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

in request • on request
in request—(of goods, services, etc.) very popular; much
sought after: His novels are not much in request nowadays.
on request—(also: at request) whenever asked for: Further
information will be supplied on request.
in safety • with safety
in safety —
1
. in a safe state or position: Cut off by the rising
waters, the boys climbed on to a ledge of rock, where they
remained in safety. 2. do smth. without running any risk: The
people of this city can go where they want to go, do what they
have to do and do it in safety.
with safety — = in safety 2: That ladder looks rather rickety;
don’t attempt to climb it unless you are sure you can do it
with safety.
in secret • in the secret
in secret—
1
. secretly; in private: Men of the most different
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in secret

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characters … resemble each other in the practice of nursing
in secret some pet superstition. 2. in strict confidence: This
story is told in secret, as it were, because the people were afraid
to tell it openly.
in the secret—(predic.) sharing a secret; privately aware of
smth.: One of her maids who was in the secret revealed the
truth.
in service • in the service
in service —
1
. (of a machine, etc.) in operation: The latest
fighter-bomber is as fast as any fighter yet in service anywhere
in the world. 2. employed as a domestic servant: I suppose
you see it as somewhat anachronistic — a young girl “in serv-
ice.”
in the service —while serving in the armed forces: Riggs had
been wounded in the service. He was a hero and a fine young
American.
in shore • on shore
in shore —on the water near the shore: We saw a small ship
in shore … plying up the coast.
on shore —ashore; on land: Water on the ship will be safe,
but only drink bottled water when on shore.