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

bona fide • bona fides
bona fide —(used as an adjective or adverb) 
1
. genuine; cer-
tified: The ticket for these activities is issued only to bona fide
students who can present their college identity card. 2. sin-
cerely; in good faith: An advocate is protected from an action
for defamation only when the words he utters are spoken bona
fide.
bona fides —(used as a noun) 
1
. an honest intention; sincerity:
Bona Fides is therefore opposed to fraud, and is a necessary
ingredient in contracts. 2. (documentary) evidence of good
faith: All strangers whose bona fides are not completely verified
must be immediately reported to your superior officer.
boob tube (UK) • boob tube (U.S.)
boob tube (UK)—a woman’s strapless top that wraps the
upper body (not reaching higher than the armpits): It was
freezing … but at least I wasn’t wearing a boob tube and
miniskirt like one poor girl.
boob tube (U.S. sl.)—television: Parents complain about the
quality of the shows but don’t prevent their children from glu-
ing themselves to the boob tube.
book agent • booking agent
book agent—(U.S.) a person who promotes the sale of books:
They may both be glad to invoke the aid of the despised book
agent, who carries literature from door to door.
booking agent—an official selling advance tickets at a railway
station, etc.: When booking tickets with any one of the air-
lines, reference the appropriate file number to the booking
agent to receive the discount.
book-holder • book-keeper
book-holder —(dated) a theatrical prompter: Bentley supplies
evidence for the existence of a functionary called the
“prompter” or “book-holder” from about 
1
6
1
5 on. There is
little evidence about his precise duties.
book-keeper —a person who keeps accounts of a business,
public office, etc.: The telegram contained the offer of a job,
that of a book-keeper on a sheep run east of Broken Hill.