confer (up)on (someone or something)
1. To discuss something with someone. We need to meet this afternoon and confer on the candidates we've interviewed so far. Your mother and I need to confer on this issue before we make a decision. Let me confer with Lisa and see if she can make sense of this invoice.
2. To bestow something, often a title or honor, on someone. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is often used between "confer" and "on," and "upon" can be used in place of "on." The queen will confer an official title upon him at the ceremony tonight. The guy saved 12 children from a fire—I'm not surprised the city conferred a medal on him. I mean, it's not every day that the president wants to confer an honor on you! Congratulations!
confer about (someone or something)
To discuss something with someone. We need to confer about the candidates we've interviewed so far—are you free this afternoon? Your mother and I need to confer about this issue before making a decision. Let me confer with Lisa and see if she can make sense of this invoice.
confer on (someone or something) with (one)
To discuss or consult with one about someone or something. I need to confer on the candidates we've interviewed so far with you—are you free this afternoon? I need to confer on this issue with your supervisor before making a decision. A: "Dad, come on!" B: "I'm sorry, honey, but I need to confer on this topic with your mother before I can give you an answer."
confer with (one)
To discuss or consult with one (about something). I need to confer with you on the candidates we've interviewed so far—are you free this afternoon? I wish you would confer with me before making such a big decision. Let me confer with Lisa and see if she can make sense of this invoice.
confer with (one) about (someone or something)
To meet with one in order to discuss someone or something. I need to confer with you about the candidates we've interviewed so far—are you free this afternoon? I need to confer with your mother about this issue before making a decision. I can't make sense of this invoice, so let me confer with Lisa about it.
confer with (one) on (someone or something)
To discuss or consult with one about someone or something. I need to confer with you on the candidates we've interviewed so far—are you free this afternoon? I need to confer with your supervisor on this issue before making a decision. I can't make sense of this invoice, so let me confer with Lisa on it.
confer with (someone)
To discuss something with someone. I need to confer with you on the candidates we've interviewed so far—are you free this afternoon? I need to confer with your mother on this issue before making a decision. Let me confer with Lisa and see if she can make sense of this invoice.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
confer on someone or something (with someone)
and confer (on someone or something) with someone; confer with someone (about someone or something); confer (with someone) about someone or somethingto discuss someone or something. Let us confer on this matter with the headmaster. I want to confer with you on how to handle the problem. I need to confer with you about Walter.
confer something (up)on someone
to grant something, such as an academic degree, to someone, usually in a ceremony. (Upon is more formal than on.) The university conferred an honorary degree upon her. They conferred degrees on 300 graduates this year.
confer with someone
(about someone or something) Go to confer on someone or something (with someone)
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.