Texas

difference between

What's the difference between Texas and Japan?

We use the phrase 'difference between' to talk about features that are unique to each of the things we are comparing. We can only use 'between' when we have two things to compare. Notice the following:

1. To be honest, there isn't much of a difference between the two places.
   
2. Even though they are sisters there are many differences between them.
   

white

Christmas I've never had a white Christmas in Houston.

The phrase 'white Christmas' refers to the fact that in many places in the Northern Hemisphere there is snow on the ground at Christmas.  Since snow is white, the ground and trees look white and the general color at Christmas is white. Notice the following:

1. It snowed a few inches last night, so it is really white and beautiful outside.
2. Sometimes it's so white in the winter that it hurts your eyes.
   

pretty close

Is Houston pretty close to Mexico?

In this case 'pretty close' refers to a short physical distance between two places. Notice the following:

1. We lived pretty close to each other when we were kids.
   
2. It is pretty close by plane, but too far to drive.
   

down there

My buddies and I used to go down there back in high school.

'Down there' is used to generally refer to a location that is south of where you are or physically below you. Notice the following:

1. We are going down there to visit my parents in a few weeks.
   
2. How many times have you been down there?
   

over there

Beer is about twenty-five cents or thirty yen over there.

'Over there' refers to a general location that is either far away or to the east or west of where you are currently.  Notice the following:

1. We are all going to meet over there and go to the game together.
   
2. I used to go to England every summer, but I haven't been over there in years now.