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

follow the plough • put one’s hand to the plough
follow the plough —be a ploughman or peasant: His boys
followed the plough; and his girls went out to service.
put one’s hand to the plough —(also: turn one’s hand to the
plough) begin a task (with the implication that one will persist
at it): Ideala, having at last put her hand to the plough, worked
with a will.
follow through with something • follow up with
something
follow through with something —complete smth. such as a
plan, etc.; continue doing smth. until it is finished: Young
children have a need to know that you will follow through
with what you say.
follow up with something —
1
. act further on smth.: Having
a great idea and being able to follow up with it are two very
different things. 2. do smth. after having done smth. else: The
gymnasts perform compulsory routines today and follow up
with individual events tomorrow.
foot the bill • top the bill
foot the bill —
1
. pay the bill, especially when considered
large: When the Simpsons moved away, Greg was left to foot
the bill for the building supplies. 2. pay for smth. whose cost
is considered unreasonable (especially in consequence of smb.’s
actions): The pharmaceutical industry will continue to hike
drug costs, and consumers will foot the bill.
top the bill —be the most important item or person on a
program of entertainments: The following year, she topped
the bill at the Parisian music hall for a series of concerts there.
footman • leg man
footman —manservant who admits visitors, waits at table,
etc.: He met a footman carrying a breakfast-tray.
leg man —
1
. an assistant running errands: He was the top
man, and I was his “leg man.” He personally handled most of
the negotiations…. 2. a reporter gathering facts at the scene:
On large newspaper, rewrite persons are assigned to such tasks
as taking facts over the telephone from a leg man. 3. (sl.) a
man who prefers females with good-looking legs: Clyde is a
leg-man, but almost everything will turn him on a little.