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

spread oneself out • spread oneself thin
spread oneself out—stretch out on the ground, etc.: It’s such
a lovely spring day, exactly the kind on which one can spread
oneself out under a tree and sleep the afternoon away.
spread oneself thin —(coll.) exert oneself; try to do too many
things: Your trouble is that you tend to spread yourself thin,
so that nothing gets done properly.
spreadboard • spreading board
spreadboard —a machine that spreads flax and hemp in rope-
making: The flax fiber is delivered to the mills, where it is
hackled to separate and straighten the fibers, overlapped on a
spreadboard.
spreading board —a board used by entomologists for insect
specimens: To drive a pin smoothly through the insect’s tho-
rax, stick it in the cork groove of the spreading board.
spring green • spring greens
spring green —(of color) light green: The cottages were
painted uniformly white, and had blinds of a bright spring-
green color.
spring greens —a variety of cabbage that matures in spring:
Vegetables which can be cooked in this manner — cauliflowers,
brussels sprouts, spring greens.
spy on someone • spy someone
spy on someone —watch or follow smb. secretly, usually with
hostile intent: She was constantly spied on, written about,
talked about, followed around.
spy someone —catch sight of smb.; notice a person: There is
great danger if the hippopotamus spies the huntsman before
he can throw his spear.
square john • square john broad
square john —(U.S. sl.) an upright, respectable man: “What
does a ‘square John’ mean? Does it mean an ordinary law-
abiding citizen?” Mr. Owen-Flood asked.
square john broad —(U.S. sl.) an honest respectable woman:
We need a square john broad to give this place a look of
respectability.