Re: Question about an idiom & and phrase

Free Spirit wrote:

> in article [EMAIL PROTECTED], Adrian Bailey at
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote on 11/28/03 10:32 AM:
>
> > "Free Spirit" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
> > news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >> 1. a mean hand at something means be good at something
> >>
> >> What is the difference in the following sentences?
> >> a.  She is a mean hand at carpentry.
> >> b.  She has a mean hand at carpentry.
> >
> > (b) is wrong, imo.
>
> Thanks a lot, Adrian.
>
> So, a mean hand doesn't belong to the group like, a tin ear, a green thumb
> and two left feet, in which, to have is used instead of to be. For example,
>
> She/he has a green thumb/tin ear/two left feet.
>
>
> >> 2. What is the difference between one-on-one and one-to-one?
> >
> > A competition can be one-on-one.
> > A conversation can be one-to-one.
>
> How about tutoring? Should one-on-one or one-to-one be used?
>
> Zoe

In N American English one-on-one is an adversarial situation.

Of course that can also happen with tutoring -:)