A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

silver fox • silverback
silver fox—
1
. a North American fox (Canis Argentatus) with
black silver-tipped hairs: She lunched at the Ritz yesterday in
a black wig, a battle bowler and her silver foxes. 2. a southern
African fox (Vulpes chama): The Cape or silver fox is found
throughout the drier regions of South Africa.
silverback —a male mountain gorilla (Gorilla gorilla
beringei), distinguished by patches of silvery hair: An adult
male silverback is the leader and protector of his band, which
consists of females and offspring.
silverware (UK) • silverware (U.S.)
silverware (UK)—articles, especially tableware, made of sil-
ver or an alloy of silver: All eight suspects in the case of the
stolen silverware were subject to a rigorous interrogation.
silverware (U.S.)—
1
. = silverware (UK): Butler’s corrupt
practices reportedly included stealing the silverware from the
house in which he was headquartered. 2. metal eating utensils
(such as a fork, a spoon and a knife): My personal complaint
about many a good meal at a fine restaurant is the state of
their silverware.
sing a different tune • sing different songs
sing a different tune —(also: dance to another tune) change
one’s attitude or opinion; act differently: Kelley was at one
time pessimistic about the airport’s future. He now sings a
different tune.
sing different songs —(of two or more people) express different
opinions about smth.: The burden of homelessness is great
enough without two Government departments singing differ-
ent songs.
sing like a lark • sing like a nightingale
sing like a lark —sing gaily and cheerfully: Amelia came trip-
ping into the drawing room in a white muslin frock … singing
like a lark, and as fresh as a rose.
sing like a nightingale —sing very beautifully: Holland comes
from a musical family, his father played banjo and his mother
sings “like a nightingale.”