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

hot and cold • hot and hot
hot and cold —short for “hot and cold water” (in a hotel,
etc.): He’s working out that plan for laying on hot and cold.
hot and hot—said of dishes served in succession as soon as
cooked: Her potato cakes came in hot and hot from a pot-
oven.
hot-blooded • warm-blooded
hot-blooded —easily excited or aroused emotionally: Presi-
dent Kibaki is no hot-blooded youth bursting with combative
political flames.
warm-blooded —
1
. said of animals whose body temperature
is internally regulated: The dinosaurs that nested at Egg
Mountain were warm-blooded creatures. 2. (of people) eager
or enthusiastic enough: There was once a time — believe it or
not — when companies actually had warm-blooded people on
their payroll…
hot dog • sausage dog
hot dog —
1
. a frankfurter or wiener in a bun with any of
various toppings: The boys stopped on the way home for
hot dogs and coffee. 2. (sl., also: hot-dogger) a person who per-
forms showy, often dangerous stunts in a sport: She was a hot
dog behind the wheel, screeching her wheels at every turn.
3. (exclam.) is used to express excitement and delight (also:
hot diggety dog): “Look, here’s the check! We’re rich!” “Hot
dog!”
sausage dog—
1
. a variety of “hot dog” sausage: I stare point-
edly at them and take another bite of my sausage dog…. 2.
(coll.) a dachshund (a dog with long body and very short legs):
In England, the dachshund is often called a sausage dog, or a
wiener dog in America.
hot goods • hot stuff
hot goods —(sl.) stolen products or items obtained illegally:
My canoe has never been pulled over by the police for illegal
transportation of “hot goods.”
hot stuff —(sl.)
1
. a person or thing that is very popular or
exciting: Although “Dancin’ Shoes” is second-rate, the rest of
the album is hot stuff. 2. a very sexy person: I think she is
definitely around 400 pounds now. She thinks she is hot stuff
also dressed up in her tight suits.”