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

intelligence agent • intelligent agent
intelligence agent—(also: secret agent) a person secretly
employed in espionage for a government: Those reports center
on a shadowy figure called Maurice Bishop — likely a pseudo-
nym — said to have been an intelligence agent.
intelligent agent—(Computers) a program that does things
for the user, such as filtering e-mail, etc.: IVOS (Intelligent
Voice Operating System) is an intelligent agent that allows
you to run your computer via voice commands.
interest in something • interest on something
interest in something —
1
. said of smth. with which a person
concerns himself because he enjoys it : As women develop
greater interest in sport, their own attitude to their bodies has
changed. 2. condition of wanting smth. to be done: What set
him apart from most other writers are his personal honesty
and courage, his passionate interest in carrying through his
ideas. 3. a legal share in the ownership of a business: Everyone
in town has interest in some businesses, and it is impossible
not to have dealings with business people.
interest on something —money charged or paid for the use of
monetary means: Most of your monthly payments will be used
to pay the interest on the loan.
interfere in someone’s affairs • interfere with
someone
interfere in someone’s affairs —meddle in the affairs of another
person (offering unsolicited advice, etc.): She knew how much
he hated it when she interfered in his affairs.
interfere with someone —(euph.) molest or assault a person
sexually: She had reason to suspect that Sandra had been
“interfered” with.
interfere in something • interfere with something
interfere in something —intervene in smth. which is not one’s
concern: They may interfere in elections by the use of corrupt
means to bribe or intimidate the electors.
interfere with something —
1
. meddle with smth., making
unauthorized changes, etc.: The dispatcher warned the
employee that he would be fired if he again interfered with
the dispatch system. 2. (of events, circumstances, etc.) hinder,
obstruct, or prevent smth.: The recent hurricane interfered
with our plans so we have rescheduled the trip for the coming
week.