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

middle age • Middle Ages
middle age —the period in life when a person is no longer
young but has not yet become old: He was growing stout with
middle age.
Middle Ages —in European history the period between about
A
.
D
.
1
000 and 
A
.
D
.
1
400: During the Middle Ages the main
economic units were the villages and manors.
Middle West • West Midlands
Middle West—the region of the USA near the northern Mis-
sissippi: Mid-Westerners are concerned about the plight of
the Indians, because the Indians are part of Middle West life.
West Midlands —a metropolitan county of England: The
biggest attraction of Dudley, located in West Midlands, is the
Zoo situated in the grounds of Dudley Castle.
miles away • miles off
miles away —
1
. (hyperbolic) very far away: He trudges across
an icy parking lot, toting skis slung over his shoulder. The
nearest ski lift seems miles away. 2. not in reach or not readily
attainable: Such a prospect is miles away from the school world
implied by the proceedings at the recent education “summit.”
3. said of smb. unaware of what is happening around because
one is thinking of smth. else: Her mother was pacing up and
down and seemed miles away. She hadn’t noticed them at all.
4. said of smth. that can be noticed or recognized even though
it may not be obvious: In a sea of voices, his is the one you’ll
spot miles away!
miles off—(of a guess, calculation, etc.) completely wrong
(also: miles out): Ken Beaton’s original estimate of the elephant,
buffalo and hippo population had been miles off.
military establishment • war establishment
military establishment—
1
. a military body or institution:
Colonel Wellesley was long occupied in organizing the civil
as well as the military establishments. 2. an institution provid -
ing military education and training: The institute was not or -
ganized as a military establishment and was open to civilians.
3. the quota of officers and men in a regiment, ship, etc.: How
large should America’s peacetime military establishment be?
war establishment—augmentation of regiments, etc. to a
certain number to meet war requirements: In the war estab-
lishment of the squadron, there are additional troops provided
for just such tasks.