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

habitable planet • inhabitable planet
habitable planet—a planet capable of supporting life: The
possibility of another habitable planet is so tantalizing that
scientists will devote countless hours to studying every piece
of data.
inhabitable planet— = habitable planet: Today marks the
beginning of hope that another inhabitable planet could exist
beyond earth.
Note:
The expression is antonymous in meaning to the phrase
unhabitable planet—(also: uninhabitable planet) a planet
incapable of supporting life: In unhabitable planets there should
be extreme weathers. There should also be natural calamities
like earthquakes and hurricanes.
hair-raising story • hairy story
hair-raising story —
1
. a thrilling and scary story: I remember
her telling the hair-raising story of how she was alone in her
little hut somewhere in the jungles of Africa. 2. a story that
shocks people: Naylor tells some hair-raising stories of how
politicians have often been the chief culprits, stashing away
foreign aid funds in numbered accounts.
hairy story —(coll.) a story which tells about an arduous or
hazardous past experience: Dick used to tell me hairy stories
about those early days working in Antarctica.
half a man • half-baked man
half a man —a man lacking in spirits, strength, or courage:
If only half a man — like Buck — shouts “Lynch him!” you’re
afraid to back down — afraid you’ll be found out to be what
you are — cowards.
half-baked man —(coll., derog.) an unwise and inexperienced
man: I would rather see the children in the hands of a man
whose principles are known to me, than of some half-baked
man of learning…
half-holiday • half-term holiday
half-holiday —a day of which half is free from work or duty:
Wall-street took the half holiday that the law allowed her yes-
terday. The Exchanges closed at noon.
half-term holiday —(UK, also: half-term) a short vacation
for schools half way through a semester: Oliver arranged for
them to spend three days out of their half-term holiday at a
camp.