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

meddle in something • meddle with something
meddle in something —intervene in smth. which is not one’s
concern: In reality, of course, powerful states have often med-
dled in the internal affairs of their weaker neighbors.
meddle with something —get involved with smth., making
unauthorized or unwanted changes: When a classic recipe is
fabulous, don’t meddle with it, and just do what you’re told.
medical man • medicine man
medical man —a doctor; a physician: A medical man, who
may be called up at any moment, must make sure of his
“beauty-sleep.”
medicine man —a witch-doctor or magician in primitive
societies: They will not revisit their own camp until it is first
visited by their priest or medicine man.
Mediterranean disease • Mediterranean fever
Mediterranean disease —(also: Mediterranean anemia) thalas -
semia (a hereditary hemolytic anemia): This interesting disease
presents three important abnormalities together characterizing
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Mediterranean disease

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a syndrome which may be designated “Mediterranean dis-
ease.”
Mediterranean fever —(also: Malta fever) an enteric fever
caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella: One should avoid
direct contact with strange dogs as fleas, who live by sucking
the animals’ blood, can transmit Mediterranean Fever to
humans.
meet someone • meet with someone
meet someone —
1
. become acquainted with a person: I
remember being swept completely off my feet when I first met
Jim. 2. encounter a person for (casual) socializing: I first met
him for coffee one evening. I was really unsure of our suit-
ability after this first date…. 3. encounter (a friend, etc.) unex-
pectedly: I last saw Tom about six months ago, met him quite
by chance out in the middle of Wellington Harbor. 4. intro-
duce a person: Good morning, boys! Meet Miss Marigold, my
secretary and continuity girl. 5. go to meet smb. at the station,
airport, etc.: He would go to the station and meet Miss Gale.
6. (of two sportsmen) compete against one another: Weaver
must defend against James Tillis before meeting Cooney.
meet with someone —
1
. = meet someone 2: He paid us a visit
at home to introduce himself as our financial representative
and I met with him for coffee near my office on another occa-
sion…. 2. have a formal or pre-arranged meeting with a per-
son: Teachers are meeting with the Minister of Education to
talk about their demands for an increase in pay.