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

be clear about something
– 34 –

---

be eyeball to eyeball • see eye to eye
be eyeball to eyeball —
1
. sit opposite each other; be face to
face: We’re eyeball to eyeball and I think the other fellow just
blinked. 2. be in the state of defiant confrontation: Once again,
it seems, Mr. Rumsfeld and the defense bureaucracy are eyeball
to eyeball.
see eye to eye —(often negat.) be of one mind; think alike:
Unfortunately he didn’t see eye to eye with his parents and
there were always arguments at home.
be for sale • be on sale
be for sale —(also: be up for sale) said of a house, car, etc.
that an owner wants to sell: I wonder how he heard the house
was for sale.
be on sale —
1
. be available for buying in shops, etc.: Local
delicacies, such as cheeses and wines, are on sale here at a very
reasonable price. 2. be sold for a special low price: Tomato
soup that is usually sold for sixty cents a can is now on sale
for fifty cents.
be full of beans • not have a bean
be full of beans —(coll.) 
1
. be full of energy; be in high spirits:
I had a good night’s sleep in a hotel and was feeling very full
of beans. 2. (U.S. also: be full of prunes) exaggerate or talk
nonsense: While I often think that you are full of beans I have
to say that I agree with much of this.
Note:
The expression is not antonymous in meaning to the
phrase not amount to a hill of beans—(coll.) be of little sig-
nificance: What you learn at school doesn’t amount to a hill of
beans compared with what you can find out for yourself out-
doors.
not have a bean —(coll.) have no money whatever: Lady
Laura is always staying with people. She hasn’t got a bean, I
gather.