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

answer is a lemon, the • it’s a lemon
answer is a lemon, the —(coll.) the answer is unsatisfactory
or non-existent: Do all and sundry succeed? Very frankly, “the
answer is a lemon.” Luck does not support all…
it’s a lemon —(U.S. coll.) it is of poor quality and continu-
ously breaks down: What happens if you buy a new car only
to find out a month later that it’s a lemon?
answer one’s calling • answer the call of nature
answer one’s calling— fulfill one’s destiny in terms of profes-
sion by doing what one has a talent for: Makeup artist Elisa-
beth Fry said in an interview that she “answered her calling”
to design jewelry.
answer the call of nature —(euph.) go to the bathroom to re-
lieve oneself: The locals did not have modern toilets. Mong
people preferred to dig a hole in their fields to answer the call
of nature.
answer someone • answer to someone
answer someone —say smth. to a person in response to a
question: I didn’t know how to answer her.
answer to someone —be responsible or accountable to a per-
son: The chain of command is such that the Chief of Staff an-
swers to the Defense Minister.
ant’s pants • have ants in one’s pants
ant’s pants —(Austral. sl.) the height of fashion; the ultimate
in novelty or style: You always think it’s the ant’s pants, and
then something better comes along.
have ants in one’s pants—(coll.) 
1
. fidget constantly because
of extreme nervousness: Why can’t you stand still, do you have
ants in your pants? 2. be impatient or restless: The boss has
ants in his pants and wants us to have it all ready for him on
Tuesday morning.
anxious about something • anxious for something
anxious about something —uneasy about smth.; disturbed
about what may happen: And then, all the time you were so
worried and anxious about the food and the serving.
anxious for something —wishing smth. very much; eager to
get or obtain smth.: An incredible silence reigned among the
people, anxious for the event, and lost in suspense.