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

as far as • so far as
as far as —
1
. up to a point or place mentioned: We went as
far as the Marble Lodge, a keeper’s cottage, and came back
the same way. 2. to the extent that: As far as I can tell, people
reply according to what their experience and knowledge is and
to the best of their ability.
so far as — = as far as 2: So far as I can remember, I’ve always
been success-driven and goal-oriented, and all it’s gotten me
is a mediocre job.
as far as one can see • as far as the eye can see
as far as one can see —in one’s opinion: Pete wants nothing
serious because as far as he can see we wouldn’t get along be-
cause we argue all the time.
as far as the eye can see —to the very horizon: A panorama
of Lake Michigan and dunes stretching as far as the eye can
see unfolds before you.
as good as • as well as
as good as —practically; almost: He as good as promised me
the job.
as well as —in addition: We will travel by night as well as
by day.
as hell • like hell
as hell —(coll.) extremely; very much (is used to intensify ad-
jectives): Nobody believed him of course, and this made him
sore as hell.
like hell —
1
. (interj.) not at all; on the contrary (is used to
emphatically contradict a statement): “I’ve quite enjoyed it
here.” “Like hell I have,” she added under her breath. 2. (coll.)
madly; frantically (is used to intensify verbs): I fired when some-
thing came into my sights and then turned like hell as some-
thing fired at me!
as is • as it is
as is —just the way it is (usually said of goods that may be
slightly damaged, without guarantee, etc.): We bought this
samovar as is from an antique dealer.
as it is —
1
. = as is: It was actually a demo but the producers
were so impressed with the quality that they took it as it is. 2.
in the actual state of affairs; as the situation is: He might have
been killed; as it is he was severely injured.