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

on the street • on the streets
on the street—
1
. out of work; unemployed: This business is
so subjective. My general manager could change tomorrow
and I could be on the street. 2. (U.S. sl.) outside prison: A
number of men who are heterosexual on the street practice
homosexuality in prison.
on the streets —
1
. homeless: These people were once in psy-
chiatric hospitals and are now on the streets. 2. living by pros-
titution: This little girl had a sister who was on the streets and
who was in the house of this bad woman.
on the stump • up a stump
on the stump —
1
. (of trees) before felling: You originally paid
in cash for all that timber on the stump just ten thousand dol-
lars. 2. (coll.) engaged in political speech-making: Govern-
ment, in the persons of the Parliamentary heads of depart -
ments, is on the stump, or dickering for votes.
up a stump —(coll.) 
1
. perplexed; at a loss: Sociologists are
up a stump over the sharp rise in juvenile delinquency and
crime. 2. in great straits; in serious difficulties: For once in his
life, work had him so up a stump that he could not snatch a
moment for reading.
on the table • under the table
on the table —(of an official proposal, etc.) presented for dis-
cussion or consideration: I had heard that several alternative
propositions were on the table.
under the table — transacted or sold illicitly and secretly: Most
bootleg alcohol is made domestically but sold “under the table”
without the necessary permits.
on the tick • on tick
on the tick —(coll.) punctually; on time: I am always here
on the tick myself, and I do not see why jurors should not do
the same.
Note: 
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase in a tick—(coll.) in a moment: If I had broken the rules
laid down for me I should have been spotted in a tick by a
spy.
on tick —(coll.) on credit: Here I’ve been struggling to keep
our heads above water, and you go and bring home a motorcar
on tick.