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

seedless raisins 
(seeded raisins)
selection committee 
(select committee)
self-righting 
(self-righteous)
sell snow to the Eskimos 
(bring sand
to the beach)
sell someone out to someone 
(sell one-
self to someone)
sell something out 
(sell something
off )
sell the farm 
(buy the farm)
selling out
(sell-out)
selling price
(sale price)
semi-detached house 
(attached home)
send out for something
(send off for
something )
send someone down the river
(sell
someone down the river)
send someone flying 
(send someone
down)
send someone off
(send someone away)
send someone on business
(send some-
one about his business)
send someone to grass
(send someone
out to grass)
send someone to the chair
(put some-
one in the chair)
send someone up 
(send someone
down)
send someone up the river
(row some-
one up Salt River)
send something in return 
(send some-
thing by return)
send word 
(pass one’s word)
senior man
(senior citizen)
senior resident 
(senior citizen)
sensible of something
(sensible about
something )
sensitive to something
(sensitive about
something )
separate the sheep from the goats
(separate the men from the boys)
serious money
(funny money)
serve time
(serve one’s time)
serve two masters
(have two faces)
serviceman
(man of service)
set in something 
(inset something )
set one’s heart on something
(put one’s
heart into something )
set one’s mind to something
(set one’s
mind on something )
set one’s sights on something
(have
something in one’s sights)
set someone back 
(set someone back on
his feet)
set someone back on his heels
(set
someone back on his feet)
set someone down 
(set someone up)
set someone in mind of something 
(set
one’s mind on something )
set someone’s teeth on edge 
(set one’s
teeth)
set something at naught
(bring some-
thing to naught)
set something off
(offset something )
set something on its feet
(set something
on foot)
set something right
(get something
right)
set something up
(lay something up)
set the ball rolling
(set a stone rolling )
set the fox to keep the geese 
(set the
cat among the pigeons)
set the scene
(make a scene)
set the seal on something
(set one’s seal
to something )
set the stone rolling 
(get the ball roll -
ing )
set the Thames on fire 
(set the Thames
on fire)
set the wheels in motion 
(put one’s
shoulder to the wheel)
set the world on fire
(burn the earth)
set up housekeeping 
(set up house)
settle down to something 
(settle down
in something )
settle on something
(settle for some-
thing )
settle with someone 
(settle up with
someone)
seven-by-nine 
(five-by-five)
Seven Days’ Campaign, the
(Seven
Days’ Battle, the)
seven eleven 
(seven come eleven)
sex up something 
(sex something )
shady activities 
(shadowy activities)
shake a loose leg 
(shake a leg )
shake someone down 
(give someone a
shake-down)
shake someone up
(give someone a
shake-down)
shake someone’s tree
(shake the pagoda
tree)
shake the plum tree 
(shake the pagoda
tree)
sharp as a wet noodle 
(sharp as a nee-
dle)
shed light on something
(bring some-
thing to light)
shipmate 
(ship’s mate)
shipping clerk
(ship’s clerk)
shipping-master
(shipmaster)
ship’s company 
(ship company)
shoot ahead of the duck 
(duck shoot)
shoot at the goal
(shoot a goal)
shoot for the stars
(shoot a star)
shoot one’s bolt
(shoot a bolt)
shoot oneself in the foot 
(give oneself a
shot in the arm)
shoot someone down in flames
(shoot
someone down)
shoot the bull 
(kill an elephant)
shoot the moon
(shoot for the moon)
shoot the sitting duck
(shoot the cat)
shooting star 
(shoot a star)
shopping list
(laundry list)
short dog 
(big dog )
short for something 
(short in some-
thing )
short hand 
(short arm)
short-handed
(short arm)
short head
(long head)
short money 
(long shillings)
short of something 
(short in some-
thing )
short-spoken person 
(person of few
words)
short story
(long story)
shot in the dark
(leap in the dark)
shout the house down 
(bring the house
down)
shout to someone
(shout at someone)
show a leg 
(leg-show)
show one’s age 
(act one’s age)
show one’s colors 
(show one’s cards)
show one’s face 
(show a face)
show one’s hand
(show of hands)
show pony 
(dog and pony show)
show someone to the door
(show
someone the door)
show the flag
(put out the flags)
show the white flag 
(show the white
feather)
showman
(show girl)
shut down
(close down)
shut someone out 
(shut someone off )
shut something down
(close something
down)
shut something up
(close something up)
shut your eyes and think of England
(shut one’s eyes)
shut up shop
(shut up a shop)
sick of something
(sick from some-
thing )
sick with something 
(sick from some-
thing )
sicken for something 
(sicken at some-
thing )
sicken of something
(sicken at some-
thing )
sickly child
(sick child)
sideman
(side boy)
sigh for something
(sigh about some-
thing )
sign someone on
(sign someone in)
Silicon Valley 
(Silicon Alley)
silverback
(silver fox)
silverware 
(US) (silverware [UK])
sing different songs
(sing a different
tune)
sing like a canary 
(sing like a lark)
sing like a nightingale 
(sing like a
lark)
sing small 
(talk big )
single-sticker 
(singlestick)
sistership
(sister ship)
sit in for someone
(sit for someone)
sit knee to knee
(sit knee by knee)
sit loose upon someone
(sit loose to
something )
sit on something
(sit in on something )
sit on the fence 
(jump over the fence)
sit up for someone
(sit for someone)
sit with someone 
(sit up with someone)
sitting room
(seating room)
skeleton in the cupboard, a 
(skeleton
at the feast, a)
ski run
(ski race)
skin someone of something 
(skin
someone for something )
skin the cat
(skin a cat)
skinny dip 
(skin-deep)
Phrase Index
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368 –

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skull hunter 
(head hunter)
sky blue 
(blue sky)
skyman
(sky pilot)
sleep around 
(sleep round the clock)
sleep on it 
(sleep it off )
sleep over 
(oversleep)
sleep through the clock
(sleep round
the clock)
sleep with the fishes 
(be dead in the
water)
sleeping beauty 
(beauty sleep)
sleeping partner
(pillow partner)
sleepy head 
(bed head)
sleight of hand
(light in hand)
slice of fish
(fish slice)
slice of the cake
(piece of cake)
slip out
(slip off )
slip up something
(slip up on some-
thing )
slippery road 
(slip road)
slipway 
(slip road)
sloppy Joe’s 
(sloppy Joe)
slotting machine
(slot machine)
slow food 
(fast food)
slow up 
(slow down)
small cash 
(petty cash)
small change
(short change)
small fortune
(large fortune)
small friend
(little friend)
small game
(little game)
small hand 
(big hand)
small hours
(short hours)
small people
(small men)
small talk
(little talk)
small thing
(little thing )
small time
(short time)
small world 
(little world)
smart money 
(silly money)
smile on someone 
(smile at someone)
smile something
(smile at something )
smoky bacon 
(smoked bacon)
smooth customer 
(slippery customer)
snake oil 
(snake juice)
snap out of it 
(get out of it)
snap to it 
(get out of it)
snow man
(ice man)
snow shoes
(snow boots)
snow someone 
(snow on someone)
snowed under
(snowed in)
so far
(as far)
so far as 
(as far as)
so many words 
(in so many words)
so so
(so and so)
sobbing sisters
(sob sister)
socialist realism (social realism)
Society of Friends, the 
(Friendly Soci-
ety, the)
soft-headed 
(hard-headed)
soft money
(soft currency)
soft nothings 
(soft thing )
soft on someone
(soft about someone)
soft sell 
(soft market)
soft things 
(soft thing )
soft with someone
(soft about someone)
software store 
(hardware store)