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

be at someone’s service • be in someone’s service
be at someone’s service —
1
. be ready to help or assist a person:
I am at your service whenever you should need my advice. 2.
(of things) be at smb.’s disposal or ready to be used: My car is
at your service to take you around Rome and its surround-
ings.
be a steady hand
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Note:
The expression is not equivalent in meaning to the phrase
be of service to someone
— be helpful to a person: On many
occasions he was of service to me, always in kindly, unobtru-
sive ways.
be in someone’s service —be working as smb.’s domestic ser-
vant: Miss White has been in our service for five years.
be at the back of one’s mind • cast one’s mind
back to something
be at the back of one’s mind —(also: be in the back of one’s
mind) be vaguely aware of smth. that is not present in one’s
conscious thoughts: There was at the back of his mind an
idea, dimly seen at moments, never wholly comprehended.
cast one’s mind back to something —think about smth. that
happened in the past, which one might not remember well:
In order to understand these developments, it is necessary to
cast back one’s mind to the social attitudes of that period.
be at the crossroads • cross paths
be at the crossroads —be at a critical turning-point at which
two or more courses of action are possible : Students are
through with their exams and are now at the crossroads of a
choice of career.
cross paths —meet or encounter a person: Occasionally they
will cross paths, especially to compete in a nationally televised
debate arranged by a non-partisan organization.
be aware of something • beware of something
be aware of something —have knowledge of smth.; be con-
scious of smth.: The government is already aware of an in-
sufficient electricity supply.
beware of something —(imper.) be on guard against smth.:
Beware of the rain … make sure your camera is well-protected
if in a side-pocket.