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

be best at something • be the best at something
be best at something —be more skilled and capable in one
particular area relative to others: He excels at most of the sub-
jects taught here, although he is best at chemistry.
be the best at something —be much superior to other people
in a particular area: Mrs. Hough is the best at making children
feel at home when they are just starting out on their school
adventure.
be beyond the law • go beyond the law
be beyond the law —be out of the reach of the law: The sick
criminal was arrested at night, but by morning he was beyond
the law; he had died in the night.
go beyond the law —be guilty of some criminal offence: To
thrash the man yourself is to go beyond the law; he may de-
serve punishment but you are not allowed to administer it.
be blind to something • turn a blind eye to some-
thing
be blind to something —be unable to see or consider what is
going on around one: She had been deaf and blind to every-
thing except what had passed between them.
turn a blind eye to something —pretend not to see smth.;
overlook smth. deliberately: The police turn a blind eye to
this problem because they are only too glad to get lorries from
parking there.
be born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth • get
the wooden spoon
be born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth —be born into a
rich family: He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and
probably never had to work a day in his life.
get the wooden spoon —be the last in a sporting event or other
competition: Previous City Councilor got the wooden
spoon — with no votes on the first two counts.
be bothered about someone • bother oneself about
someone
be bothered about someone —be concerned about smb.; worry
about a person: I am bothered about Freda, she is out so late
again.
bother oneself about someone —concern oneself with smb.;
preoccupy oneself with a person: Please don’t bother yourself
about my brother. I’ll take care of him.