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

break time • broken time
break time —an interval for lunch: Many schools are on the
one hand educating children about healthy eating and on the
other selling at break time nothing less than junk foods.
broken time —working time reduced by interruptions, etc.:
It is up to each individual union to deal with this problem,
but the obvious right course is to compensate for broken time.
breakdown car • broken-down car
breakdown car— a truck which is used to tow inoperative
vehicles: If you have a breakdown we are always on call with
our own breakdown car.
broken-down car —a car that stops working because there is
smth. wrong with it: The wayside was strewn with motor tires
and broken down cars.
bridal banquet • bridal party
bridal banquet—a wedding festivity: The bridal banquet is
not an obligatory part of the wedding process, and its holding
will depend on the traditions of the bride’s family.
bridal party —the bride and her attendants and friends: The
question of who should be invited to join the bridal party was
a huge topic of discussion this morning.
bright as a button • bright as a new pin
bright as a button —(usually of children) intelligent; quick-
minded: You can’t fool Mandy. She may be only six years old,
but she’s bright as a button.
Note: 
The expression is antonymous in meaning to the phrase
bright as a two-watt bulb—(Austral., ironic) dull or stupid:
Johnnie’s about as bright as a two-watt bulb, and sometimes
the light’s a little slow coming on.
bright as a new pin —said of smth. spotlessly clean and
shiny: After Nora cleaned the house, it was as bright as a new
pin.
bright in the eye • bright-eyed and bushy-tailed
bright in the eye —(dated sl.) slightly drunk: “You are drunk!”
Walter clutched the window frame and muttered, “Just a trifle
bright in the eye, love.”
bright-eyed and bushy-tailed —(U.S. sl.) alert and enthusi-
astic; ready for action: You look all bright-eyed and bushy-
tailed this morning.