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

in a spot • in spots
in a spot—(coll.) in a difficult situation; in trouble: We really
are in a spot, because to refuse her would cause months, if not
years, of pouting and hard feelings.
in spots—(U.S. sl.) occasionally; at intervals: A boatman
being asked how he managed to secure sleeping time,
answered, “I sleep in spots”; that is, at intervals, by snatches.
in a state • in state
in a state —(followed by Infinitive) fit for smth.; mentally
ready to do smth.: He went on thinking of her till he was
almost in a state to drown himself in the little brook.
in state —
1
. with great pomp and ceremony: If he repre-
sented a first-class paper and wished to “save his face” he had
better travel in state. 2. (of a dead body) ceremoniously exposed
to view before burial (in the phrase “lie in state”): It was in this
chamber he breathed his last; here he lay in state.
in a temper • out of temper
in a temper —in an irritable or angry mood: I got up in a
temper, and told him to leave me.
Note: 
The expression is not antonymous in meaning to the
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in a temper

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phrase in no temper— not in the mood for smth.: Garibaldi,
marching obstinately to defeat, was in no temper to listen to
anybody, to Mazzini least of all.
out of temper — = in a temper: Don’t go upstairs. Mother’s
there and she’s out of temper.
in a world apart • worlds apart
in a world apart—out of touch with reality; unaware of the
latest news, etc.: The returned exiles lived in a world apart.
They hatched plans and business schemes and visionary ideas
for transforming society.
worlds apart—(of two or more people or things) completely
different: It can seem that men and women are “worlds apart”
when it comes to life and love. Why did God plan it that way?