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

Note: 
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase wide world, the—
1
. the whole world: Of all people in
the wide world his cousin was the most unyielding to argu-
ment. 2. is used to imply contrast to one’s own home or country:
A few years in the wide world and then back to the home pad-
dock.
greater world, the— = great world, the 3: Essential to most
theories was the analogy between microcosm and macro-
cosm, between the world of man and the greater world around
him.
Note: 
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase world without end— for ever and ever; eternally: They
wrote alternately, Bowman supplying the installment for one
week, his friend for the next, and so on, world without end,
they hoped.
See also: little world / small world.
grandame
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green-fly • greenbottle fly
green-fly —any of numerous insects (superfamily Aphi-
doidea) that suck the juices of plants thereby causing wither-
ing : If green-fly makes its appearance, fumigation with
tobacco smoke is the only remedy.
greenbottle fly —any of several brilliant green-bodied flies of
the family Calliphoridae: The larva of a greenbottle fly of the
genus Lucilia is used as a live bait in some fresh-water fish-
ing.
green goods • green stuff
green goods —
1
. fresh vegetables and fruit: Mass merchan-
disers have realized that they can make serious money selling
green goods. 2. (sl.) counterfeit money: The janitor states that
in his opinion, Stillman, Myth and Co. were in the “green-
goods” business.
green stuff —
1
. various leafy plants (like lettuce) used as food:
After a luncheon, during which he ate enormous quantities of
green stuff, the two went for a walk. 2. (of wood, etc.) not
thoroughly dried; unseasoned: The fire’s all right. I put out a
quart of kerosene and there’s stacks of green stuff. 3. (U.S. sl.)
paper money: I now have so much green stuff, I don’t know
what to do with it.