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

heavy-headed • light-headed
heavy-headed —
1
. drowsy; sleepy: I look so sleepy this morn-
ing, warm, slightly confused and heavy-headed from too much
slumber. 2. dull or stupid: They are prejudiced with German
films because they expect them to be heavy-headed and suffer
from a lack of humor.
light-headed —
1
. weak, giddy and likely to faint: Low blood
pressure can leave you feeling light-headed, sluggish or
headachy. 2. having little judgment; reckless and irresponsible:
He was more ready to contemplate war than were any in the
West, and more lightheaded about the consequences.
heavy in hand • heavy-handed
heavy in hand —(of people, horses, etc.) hard to manage or
head line
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control: Even if Jane was a little heavy in hand, with that
appearance it didn’t so very much matter.
heavy-handed —
1
. awkward in the use of hands: She even
taught heavy-handed but dauntless colliers, who were seized
with passion to “play.” 2. inclined to severe punishment :
Grandfather was heavy-handed with his own children but very
indulgent with us grandchildren. 3. (of an approach, methods,
etc.) harsh: Regulation of the electricity market started in a
light-handed fashion but there has been an increasing trend
towards more heavy-handed regulation. 4. (of a joke, style, etc.)
inept or clumsy; lacking lightness or grace: Their jokes are
very heavy-handed, and generally involve discomfort for the
victim.
See also: have a heavy hand / have a light hand.
Hebrew manna • manna from heaven
Hebrew manna —moisture oozing out of an Arabian variety
of tamarisk, Tamarix gallica: The manna of this country has
nothing to do with Moor’s Alhagi or Hebrew manna.
manna from heaven —(originally of food that God gave the
Israelites during the Exodus) anything very advantageous and
unexpected: To us then the cakes were manna from heaven
and the dances were the greatest of fun.