Directors Guild of America.
Difference between Gibe and Jibe
Gibe means to jeer, mock, or tease a person. Eric sometimes gibes him about his unfortunate four-putt green. Jibe means to agree with something. Her independent audit jibes well with our accounting numbers.
Difference between Get my dander up and Get my dandruff up
Get my dander up is the correct expression. It means angry, and originates from the 1800s Dutch phrase op donderon, which means to burst into a sudden rage. Those needless delays at the airport really get my dander up.
Difference between Gesture and Jester
Gesture refers to moving various body parts (hands, arms, etc.) to communicate. The baseball umpire used a common gesture to show the runner was safe. Jester refers to someone acting in a foolish manner. In medieval times, jesters typically entertained guests and royalty.
Difference between Genteel and Gentile
Genteel means well mannered and refined. She encouraged her daughter to behave in a genteel fashion. Gentile refers to a person of non-Jewish faith. The ceremonial laws excluded the Gentiles from being the people of God.
Difference between Genius and Genus
Genius is a person with exceptional ability, intelligence, or talent. Surprisingly, Albert Einstein was not considered a boy genius. Genus is a category, class, or type in taxonomy. The museum lists all the plants by both genus and species.
Difference between Gender and Sex
Gender describes the characteristics that a society or culture delineates as masculine or feminine. Sex refers to biological differences: chromosomes, hormonal profiles, and internal and external sex organs.
Difference between Gel and Jell
Gel is the liquid one uses to style hair. Gel can be especially useful for wavy and curly hair. Jell means to take shape and become cohesive. Because of the players’ inexperience, the team has yet to jell.
Difference between Gazetteer and Atlas
A gazetteer is a geographical dictionary or index usually found at the back of an atlas, and an atlas is a bound map collection.
Difference between Garnish and Garnishee
Garnish means to enhance in appearance or decorate something (most commonly food). His broad-toed shoes were garnished with gold buckles. The plate was garnished with a parsley sprig. Garnishee, a legal term, means to seize one’s property or money. The loan company garnisheed the deadbeat’s wages.
Difference between Gantlet and Gauntlet
Gantlet, an old form of punishment, requires a person to run between two lines of people who flog him as he passes. Thieves were once made to run the gantlet as their punishment. Gauntlet refers to a heavy armored glove worn in medieval times. It is often used figuratively to mean a challenge, as in […]