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

as a man • like a man
as a man —
1
. (of a group of people) acting unanimously and
at exactly the same time (also: as one man): They came forward
as a man to welcome their leader. 2. in respect of smb.’s per-
sonal character: The stature he acquired both as a man and a
leader gave added impetus and credibility to the movement.
3. in the manner appropriate to men, as opposed to women:
Mary, still dressed as a man, was soon recruited to Rackham’s
crew.
like a man —
1
. in the manner of a brave and honest man: I
think, if you haven’t the guts to act like a man, you ought to
leave this girl alone. 2. in one’s normal condition of mind and
body: I never had anyone in my life before like this family
who make me feel like a man again.
– 17 –
as a man

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as a matter of fact • fact of the matter is, the
as a matter of fact—as it happens; actually: As a matter of
fact, I recently found two small stories that provoked more
thought than the other articles I read.
Note: 
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase as a matter of course— as part of a standard procedure;
as smth. that one expects automatically to happen: Medical in-
surance is provided for students by the Institute as a matter
of course.
fact of the matter is, the —the essential or important thing is:
The fact of the matter is that she only married me because
Zeeman wouldn’t get a divorce, and she was punishing him.
as a reward for something • in reward for some-
thing
as a reward for something —is used of smth. given to reward
a person: I receive as a reward for my services a post with
which I am well satisfied.
in reward for something —is used with reference to the reason
for the reward: He was presented with a gold watch in reward
for his services.