Confusing Words

FAULTS, FLAWS, WEAKNESSES AND DRAWBACKS

Faults 

Fault is not so much used to talk about someone’s character. Instead we talk about electrical, mechanical or technical faults: 

·         There was a fault in the wiring, and I had no idea how to correct it.There was a delay in the broadcast of the programme, and this was due to a technical fault.A mechanical fault caused the train to come off the rails.

A fault then describes a weakness in something, primarily. But sometimes it is used to describe a weakness in someone’s character: 

·         She has her faults, but, on the whole, she’s a nice person.We all have our own faults, I suppose. 

We also have the frequently used expression: It’s (not) my/your/his/etc fault. This is a more idiomatic way of saying: I am (not) to blame or I am (not) responsible (for this unfortunate situation).

·         It’s not my fault he’s late. Don’t blame me.I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I forgot to pass on the message.If you don’t get enough sleep, it’s entirely your own fault.It was partly the teacher’s fault for giving them too much homework.

 Flaws

 We use flaw mainly to talk about a minor fault or weakness in something which make it less effective or valuable. We talk about flawed arguments, for example.

There’s a flaw in your argument. I agree with you up to a point, but the last part doesn’t make complete sense to me.

There was a tiny flaw in the necklace and it certainly wasn’t worth all the money we had paid for it.

She attributed her flawless complexion to the moisturising creams she used.

However, we can also talk about serious or major flaws:

There are major flaws in the way we train teachers in this country.

There were serious flaws in the construction of the pedestrian bridge.

And, yes, we can also use flaw to describe a fault in someone’s character:

The only flaw in his character was his short temper – he tended to fly off the handle at the slightest provocation.

Weaknesses generally describe the state or condition of being weak and of lacking strength or resilience.

The main weakness of this government is that it keeps changing direction on key policy issues.

He showed great weakness in not owning up to his part in the bad behaviour.

Weaknesses can also refer to faults or problems that make something less attractive or effective:

They were keen to know how well it would sell in Russia so they listed all the strengths and weaknesses of their product for this market.

The only weakness in her character that I could spot was that she seemed to be over-dependent on others.

Note that if you have a weakness for something, you are very fond of it:

I have a great weakness for chocolate. I can never refuse it.

Drawbacks

 We use drawback to refer to a feature of something which makes it less useful or acceptable than it could be. Drawback is often synonymous with disadvantage. However, drawforward does not exist as an alternative to advantage!

The main drawback of this examination is that it takes two months before the results are released.

The only drawback / disadvantage with this accommodation is that it’s a fifteen-minute walk to the bus-stop.

We can refer to faults, flaws and weaknesses in someone’s character, but we are less likely to talk about drawbacks in someone’s character.

IDIOMS 

 About

Be about to do sth: be going to do sth immediately I was about to phone him when he walked into the office. 

 That’s about all/it Used to say that you have finished telling smb about sth and there is nothing to add ‘Anything else?’ ‘No, that’s about it for now’.

Above: Be/get above yourself - behave as if you are better or more important than you really are

She’s getting a bit above herself. She’s only been working for me for two weeks and already she’s telling me what to do!

Abreast: Keep abreast of sth - Make sure that you know all the most recent facts about a subject It is almost impossible to keep abreast of all the latest developments in computing.

Accord: Of your own accord - without being asked or forced

I didn’t need to tell her to apologize; she did it of her own accord.

Accounts: By/from all accounts - used when the speaker does not have the direct experience of the thing mentioned but is reporting the ideas, etc of others

I’ve never seen any of her films but she is a brilliant director, by all accounts.

Acid:  The acid test (of sth) - a situation which finally proves whether sth is good or bad, true or false

They’ve always been good friends, but the acid test will come when they have to share a flat.

Acquired taste: An acquired taste - a thing which you find unpleasant or do not appreciate at first but which you gradually learn to like

Whiskey is an acquired taste.

Act: An act of God (law) - an event caused by natural sources which people cannot control or prevent, for example  a hurricane, earthquake, etc.

The insurance policy covers your house against all types of damage, excluding those caused by acts of God.

Add: Add fuel to the fire/flames - do or say sth which makes a difficult situation worse, or makes smb even more angry, etc.

She was already furious and his apologies and excuses only added fuel to the flames.

Advantage: Take advantage of sth/smb - 

Make good use of sth; to make use of an opportunity; We made sure that we took full advantage of the hotel facilities. Make use of smb/sth in a way that is unfair or dishonest He took advantage of my generosity (for example, by taking more than I had intended to give).

After: After all - used to show that sth is the opposite of what you first intend to do or expect to happen

I think I will have something to eat after all. used when you are explaining sth, or giving a reason Can’t I stay up late tonight? After all, there’s no school tomorrow!

Again: Then / there again - used for introducing an extra piece of information which explains sth or gives another explanation for sth

I thought he liked me, but then again maybe he didn’t.

Air: (Up) in  the air - (of plans, etc) uncertain; not yet decided

I’m hoping to take a holiday this month but my plans are still very much up in the air.

Airs: Give yourself / put on airs - behave in a way which shows that you feel you are important

The nice thing about her is that, in spite of being so rich, she doesn’t put on any airs.

All" 

All along - from the beginning I said all along that this would happen. All in all - when everything is considered All in all the film was a great success, despite the bad publicity. Be all over smb - show a lot of affection for or enthusiasm about smb He was all over her at the party.

Allowances: Make allowances for smb - Not judge smb too strictly because of certain problems or difficulties

The court was asked to make allowances for the age of the accused.

Amends: To make amends(to smb) (for sth/doing sth) - do sth for smb in order to show that you are sorry for sth wrong or unfair that you have done

I’m sorry I upset you – how can I make amends?

Apart: Be poles / worlds apart - be widely separated; have no interests that you share

Politically, the two leaders are two poles apart.

Apple: The apple of smb’s eye - a person, usually a child, who smb loves very much; a favourite child

The second child, John, was the apple of his mother’s eye.

Arm: Cost/pay an arm and a leg - cost/pay a lot of money

We want to redecorate the living room, but I’m afraid it’s going to cost us an arm and a leg. keep smb at arm’s length avoid becoming too friendly with smb He’s the kind of man who’s best kept at arm’s length, in my opinion.

Astray: 

Go astray become lost, be stolen Several letters went astray or were not delivered. go in the wrong direction or have the wrong result Fortunately, the gunman’s shots went astray.

Authority: Have (got) sth on good authority - be able to believe sth because you trust the person who gave you the information

I have it on good authority that the chairman is going to resign.

ALONE / LONELY

ALONE / LONELY

Alone, can be used as an adjective or adverb. Either use means without other people or on your own.

For example:

·         He likes living alone.

·         I think we're alone now. = There are just the two of us here.

Lonely is an adjective which means you are unhappy because you are not with other people.

For example:

·         The house feels lonely now that all the children have left home.

A LOT / A LOT / ALLOT

- A lot, meaning a large amount or number of people or things, can be used to modify a noun

            I need a lot of time to develop this web site.

- It can also be used as an adverb, meaning very much or very often

            I look a lot like my sister.

- It has become a common term in speech; and is increasingly used in writing.

- Alot does not exist! There is no such word in the English language. If you write it this way - imagine me shouting at you - "No Such Word!"

- Allot is a verb, which means to give (especially a share of something) for a particular purpose:-

                        We were allotted a desk each."

FOOT / FEET / LEG

FOOT / FEET / LEG

1.   He hardly ever puts a foot wrong. He never seems to make any mistakes.

2.   My feet hardly touched the ground. I was so busy.

3.   They have really fallen on their feet. They inherited a lot of money and bought a lovely holiday house in the Bahamas.

4.   He hasn't got a leg to stand on. What he did was quite wrong and cannot be excused.

5.   Come on, shake a leg. We haven't got all day. We've got to finish this by lunchtime.

6.   He started off on the wrong foot by arriving late on his first day at work.

7.   The first leg of the journey was from Paris to Barcelona. The second leg was from Barcelona to Rabat.

8.   I like to put my feet up after a hard day's work and spend the entire evening relaxing.

9.   You will have to put your foot down. It's about time he learnt that he cannot have everything he wants.

The Use Of SOME and ANY

THE USE OF SOME AND ANY

 The determiners some and any have slightly different meanings. The use of the word some generally implies a belief in the existence of the object or objects under consideration, whereas the use of the word any may imply a doubt about the existence of the object or objects under consideration.

 The words some, somebody, someone, something and somewhere are used in affirmative statements, as well as in polite questions and questions expecting an affirmative reply.

Example

·         I saw some birds in the park.

·         Would you like some tea?

·         You seem worried. Is something wrong?

On the contrary, the words any, anybody, anyone, anything and anywhere are used in questions and negative statements, as well as in affirmative statements referring in an indefinite way to a kind of object, without specifying a particular object.

Example

·         Did you see any birds in the park?

·         I do not know anyone here.

·         Any drug store can supply you with aspirin.

Some, somebody, someone, something and somewhere usually cannot be used in a negative statement. In negative statements, some may be changed to no or none, depending on whether an adjective or pronoun is required.

Example:

·         Some books were left on the shelf.

·         No books were left on the shelf.

·         Some of the visitors arrived late.

·         None of the visitors arrived late.

·         Someone left a message.

·         No one left a message.

·         Something has happened.

·         Nothing has happened.

A sentence containing the word some, in which some does not occur at the beginning of a clause, can be changed to express a negative meaning by changing the sentence to a negative statement using not, and by changing some to any.

Example:

·         I bought some potatoes.

·         I did not buy any potatoes.

·         We will copy some of the recipes.

·         We will not copy any of the recipes.

It is possible to use no or none in such sentences instead of the construction with not ... any.

·         I bought no potatoes.

·         We will copy none of the recipes.

However, in modern English, the construction with not ... any is more often used than the construction with no or none.

More examples:

·         I met someone I used to know.

·         I did not meet anyone I used to know.

·         We will buy something.

·         We will not buy anything.

or

·         I met no one I used to know.

·         We will buy nothing.

However, the construction with not is more often used.