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

child of nature • natural child
child of nature —(euph.) a person in an uncivilized or un-
cultivated state: She felt that he wanted her to be a child of
nature. That suited her very well.
natural child —
1
. a child actually begotten by one in contrast
to adopted: With little prospect of natural children, we applied
for adoption all the sooner. 2. a child born out of wedlock:
Full equality has been introduced between legitimate and nat-
ural children, between married and unmarried couples.
childish behavior • childlike behavior
childish behavior —(used showing disapproval) behavior char-
acterized by lack of emotional restraint or similar adult qual-
ities: The strategy requires that you not react to her childish
behavior. Until she calms down, you don’t respond at all.
childlike behavior —the kind of behavior more appropriate
for a child than an adult: Shana … newly dependent on her
mother, reverted to childlike behavior by allowing herself to
be taken care of.
child’s game • child’s play
child’s game —said of a person’s behavior more appropriate
for a child: He knew it was just a child’s game — to stare at
someone and not look away first.
Note:
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase easy game—(also: fair game) a suitable object for ridicule;
a person easily persuaded or taken advantage of: So I disguised
myself and came back and studied you. You were easy game.
chat someone up
– 70 –

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child’s play —said of smth. very easily done or of very little
importance: The work of reformation is child’s play to that of
making your friends believe you have reformed.
China syndrome • Chinese restaurant syndrome
China syndrome —
1
. (dated) possibility of a catastrophe as a
result of a nuclear reactor meltdown: If the heat in the molten
fuel cannot be dissipated by conductivity, then the danger
from the so-called China Syndrome would be much higher.
2. (Business) relocating manufacturing operations to China to
reduce labor costs: It was pointed out that the new European
Union countries were actually an alternative for the so-called
China Syndrome.