English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
IN, not ON
I’ve been ~on~ the queue for some hours (nonstandard).
I’ve been *in* the queue for some hours (standard).
The government has to nip corruption ~on~ the bud (nonstandard).
The government has to nip corruption *in* the bud (standard).
If you nip something such as bad behaviour in the bud, you stop it before it can develop very far.
As you lay your bed so you lie ~on~ it (nonstandard).
You’ve made your bed now lie *in* it (standard).
If you say that someone has made their bed and must lie in it, you mean that since they have chosen to do a particular thing, they must now accept the unpleasant results of their action.
GAB
