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

drama school • play school
drama school —a college which specializes in the teaching of
acting: Known as a major drama school, The New School for
Drama provides a theatrical education for those choosing a
career in acting.
play school —school for children under five: Ryan attends a
play school two days a week and will likely be attending pre-
school later this year.
draw a veil over something • veil something
draw a veil over something —(also: throw a veil over some-
thing ) refrain from discussing smth.; be secretive about smth.:
Let us draw a veil over the rest of the episode.
veil something —disguise or obscure smth. so as to hide the
real nature of it: The book veils its critique of authoritarian
politics in a fairy tale setting.
draw away • draw off
draw away —
1
. move off; move away: The crowd cheered as
the ship drew slowly away. 2. move ahead of competitors (in
a race): The best runner was beginning to draw away. 3. isolate
oneself socially: She has drawn away lately and we can’t find
out why.
draw off —
1
. = draw away 
1
: The ships drew off at sunset,
but celebrated the expected victory by blowing trumpets. 2.
(of troops) retreat; withdraw: The army drew off to await fresh
developments elsewhere.
draw in one’s claws • draw in one’s horns
draw in one’s claws —(also: pull in one’s claws) be less hostile
and aggressive: They have drawn in their claws, and have be-
come innocent and demure…. The intolerant bigotry of the
dark ages is seemingly renounced.
draw in one’s horns —(also: pull in one’s horns) be less keen
or active, and more careful: Nor is there any reason to think
that Tyson has learned to draw in his horns where women are
concerned.