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

man something with someone • people something
with someone
man something with someone —supply a ship, etc. with men
for service or defense: The commanding officer manned the
boat with a crew of his men.
people something with someone —fill a place with some kind
of people : The state’s intent was to people the land with
yeomen and producers of food.
man-to-man • person-to-person
man-to-man —(usually attrib.) said of a talk, discussion,
etc., characterized by directness and openness: “We had a
man-to-man about changing his personal life,” Harmon said.
“I told him to look in the mirror to see the guy who’s causing
all the problems.”
person-to-person —(attrib.) 
1
. is used of an operator assisted
phone call in which the caller wants to speak to a specific per-
son (callers are not charged unless they reach the party they ask
for): Say that you are placing a person-to-person call and give
the name of the person to whom you wish to speak. 2. said
of an interaction involving personal or intimate contact be -
tween people: This project works to end intractable conflicts
around the world through new and innovative person to per-
son diplomacy.
man upstairs • top man
man upstairs —is used with reference to God: Does God
man of men
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sympathize with man? Certainly the great omnipotent, “man
upstairs” has all the ability to do anything he wants, but does
he exercise that ability?
top man —smb. who has the most important position in an
organization: He was the top man, and I was his “leg man.”
He personally handled most of the negotiations…
See also: high man on the totem pole / high-up man.
manly behavior • mannish behavior
manly behavior —behavior that is typical of, or suitable for,
a man rather than a woman or boy: Because of his military
background, Mr. Jones was constantly berating his sensitive,
gentle son for his lack of “manly behavior.”
mannish behavior —(of a woman) behavior that is more like
a man’s than a woman’s (used showing disapproval): In the early
1
900s, a woman who smoked in public would be ostracized
for her mannish behavior.