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

engaged to someone • engaged with someone
engaged to someone —bound by a promise of marriage to a
person: Mary was engaged to Jim for three months before their
wedding.
engaged with someone —
1
. having one’s time occupied by a
person: You cannot see Mr. Brown just now, as he is engaged
with a visitor. 2. involved in hostilities with enemy troops:
They could scarcely have reached the camp before they found
themselves engaged with the enemy.
enlarge into something • enlarge on something
enlarge into something —expand into smth. bigger: His first
publication was a pamphlet, which was afterwards enlarged
into a book.
enlarge on something —add detail to smth.; say or write more
about smth.: He enlarged on the importance of exercising
memory as a habit.
enough to make a cat laugh • enough to make a
cat speak
enough to make a cat laugh —said of smth. utterly ridiculous:
The idea of a chap like that writing a book: it’s enough to
make a cat laugh.
enough to make a cat speak —said of smth. very extraordinary
or exceptional: I don’t know if this article is “enough to make
a cat speak,” but you should read it.
enter a religious order • take holy orders
enter a religious order —become a member of a religious
order; adopt a monastic life: She entered the religious Order
of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart and adopted the name Sister
Ignatius of Jesus.
take holy orders —(also: take orders) become a priest in the
Anglican Church: Although monks are not necessarily cler-
gymen, many of the body in this country took holy orders.
enter for something • enter upon something
enter for something —join for participation in a contest or
competition: They entered for the national championship but
were not good enough.
enter upon something —
1
. make a start on an activity: As
soon as we entered upon the task we realized it was going to
be difficult. 2. take up a position; assume duties: He enters
upon his new appointment at the beginning of June. 3. take
possession of smth.: She expects to enter upon her inheritance
sometime next year.