something or someone
11mistake something for someone — mistake (someone/something) for (someone/something) to think that a person or thing is really someone or something else. The prison buildings could almost be mistaken for a college campus …
12pass along something to someone — pass along (something) (to (someone)) to give something to someone. Reporters passed along the information as they heard it. If you don t want the book, you can pass it along to someone who does. Usage notes: also said about something given to… …
13refer to something as someone — refer to (someone/something) as (someone/something) to call someone or something by a particular name. Some people referred to them as freedom fighters, but to me they were terrorists. The area south of 9th Street is referred to as the South… …
14lay something at someone's door — lay something at someone’s door phrase to say that someone is responsible for something bad that has happened Congressman Bain lays the cover up at the door of the armed forces. Thesaurus: to make a criticism or accusationsynonym Main entry: lay… …
15sic something on (someone) — sic (someone/something) on (someone) to cause someone or something to attack someone. I m gonna sic Uncle Steve on you kids if you don t behave. He tried to sic the agency on her to draw attention away from himself. Etymology: based on the… …
16throw open (something) to someone — throw open (something) to (someone/something) to make something available to someone or something. Ticket sales will be thrown open to the public next week. The artist threw open his studio to me and taught me to be a serious painter …
17bring something to someone's notice — bring something to someone’s notice british formal phrase to tell someone about something Their working conditions were only brought to public notice last year. I’ll bring the situation to his notice at the first opportunity. Thesaurus: to… …
18sic something on someone or something — sic (something) on (someone or something) : to order (an animal, such as a dog) to attack (someone or something) He sicced his dog on me. often used figuratively The company sicced their lawyers on me …
19pin (something) on (someone) — to blame someone for something, especially something they did not do. The police tried to pin the murder on the dead woman s husband …
20put (something) behind someone — put (something) behind (someone/something) to support someone or something. When America declared war, Ford put his factories behind the war effort, making huge numbers of planes, trucks, and boats in his factories. My father put his reputation… …
