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

Bibliography
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342 –

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abide something
(abide by something )
abide with someone
(abide someone)
above oneself 
(beside oneself )
above someone 
(cut above someone, a)
absence in something
(absence from
something )
absent oneself from something
(be
absent from something )
absorbed with something 
(absorbed by
something )
abut on something
(abut against some-
thing )
accidents will happen
(accidents can
happen)
accommodate someone with some-
thing 
(accommodate someone to some-
thing )
according to Mrs. Beeton 
(according to
Cocker)
accurate with something 
(accurate in
something )
act for someone 
(act as someone)
act like an angel
(act as angel)
act out
(act something out)
act the fool 
(act foolishly)
action of God
(act of God)
Adam-and-Eve 
(Adam and Eve)
Adam and Eve on a raft 
(Adam and
Eve on a log )
adapted to something 
(adapted for
something )
add insult to injury
(add fuel to the
fire)
add on something
(add in something )
add to the taste 
(add to taste)
add up to something
(add to some-
thing )
address someone
(address oneself to
someone)
admit something 
(admit of something )
admit to something
(admit of some-
thing )
admonish someone of something
(admonish someone for something )
advance towards something
(advance
on something )
advancement of science 
(advance of
science)
advise someone on something
(advise
someone of something )
advise with someone on something
(advise someone of something )
after all is said and done
(after all)
after time
(after a time)
agree to something 
(agree on something )
agree with something 
(agree on some-
thing )
aim for something 
(aim at something )
air gunner
(air gun)
airline 
(air lane)
airhead 
(wind in the head)
airmail letter
(air letter)
alien to something
(alien from some-
thing )
alive with something 
(alive to some-
thing )
all along the line
(all along )
all hat and no cattle 
(all fur coat and
no knickers)
all hours 
(all the time)
all-in 
(all in)
all mouth and trousers 
(all mouth and
no trousers)
all my eye
(all eyes)
all of a piece 
(all in one piece)
all out
(all in)
all right with you 
(all right for you)
all sorts of something
(all kinds of
something )
all systems go 
(it’s all go)
all the better 
(all the best)
all the days of one’s life
(all day and
every day)
all the way live
(all the way)
all the while
(all the time)
all the world and his wife
(all hands
and the cook)
all washed up
(all washed out)
allied with a nation 
(allied to a nation)
allow of something
(allow for some-
thing )
allow something 
(allow for something )
ally oneself with someone
(ally oneself
to someone)
along the lines
(along the line)
altogether 
(all together)
amicable person 
(amiable person)
and all that
(and all)
and no mistake 
(make no mistake about
it)
another side on the boat 
(another kettle
of fish)
another turn of the screw
(another
kettle of fish)
answer the call of nature 
(answer one’s
calling )
answer to someone
(answer someone)
answer to something 
(answer for some-
thing )
anxious for something
(anxious about
something )
any and all 
(and all)
any number of 
(number of, a)
any time 
(any day)
anyone
(any one)
anyplace 
(any place)
anything but
(all but)
anyway 
(any way)
appear for someone 
(appear as some-
one)
apply to something
(apply oneself to
something )
approve something 
(approve of some-
thing )
apt to do something
(apt at doing
something )
Phrase Index
Phrases that are not head phrases are in bold, with the head phrases under
which they are to be found in parentheses. Phrases in bold italics are ones
that are not included as entry headings but are found in the notes of an entry
and provide information about additional relevant phrases.
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archaistic word 
(archaic word)
armchair pilot 
(armchair general)
armored forces 
(armed forces)
around the corner 
(around the bend)
artful film 
(art film)
arty film 
(art film)
as a matter of course 
(as a matter of
fact)
as big as all outdoors 
(as big as a barn)
as big as life
(as big as a barn)
as big as they come 
(as big as a barn)
as far as the eye can see 
(as far as one
can see)
as it is 
(as is)
as it were
(as it was)
as much again 
(as much)
as such
(such as it is)
as well as
(as good as)
ask for something 
(inquire about some-
thing )
ask me another
(ask another)
ask someone for a hand
(ask for some-
one’s hand)
ask someone out 
(ask someone in)
ask someone’s leave 
(ask someone to
leave)
assimilate something to something
(assimilate something into something )
at a goodly price
(at a good price)
at a touch 
(in touch)
at a trot 
(on the trot)
at all 
(all in all)
at all times 
(at all hours)
at any hour
(at all hours)
at any price
(at any cost)
at any time 
(at any one time)
at birth 
(at a birth)
at first glance 
(at a glance)
at first sight 
(at sight)
at great length
(at full length)
at home with someone
(at home to
someone)
at home with something
(at home in
something )
at length
(at full length)
at low water 
(in deep water)
at once
(all at once)
at one push
(at a push)
at one time
(at a time)
at one time or another
(at one time
and another)
at one’s best
(at best)
at pains 
(in pain)
at rise
(at the rise)
at risk
(at one’s risk)
at sea 
(in the sea)
at the birth (at a birth)
at the bottom of the barrel 
(at the
bottom of the bag )
at the corner
(in a corner)
at the end
(at an end)
at the foot of something
(at the feet of
someone)
at the front of something
(in front of
something )
at the last
(at last)
at the last minute 
(at last)
at the latest 
(at last)
at the moment
(at a moment)
at the price
(at a price)
at the stroke
(at a stroke)
at the top of something
(on the top of
something )
at the trial 
(in trial)
at the worst
(at one’s worst)
at this time of day
(at this time)
at times
(at a time)
attach to someone
(attach oneself to
someone)
attempt on something 
(attempt at
something )
attend to someone
(attend on someone)
attend to something
(attend some-
thing )
Aunt Tom
(Uncle Tom)
Austral language 
(Austral English)
Australian English
(Austral English)
autographed book
(autograph book)
autographic copy
(autographed copy)
avenge someone 
(avenge oneself on
someone)
baby-sitter
(baby-minder)
back on track 
(back in the saddle)
back out of something
(back off from
something )
back seat 
(back bench, the)
back to square one 
(back to basics)
back to the drawing-board
back to the salt mines 
(back to the
drawing-board)
backdate something 
(date back to some-
thing )
backdrop
(back drop)
background light 
(back-light)
bad egg 
(bad apple)
bad hours 
(good hour)
bad man 
(bad boy)
bad penny, a 
(bad money)
bad penny always turns up, a 
(bad
money drives out good)
bad times
(bad time)
badlands
(Bad Lands, the)
balloon goes up, the 
(go down like a
lead balloon)
bang go 
(go bang )
bang the door
(bang on the door)
bar maid
(bar girl)
bargain over something
(bargain on
something )
bargaining counter
(bargain counter)
barge into someone
(barge in on some-
one)
BASIC 
(Basic English)
basic English
(Basic English)
basic light
(base light)
batsman 
(batman)
be a bit gone 
(be too far gone)
be a sight 
(be a sight for sore eyes)
be a sight to behold 
(be a sight for sore
eyes)
be absent in something 
(be absent from
something )
be afraid, be very afraid 
(be afraid)
be amused by something 
(amuse one-
self with something )
be associated with someone
(associate
with someone)