The devil is in the details sounds like an ominous warning, doesn’t it? But in fact, it is simply an idiomatic phrase that lovers of figurative expression use to point out that one should pay attention to all they do. Chances are you’ve heard the phrase used, and when you want to make a point that success comes with attention to the smallest of details, this is the term to use. Let’s look more closely at the origins of the …
Draconian describes something as very strict or harsh. It comes from the Athenian lawmaker Draco, whose laws were extreme. For example, theft carried the death penalty. While it was previously capitalized, because Draco is a name, most do not capitalize it today. It should be noted that draco is also a Latin word meaning dragon or snake. Common confusion arises with the word draconic, which originally meant pertaining to dragons, but was commandeered after Draco came onto the Athens political field. Therefore, it …
Is it a dais or dias? How do you say it correctly? What does the word even mean? A dais is a piece of furniture used for public speaking, like a podium. But it has some confusion, so I’ll take a moment in this guide to explain everything you should know. What Is the Meaning of Dais? Simply put, a dais is just a raised platform or a small stage we typically use for public speakers to stand at or …
A dark horse is something or someone that is perceived to be an unlikely winner and does, in fact, succeed, usually in a competition. It should always be spelled as two words, and does not need to be set apart by quotation marks. The term was, unsurprisingly, coined in horse racing when the winner was unknown to the gamblers, sometimes by the design of the jockeys and trainers. It first appeared in print in 1831, but by 1844 it was used in …
Depository = a place where things are deposited and stored. Repository = a place where things are stored. They essentially the same in their main sense, but in actual usage there are subtle differences.
Discomfit = to throw into confusion, perplex, or embarras. Discomfort = to make uncomfortable. They tend to have much common ground.
Disenfranchise is preferred in 21st-century English.
Different than and different to are fine, despite widespread belief to the contrary.
The traditional distinction holds that disinterested means having no stake in the matter while uninterested means not engaged. Today, the former is often used in place of the latter.
= little by little.