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

boil something down • boil something up
boil something down —(coll.) state smth. briefly; summarize
smth.: I have tried to state briefly, to boil down, the most im-
portant area of conflict.
boil something up —
1
. boil or wash clothes: There was a
grand jungle by a small, clean river where they boiled up their
verminous clothes. 2. make tea: In modern India, tea is usually
boiled up very strong with milk and lots of sugar.
Note: 
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase bring something to the boil— cause smth. such as a prob-
lem to reach an urgent state: Issues concerning the intellectual
property rights have been simmering since the 
1
990s. Devel-
opments in communications technology have brought these
issues to the boil. Cf.: go off the boil —(coll.) cease to be active
or interesting: The housing issue has gone off the boil recently,
despite attempts to revive public interest.
bold as a lion • bold as an Essex lion
bold as a lion —very brave and daring, especially in times of
danger: He might have behaved timidly in life; in the book
he would be bold as a lion.
bold as an Essex lion —(UK ironic) said of a very meek per-
son: Oh! yes, he is as bold as an Essex lion, especially when
there is no danger about.
Note: 
Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase
bold as brass
— used of a shameless, impudent person: He came
into my office as bold as brass and told me they would stop
work if they didn’t get any more money.
bon mot • good word
bon mot—(Fr.) is used to refer to a clever, often biting,
joke or witticism: “The luxuries of the mansion have been
transferred to the hovel,” he laughed, pleased with his bon
mot.
good word —favorable opinion about a person as conveyed
to his potential employer, etc.: I beg you to say a good word
for me to your father. He regards me, I believe, as a very light
fellow…