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

associate with someone • be associated with some-
one
associate with someone —spend a lot of time in smb.’s com-
pany (especially if that person is objectionable): Those extra-
moralists refuse to associate with a convict legally pardoned.
be associated with someone —be connected in people’s mind
with smb. (because of common interests, etc.): He was asso-
ciated with, although he never joined, the British environ-
mentalists.
at a birth • at birth • at the birth
at a birth —during a single act of reproduction: Cats some-
times have four or five young at a birth.
at birth —at the time when a baby or an animal is born: No
animal at birth is mature or perfect in intelligence.
at the birth —
1
. present or attending during the birth:
Josephine did not want her husband at the birth of her own
children. 2. during the emergence of smth.: The UN had been
the indispensable midwife at the birth of their country.
at a clap • in a clap
at a clap —(dated) with one effort; at once: It was a good
occasion to kill all Caesar’s Enemies at a clap.
in a clap —(dated) in a moment; immediately (also: in a clap
or two): Our Master will be on us all now in a clap.
at a distance • in the distance
at a distance —
1
. not too near: This is where you get truly
wonderful views of the Acropolis — seeing it at a distance, the
Parthenon grows more impressive. 2. a long way away from
smth. in time: Remembering this disaster at a distance, I now
feel sure that it was not her fault.
in the distance —far away: A sliver of an island appeared in
the distance. The plane made a wide turn and continued its
slow descent.
at a draft • on draft
at a draft— drink all of smth. during one continuous action
of swallowing: He drank half a pint of beer at a draft.
on draft—(usually of beer) served from a barrel and not sold
in bottles: We had no beer on draft and a handful of bottled
beers.