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

Note: 
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase be too close to home—(also: be too close for comfort)
dangerously nearby; affecting a person intimately: A crime that
occurred too close to home still has its grip on Chief Inspector
Alan Banks.
be a devil • be the very devil
be a devil —
1
. (imper.) is used as a humorous expression of
encouragement to persuade a person to do smth.: Be a devil
and order us a bottle of wine! 2. be extremely bad or immoral:
He was a devil to those of us who thought the war was stupid
and pointless. He personified the arbitrary power of the
draft…
be the very devil —
1
. (also: be the devil incarnate) = be a devil
2: Though he was a hero to some, he was the very devil to
others. 2. (of a situation) be very difficult or annoying: My car
is super to drive, but it’s so big it’s the very devil to find a
parking place for it.
be a drag on someone • have drag with someone
be a drag on someone —(sl.) be a burden to a person (causing
delay or slowing down progress): His wife has been a drag on
him all his life.
have drag with someone —(U.S. sl.) have influence over smb.:
We had a big drag with the waiter because my old man drank
whisky and that meant a good tip.
be a go-getter • have get up and go
be a go-getter —(UK coll.) be an ambitious and hard-working
person: As it is a sales position, be sure to come off friendly
and energetic like a real go-getter.
have get up and go —(coll.)
1
. (of people) have vigor and en-
ergy: You need to demonstrate, through concrete examples,
that you have “get up and go.” 2. (of horses and cars) have suf-
ficient energy or power, especially if old: The performance is