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

give someone a pat on the back • give someone a
pat on the shoulder
give someone a pat on the back —express appreciation of
smb.’s performance, competence, etc.: He never gave me a
pat on the back. I mean, I wanted him to recognize me — to
be proud of me. Cf.: give oneself a pat on the back — congratulate
oneself on getting a good job done, etc.: If I could dive like that —
well, I’d give myself a big pat on the back.
give someone a pat on the shoulder —draw a person’s attention
to smth.: This article just gave me a tap on the shoulder and
made me realize how long I have been single. It has been years!
give someone a push • give someone the push
give someone a push —
1
. shove a person: Just at the edge of
the well, he gave him a push and threw him into it. 2. said of
an act of pushing smb.’s car: Our car was stuck and they gave
us a push. 3. (coll.) promote smb.’s advancement; assist a per-
son: I was including his business on my newsletters just to
give him a push. 4. (sl.) dismiss a person from employment:
I just recall a few months ago when it looked like they were
going to give him a push.
give someone the push — = give someone a push 4: If he doesn’t
resign after this term — which he won’t — we’ll just have to
give him the push.
give someone a ride • take someone for a ride
give someone a ride —offer a person a ride on a horse, bicycle,
etc.: Five children, who helped catch two thieves, are to be
given a ride in a police panda car.
take someone for a ride —
1
. = give someone a ride: When the
weather is nice and she feels up to it I take her for a ride. I
like to drive, and I like to have her beside me. 2. (sl.) mislead
or swindle a person (also: take someone for a sleigh ride): Don’t
give them any money until you have seen the goods. They
may be taking you for a ride. 3. (Underworld) take a person
on a car journey with the intention of murdering or kidnap-
ping: No one would ever know whether he had quietly faded
into voluntary oblivion or had been “taken for a ride.”