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

in case of something • in the case of something
in case of something —if smth. should occur; as a precaution
against smth.: Always keep a bucket of water handy, for use
in case of fire.
in the case of something —
1
. as regards smth.: The essays were
mostly good, but in the case of Jane’s and Tom’s, there was
still much room for improvement. 2. = in case of something:
All persons under their responsibility are trained and given
adequate instruction in the case of fire.
in charge • on charge
in charge —said of smb. who is responsible or in control:
The authorities announced the arrest of a local commander
who was in charge during the incident.
on charge —(of a battery) being charged (also: on a charge):
How long can I leave the battery on charge and not damage
the battery?
in charge of someone • in the charge of someone
in charge of someone —exercising care or supervision of a
person: Other people in charge of children, such as teachers
or foster carers, do not have parental responsibility.
in the charge of someone —said of smb. under the care or
supervision of a person: She has been in the charge of her
grandmother since her mother and father died.
in charge of something • on charge of something
in charge of something —having control or custody of some-
thing: As is the custom with elevator boys, the lad in charge
of the elevator started it before closing the door.
on charge of something —(also: on a charge of something) is
used of the accusation upon which a person is arrested: Six
persons were arrested on charge of adopting unfair means in
the examination.
in clear • in the clear
in clear —(of military dispatches, etc.) forwarded in ordinary
language rather than in code: A letter in numerical cipher,
since he does not give it in clear, still awaits decipherment.
in the clear —
1
. not obstructed or enclosed: The valley was
completely obscured by a thick blanket of fog while our cabin
was in the clear. 2. free from guilt, suspicion, etc.: He says
they told him he had been a suspect, but left him believing
he was in the clear. 3. (coll.) out of reach: Even downtown
they [policemen] are likely to be in the clear when you want
them most. 4. (coll.) as a clear profit: When we counted up
the final night we figured nearly sixty grand in the clear. 5. in
interior measurement: A water pipe eighteen inches in the
clear is laid under ground to the center of the yard.