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

be a natural • be natural
be a natural —
1
. be naturally deficient in intellect; be a half-
witted person: She is not quite a natural, that is, not an ab-
solute idiot. 2. have natural talents that make smb. particularly
suitable for a task: I’m not a natural. This present play is my
last, I’ve decided.
be natural —demonstrate behavior that is not affected or
self-conscious: On the stage he was natural, simple…. ’Twas
only that, when he was off, he was acting.
Note: 
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase be in one’s natural state—(also: be in a state of nature)
1
. used of the conditions of people before civilization: Man in his
natural state is the work of God. 2. (of land or animals) in an
uncultivated or undomesticated condition: The ground was
partly cultivated, and partly left in its natural state. 3. (euph.)
completely naked: How temptingly lovely she was in her natural
state! I could not tear my eyes from her. 4. (of substances) not
treated or processed: a large mass of stone or rock in its natural
state; an egg in its natural state in the shell.
be a queer fish • be queer
be a queer fish —(also: be a queer bird) be an eccentric or
odd person: He was a queer fish, but they were used to queer
fish, and they took him for granted.
be queer —
1
. = be a queer fish: Every woman who steps for-
ward to claim her rights faces the allegation that she is queer.
2. be a homosexual: I always thought he was queer. His room-
mate was gay and you just couldn’t pull them away from each
other.
be a sight for sore eyes • be a sight to behold
be a sight for sore eyes —said of a person or thing one is
pleased or happy to see: MacLaine is quite a sight for sore
eyes when she shows up in the movie.