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

singlestick • single-sticker
singlestick —a stick fitted with a hand guard, formerly used
in fencing: There is a movement to revive fencing with the
singlestick, a weapon that was historically used to represent
the broadsword, cutlass or saber.
single-sticker —(Nautical) a one-mast ship: A well-known
sailmaker gives the following instructions for setting the sails
of a 40-foot single-sticker.
sister ship • sistership
sister ship —one of essentially similar ships, especially of the
same owner: The firm decided to build a sister ship to the
Lady Eliza.
sistership —a community of women living together in a reli-
gious order, etc.: They are not to be bound by vows, but dur-
ing their sistership to obey all the rules of the House.
sit for someone • sit in for someone
sit for someone —
1
. serve as a babysitter for a child: It was
easier for them to leave Bernard, who stays up forever reading
anyway, to sit for his brother. 2. work as a babysitter in smb.’s
employ: I sit for Mrs. Franklin every now and then. 3. serve
as a model for an artist: She had promised to sit for him just
for a lightning sketch.
Note: 
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase sit up for someone— not go to bed in expectation of the
arrival of a person: There are few things more worrying than
sitting up for somebody.
sit in for someone —attend a session, sitting, etc. as a sub-
stitute for a person: I am not a regular member of this com-
mittee. I am sitting in for Larry Smith.
sit in on something • sit on something
sit in on something —
1
. attend a meeting, discussion, etc.,
without taking part in it: I was allowed to sit in on the delib-
erations of the board. 2. take part or collaborate in smth.: You
weren’t invited to sit in on this deal, but you elected to take
a hand.
sit on something —
1
. be a member of a committee, a jury,
etc.: Representatives of the workers should sit on the board
of directors. 2. (coll.) delay dealing with smth.: She’d “sat” on
silly money
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the article until a deadline had galvanized her into putting
words on paper. 3. (coll..) examine or investigate a case, etc.:
The police are still sitting on the mystery of the stolen jew-
els.