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

as security • for security
as security —
1
. as a pledge against possible financial loss: It
is not unusual to require one or more partners to pledge their
own property as security for a loan. 2. as a guarantee for the
performance of some action: Three of the leading men were
seized as security. The Mayor paid the sum and the “bonds”
men were released.
for security —in order to ensure safety from possible harm:
For security, the door was chained as well as locked.
as thick as peas in a pod • like two peas in a pod
as thick as peas in a pod —(also: as thick as peas in a shell) in-
timate or very friendly: He and I are as thick as peas in a pod.
He comes to me with most of his troubles.
like two peas in a pod —very similar; almost exactly alike:
She and Karen are like two peas in a pod — they both sing in
clubs, share the same dirty laugh, smoke the same brand of
cigarettes.
ask another • ask me another
ask another —is used as an expression of boredom or a
protest against a worn-out joke: “I say, Joe, when’s a door not
a door?” “Oh, ask another.”
ask me another —is used to tell that one does not know the
answer: “Are you fond of birds, uncle Nic?” “Ask me another,
Greta!”
ask for someone’s hand • ask someone for a hand
ask for someone’s hand —propose to a woman: I’ve told him
I have asked for your hand in marriage and that you’ve rejected
me.
ask someone for a hand —
1
. ask smb. to help in what one is
doing: Sometimes you feel a bit stupid asking someone for a
hand. 2. ask the audience, etc. for applause: Asking the audi-
ence for a hand for the band he showed his confidence in their
abilities.
ask someone in • ask someone out
ask someone in —invite a person into one’s home, office, etc.:
I sent them my information and they asked me in for an in-
terview.
ask someone out—invite a person out to a disco, restaurant,
etc.: I am just not too sure about how to ask her out.