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

particular subject: The purpose of this scholarship is to pro-
mote excellence in the field of music by offering incentives to
talented students. 5. away from base or outside of laboratories:
A number of the projects involve a combination of laboratory
investigations with work carried out in the field.
on the field —
1
. = in the field 
1
: Last year nothing grew on
the field where it [pesticide] had been applied but rattle-weed.
2. = in the field 2: I am fortunate to say that my team is rare.
We are brimming with excitement, which can be felt on the
field and in our houses at night. 3. = in the field 3: This is not
an intelligence failure but a severe operational failure. There
is a lack of cooperation between the forces on the field.
in the heat of the moment • on the spur of the
moment
in the heat of the moment—at the moment of the greatest
emotional excitement: Small as she was, she looked as though
in the heat of the moment she might hit him.
on the spur of the moment— acting on a sudden impulse;
without deliberation: The crime of jealousy committed on the
spur of the moment, makes poor material.
Note: 
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase on the spur—(UK dated) at full speed; with the utmost
haste: The servant rode away on the spur, to alarm the family
at the mansion-house.
in the ketchup • on the sauce
in the ketchup —(U.S. sl.) said of a business, etc. that fails
to show a profit: Ridgway has wound up in the ketchup trying
to operate a gym.
on the sauce —(sl.) drinking heavily: You’re not in debt, on
the sauce, going gay … I can’t blackmail you.
in the light of something • in the spotlight of
something
in the light of something —in consideration of smth.; for the
reason given: No matter how many tests a scientist conducts,
any given hypothesis may have to be thrown out in the light
of new evidence.
in the spotlight of something —(predic.) at the center of smth.;
getting most attention and interest (also: in the limelight of
something): While stem cells are in the spotlight of research
today, as recently as six years ago, scientists who worked on
stem cells toiled in relative obscurity. Cf.: steal the spotlight
from someone —(also: steal the show from someone) do better than
another person (in a theatrical production, etc.) and so make one-
self the centre of attention: Some Democrats fear Clinton will
steal the spotlight from Kerry when he needs it most.