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

stretch oneself • stretch oneself out
stretch oneself —straighten the body and extend the arms,
especially when a person yawns: The Jamaican stood up and
stretched himself. “Glad you woke me, man,” he said.
stretch oneself out—extend one’s legs and body in a straight
line while lying: The room was enveloped in darkness. Kedar
stretched himself out on the bed without turning on the light.
strict in something • strict on something
strict in something —careful and scrupulous in one’s princi-
ples, etc.: He was strict in punctuality, spiritual in language
and phraseology, immaculate in appearance.
strict on something —is used with reference to principles, etc.
that one expects to be observed by others: The professor of
that class was very strict on punctuality.
strike at the root • strike root
strike at the root—deal resolutely with the origin of a prob-
lem, difficulty, etc.: It is in forming such men and women
that we can create a community of peace and justice and strike
at the root of terrorism.
strike root—(also: take root) become firmly established; be
generally accepted: Therein lies perhaps the very virtue of a
liberal education: prejudice does not as easily strike root in an
educated person.
strike for something • strike over something
strike for something —
1
. stop working for an employer in
order to get more pay, better conditions, etc.: After the airlines
show a profit again the unions will strike for higher wages. 2.
fight for a cause: Cleomenes followed by a few friends rushed
through the streets of Alexandria, exhorting the multitude to
strike for freedom.
strike over something —is used with reference to the issue
that causes the strike: Workers including technicians, lighting
and box office staff are among those who opted to strike over
the redundancies.