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

correct copy • fair copy
correct copy —(also: true copy) a proofread copy: I hereby
certify that this copy is a correct copy of the original statement
on file in my office.
fair copy —the final form of a letter or document: After hav-
ing re-read it and made certain alterations and erasures, she
wrote out a fair copy.
cost of life • cost of living
cost of life —the loss of human lives in wars, accidents, etc.:
The war eventually ended in victory but not before a great
cost of life was exacted from both peoples.
cost of living —the general expenses of rent, food, clothes,
etc: The jobless are often young, employment is insecure, and
the cost of living has risen steeply.
cost someone a fortune • cost someone dear
cost someone a fortune —cost a person a large sum of money:
See, Janet, this huge yellow rose wreath here from Mrs. Pet-
tigrew. It must have cost her a fortune.
cost someone dear —seriously affect smb.’s health, prestige,
etc. (with the implication that the person is himself responsible):
Politically, this absent-mindedness was to cost him dear.
cotton cloth • cottony cloth
cotton cloth —cloth made of cotton: If you like to use gloves
then use special anti-tarnish or cotton cloth gloves which con-
tain no ingredients to tarnish silver.
cottony cloth —cloth looking or feeling like cotton (soft,
downy, and white): You can use any type of towel, but to ob-
tain the best drying effect, try to pick a cottony cloth.
cotton on to someone • cotton up to someone
cotton on to someone —(coll., also: cotton to someone) become
attached to smb.; come to like a person: I suppose the fact of
the matter was that she didn’t cotton on to me.
cotton up to someone —(coll.) try to start a friendship with a
person: I saw you cottoning up to the new student; was he
friendly?