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

Divine Office • Holy Office, the
Divine Office —the prayers and readings in the services held
in the Roman Catholic Church: She was troubled, distracted
in meditation … when the other sisters were chanting Divine
Office.
Holy Office, the —
1
. (hist.) the Inquisition: It may seem
strange that the spread of the reformed religion should so long
have escaped the Holy Office. 2. a Roman Catholic adminis-
trative organ that deals with protection of the faith and morals:
We even went to Rome…. We were promised a formal answer
from the Holy Office.
do a bit • do one’s bit
do a bit—
1
. perform a small part in a play or movie: I got
to do a bit with Mick Jagger where he comes into a dressing
room and looks in the mirror…. 2. practice smth. in a small
way: In my spare time I always want to do something “cre-
ative,” so I choose to do a bit of carpentering.
do one’s bit—
1
. fulfill one’s responsibilities or obligations:
During the epidemic he did his bit with the other physicians,
attending cases night and day. 2. make one’s contribution to
the war effort (serving in the armed forces, etc.): Yes we did
our bit, as you folks say. I’ll tell the world we got the enemy
on the run.
do a book • make a book
do a book —
1
. write a book: We all have our weaknesses.
Mine just happens to be any comic book done by David Mack.
2. translate a book: I know that most of his books have been
done into English. 3. (U.S. Underworld) suffer the maximum
penalty; serve a life-time sentence: I’m doing one life jolt, and
two one-to-fiftys … yes sir, doing the book.
make a book —
1
. create a book: Mr. White might have made
a whole book out of being a city man on a farm. 2. (Bookmak-
ers) accept bets on contests: Adelaide bookies can only make
a book based upon the horses that are backed in a race.