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

be put up against the wall
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be stuck-up —(coll.) be conceited; insolently refusing to be
companionable: Most people when they meet me expect me
to be mean or “stuck-up” because of the title.
be taken ill • take it ill
be taken ill —come down with a disease: The assigned at-
torney originally scheduled to try the case was taken ill sud-
denly.
take it ill —(formal) be offended: I beg you not to take it ill
that I failed to answer your greeting. My anger prevented a
reply…
be talked out • be talked out of something
be talked out—be tired by talking: Well, you now know all
my opinions on the subject; my throat is dry, I’m talked out.
be talked out of something —be persuaded not to do smth.:
He had to be talked out of leaving at the beginning of this
week.
be the cock in the henhouse • rule the roost
be the cock in the henhouse— said of a male in an all-female
environment: He made her tell patients that breast exposure
was a “normal procedure,” and referred to himself as “the only
cock in the henhouse.”
rule the roost—be the boss or manager, especially at home:
But who really rules the roost? Possibly his wife Sybil — equally
keen to be seen as a pillar of society and equally blinkered as
to life in the real world.
be there for me • be there or be square
be there for me —help me when I need it; be supportive:
They told us that they would be there for me and help me
through the difficult time I was about to face.
be there or be square —you better be there because everyone
of importance will be there: Cassidy is having a gallery open-
ing…. There’s an intimate dinner party immediately follow-
ing, so be there or be square.