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

at a price • at the price
at a price —
1
. bought or sold at a high cost; very expensive:
There’s fresh asparagus in the shops — at a price! 2. at the cost
of much effort and sacrifice: Such is his grip on the market,
though it is one obtained at a price.
at the price —
1
. at the cost indicated: Other wines difficult
to beat at the price include three good dry whites from Hun-
gary. 2. at the expense of smth.: The issue will be whether the
government will introduce the harsh measures at the price of
its own popularity.
at a push • at one push
at a push —(coll.) if compelled by need or circumstances:
We can sleep seven or eight people in the house at a push.
at one push —with one act of pushing: Do not press the
shutter at one push, or otherwise the photograph may be
blurred.
at a run • on the run
at a run — moving at a running pace: Suddenly, there he
was, at a run, hurrying my son to unpack the rifle and climb
the mountain with him.
on the run —(predic.)—
1
. running: Although I am perfectly
still, I find myself taking quick short breaths, as if I too am
on the run. 2. (also: on the trot) busy moving from one task to
another: It was vacation, and I shouldn’t feel bad if I am not
on the run every minute of the day. 3. (also: on the trot) run-
ning away from prison, the police, etc.: He went to meet a
Franc-Tireur who was on the run after killing several Germans.
4. (of troops) retreating; severely defeated: They all believed
that this first success should be fully exploited while the enemy
was on the run.
at a stretch • on the stretch
at a stretch —
1
. continuously; without interruption: It was
impossible to work for more than an hour or so at a stretch.
2. by making a special effort; by stretching one’s resources:
We have provided food for fifty people, but we might be able
to make it do for sixty at a stretch.
on the stretch —
1
. tightened and extended: By the inspiratory
effort the elastic tissue of the lungs is put on the stretch. 2. =
at a stretch 
1
: Though several cars remained stranded for hours
on the stretch, the situation was brought under control. 3.
(coll.) using exaggerated statements: He’s always on the
stretch…. He never tells the truth except by mistake. 4. (of
nerves) in the state of tension: The insects whirred and buzzed
and the noise kept Harry’s nerves on the stretch. 5. (also: at
full stretch) working as hard as possible: Me and my stoker
were on the stretch all the time attending to the engine.