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

ladies first • women and children first
ladies first—is used as an allusion to polite procedure in
serving food, entering a vehicle, etc.: Mr. Collins pulled open
the doors from inside the hall. “Now,” he said, “Ladies first…”
women and children first—is used as an allusion to the
accepted order of precedence in rescue work: John’s intent on
making us a nation of mariners and under these circumstances,
I’ll adopt the old maritime adage, women and children first.
ladies’ maid • ladies’ man
ladies’ maid —a lady’s personal servant, especially in charge
of her toilet: Ladies traveling alone would never have traveled
third class. Even ladies’ maids always traveled second.
ladies’ man —a man who is fond of female company (also:
woman’s man): They told me you were not a ladies’ man, Mr.
Smirke.
lady of honor • maid of honor
lady of honor —
1
. (Fr.: damme d’honeur) unmarried woman
attending a queen or princess: At night, Her Majesty’s ladies
of honor came and conducted her to the apartments. 2. a
woman with a reputation for loyalty, truthfulness, etc.: How
dare you affront an upstanding woman like that sir? I am a
lady of honor and you have insulted me like a whore!?
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lady of honor

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maid of honor—
1
. principal bridesmaid at a wedding: Lily
asked Maria to be her maid of honor. She planned to be mar-
ried in church. 2. = lady of honor 
1
: His Grace shows as much
gallantry as ever to a certain maid of honor.
laid on the shelf • left on the shelf
laid on the shelf —(also: put on the shelf ) 
1
. discharged from
service (for reason of age, etc.): He had been laid on the shelf
for cowardice in one of the engagements between the Dutch
and the English. 2. (of problems, etc.) postponed to be con -
sidered later if at all: The theory of evolution was laid on
the shelf until Charles Darwin and Wallace took it down
again.
left on the shelf —(of a woman) considered too old to get
married: She refused several offers of marriage, and then, at
the age of forty, found herself left on the shelf.