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

sea dog • water dog
sea dog —
1
. an experienced sailor: In his blue Guernsey
sweater he looked every bit an old sea dog. 2. a seal or a small
sea lion: Its skin was rough, scaly, and grating, like that of a
sea-dog or seal. 3. any of various small sharks: The chief fish-
eries are those of the tunny, of the sword fish, and of the sea
dog, a species of shark. 4. (also: sea wolf ) a sea-robber; a pirate:
The galleons of the Spanish Armada were pulled down by the
sea-dogs of Drake.
water dog —
1
. a dog trained to retrieve waterfowl: Though
excellent water dogs … we have had to complain of their im -
petuous rush into pond or river. 2. (coll.) a good swimmer: I
was the only water-dog of our band; neither Percy nor Captain
Roberts nor the mate could swim. 3. (coll.) a good sailor: They
[Sandwich Islanders] are complete water-dogs, and therefore
very good in boating. 4. (pl., coll.) small dark floating clouds,
forecasting rain: Reports of smoke were determined to be low
lying haze and moisture (commonly called water dogs).
sea-fire • Water Fire
sea-fire —marine phosphorescence from decaying matter:
The sea-fire shines in her wake…. Near the equator, you can
read small print by it.
Water Fire —(U.S.) a festival in Providence, RI celebrated
with bonfires on the river: Our lounge is the perfect destina-
tion to come after attending one of many downtown Provi-
dence events such as Water Fire.
– 289 –
sea-fire

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Note: 
a) The expression does not correlate in meaning with
the phrase fire-water—(sl.) strong alcoholic liquor: His father
had a horror of the fire-water which is generally sold to the
undergraduate.
b) The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase
liquid fire
— a flammable composition ejected from a weapon in
a long spray of flame: Bronze tubes that emitted jets of liquid
fire were mounted on the prows of their galleys.