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

letterman • man of letters
letterman —(U.S.) a sportsman who has received some mark
of distinction: He holds a Masters degree in Physical Educa-
tion from the Citadel, where he was a three years letterman
in football.
Note: 
The compound does not correlate in meaning with mail-
man
— a person who delivers letters, etc. or collects them from the
letter-boxes: Our mail was delivered by the mailman who drove
his car to every mail box along his assigned route.
man of letters —(formal) a scholar; a writer: To listen to the
discoursing of an accomplished man of letters is always a pleas-
ure.
level someone • level with someone
level someone —
1
. knock a person down: However, Cody got
cocky. He began to taunt Marshall, who leveled him with a
football style tackle. 2. totally baffle a person; render smb.
completely helpless: These questions absolutely leveled me.
Actually, they still do; I just handle it better.
level with someone —(coll.) give smb. one’s honest opinion;
speak frankly with a person: I’d better level with you, son….
From now on, control is through me.
level something against someone • level something
at someone
level something against someone —state a charge or criticism
against a person: He seems to have quite the tendency of lev-
eling accusations against other people based on pure, thin-air
speculation.
level something at someone —
1
. aim smth., such as a weapon,
directly towards smb.: In a moment he was up again, swaying
unsteadily on his feet, but still trying to level his rifle at me.
2. = level something against someone: Both sides have spent
much time leveling accusations at each other about political
games and endangering the safety of Australians.