be empty-handed— 1. having received or gained nothing: Due to three successive droughts, most farmers are emptyhanded. 2. be unarmed: You will learn not only to use weapons, but also to defend against someone who has one while you are empty-handed. have one’s hands full—have much work to do; be very busy: The plumber had […]
Compliant vs Acquiescent vs Resigned
Compliant, acquiescent, resigned, and their corresponding nouns compliance, acquiescence, resignation, are comparable when used in reference to a person, a mood, or a disposition that manifests acceptance (as of another’s will or of something disagreeable or hard to endure).
Difference between Be dressed in rags and Have the rags on
be dressed in rags—be dressed in old torn clothes: The work was carried out manually by wretched, scarecrow figures dressed in rags. have the rags on—(sl.) 1. wear a special kind of clothes: He had the rags on, getting into character, and it just took me aback for a minute. Cf.: have the glad rags […]
Difference between Conducive to and Conducive with
Conducive to is the preferred phrase. Good working conditions can be conducive to productivity.
Complex vs Complicated vs Intricate vs Involved vs Knotty
Complex, complicated, intricate, involved, knotty are comparable when they mean having parts or elements that are more or less confusingly interrelated.
Difference between Concurrent and Consecutive
Concurrent means simultaneous or happening at the same time. Management held concurrent meetings at all company sites. Consecutive means successive or following one after the other. The pitcher threw six consecutive strikes during the last inning.
Difference between Be down for something and Be down to something
be down for something—said of a person or thing listed for some activity: Mr. Stansfield’s bill was down for second reading on Wednesday. be down to something—have only a little money or goods left: On the seventh day after the wreck, he was down to his last pint of water. See also: be up for […]
Complement vs Supplement
Complement, supplement are comparable both as nouns meaning one thing that makes up for a want or deficiency in another thing and as verbs meaning to supply what is needed to make up for such a want or deficiency.
Difference between Be death on someone and Be the death of someone
be death on someone—(coll.) 1. be fatal to a person; be very effective in acting against smb.: The new teacher is death on students who come late to class. 2. be very fond of a person: Fanny hasn’t forgotten you … she was always death on you English chaps. Note: The expression does not correlate […]
Difference between Concert and Recital
Concert refers to a performance given by two or more people. The Beatles last American concert was in 1966. Recital refers to a performance given by one person (a soloist). Her Christmas piano recital went better than anyone expected.
Difference between Concave and Convex
Concave means curved inward like the inside of a circle, and convex means curved outward like the outer boundary of a circle. The palm of one’s hand is slightly concave. Galileo’s telescope had a convex object lens but a concave eye-piece.
Difference between Be dead nuts on something and Be dead set on something
be dead nuts on something— 1. (coll.) placed precisely on the surface of smth.: He caught me dead nuts on the chin, Pepe thought as he lay on the ground. 2. (coll.) exactly correspond to smth.: The styling of the new convertible is dead nuts on what a car in this class should be: bold […]