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

change the scene • change the scenes
change the scene —change the environment or social sur-
roundings: The scene of the negotiation was again changed.
It was shifted from England to Holland.
change the scenes —(Theater) change the general appearance
of the stage: The play uses Brechtian techniques to show the
workings of theater as scenes are changed before your eyes.
Channel Islands, the (UK) • Channel Islands, the
(U.S.)
Channel Islands, the (UK)—a group of islands in the English
Channel, off the French coast of Normandy: The Chausey is-
lands are not generally included in the geographical definition
of the Channel Islands but occasionally described as “French
Channel Islands.”
Channel Islands, the (U.S.)—(also: Channel Islands of Cali-
fornia, the) a chain of eight islands located in the Pacific
Ocean, off the coast of Southern California: The Channel Is-
lands at low elevations are virtually frost-free and constitute
one of the few such areas in the continental U.S.
charge like a bull at a gate • charge like a
wounded bull
charge like a bull at a gate —(Austral. sl.) act impetuously or
with violence: I was naïve, but also like a bull at a gate, charg-
ing forward without stopping for long to consider the conse-
quences.
charge like a wounded bull—(Austral. sl.) overprice an item
or service: When waiters take your order, they often get you
to order all kinds of extras for which they can charge like a
wounded bull.
charge someone for something • charge someone
up for something
charge someone for something —ask a person to pay a certain
price for smth.: I was charged for a few pounds of overweight
luggage.
Note:
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase charge someone with something—
1
. declare that a person
is guilty of smth.: All the members demanded with one voice
who it was who was charged with the crime. 2. entrust a person
with a duty or responsibility: Students are under the supervision
of the Censor, who is charged with the care of their conduct
and studies.
charge someone up for something —
1
. stimulate smb.’s enthu-
siasm or readiness for smth.: An excellent beefsteak in the
company of truckers charged me up for the day’s exertions. 2.
make a person pay more by raising the price: On top of the
food, he charged me up for bogus Lottery tickets.