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

uppers and downers • ups and downs
uppers and downers —
1
. positive and negative fluctuations
in fortune, business, etc.: In the case of both the uppers and
the downers, it would be a good idea to examine the compa-
nies more closely to see how meaningful these one-year trends
are. 2. (dated coll.) teeth: The film pokes fun of the idyllic,
monochromatic life in the 
1
950s — a time when uppers and
downers meant teeth and problems were purely mathematical.
3. (Drugs) stimulants and depressants: Not too long after this
I started taking downers in order to go to sleep. Now I was
taking uppers to wake up and downers to sleep.
ups and downs —
1
. irregularities on the surface of ground,
etc.: He had forgotten that the road was narrow, twisting and
full of ups and downs, which slowed them down continuously.
2. = uppers and downers 
1
: The net effect of this large-scale
gambling in raw materials, with its feverish ups and downs,
has been to weaken Britain’s world position.
See also: high and low / up and down.
V
van guard • vanguard
van guard —a guard for a railway van or a motor truck: Van
guard travels with and guards contents of mail vans.
vanguard —
1
. the troops who march at the head of an army:
The vanguard was composed of chasseurs of the line, hussars,
and lancers. 2. the leaders of thought, taste, or opinion in lit-
erature, art, etc.: It is this vanguard which makes the studio
or art theater possible.
visit with someone (UK) • visit with someone
(U.S.)
visit with someone (UK)—pay a visit to a person: Weekends
we usually visit with my husband’s family.
visit with someone (U.S.)—talk with smb. on a short visit:
“When will I be able to see him?” “Right now, if you like. You
can visit with him in his cell or see him right here in my
office.”