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

square up to someone • square up with someone
square up to someone —show courage in confronting a per-
son: In the street was a group of lads obviously waiting for
me. I had little option but to square up to them.
square up with someone —
1
. pay smb. the money one owes
(leaving a restaurant, checking out of a hotel, etc.): Can I
leave you to square up with the waiter? 2. retaliate upon a
person: He wanted to “square up” with them, but had no
definite plan of action, and was trusting to luck for something
to turn up in his favor.
stand at ease • stand easy
stand at ease— a military attitude allowing less freedom of
posture than “stand easy” (personnel aren’t allowed to talk and
their hands are clasped behind their back): After the command
“Stand at Ease” was given Lt. Colonel Broome gave a short
but never to be forgotten speech.
stand easy —a military attitude allowing a greater freedom
speculate in something
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of posture than “stand at ease” (personnel are allowed to move
their arms and torso in a relaxed posture): When on parade
do not talk or move about in the ranks. Only when the order
“Stand Easy” has been given may you talk.
Note:
The expression is not antonymous in meaning to the
phrase stand firm— remain true to smth.; maintain one’s atti-
tude: He told Radio New Zealand that he would stand firm
against demands that he resign.
stand away from something • stand clear of
 something
stand away from something —move backwards from smth.:
Jonny took a deep breath as he stood away from the computer,
still staring transfixed at the screen.
stand clear of something— remain at a distance from smth.:
The conductor gave the command to “stand clear of the clos-
ing doors” and we were on our way uptown again.