engage

engage (one) as (something)

To hire someone for a particular role or job. I thought they were just going to engage me as a file clerk, but because they needed help with data entry, I wound up doing that instead. I'm sorry, this guy has no experience and they engaged him as a benefit coordinator? If he does good work, I'd be happy to engage him as my landscaper.

See also: engage

engage (one) in (something)

1. To do some task or activity. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is not typically used between "engage" and "in." Dad is engaged in fixing the car, so he can't talk right now. Hang on, I'm in engaged in ironing, and I don't want to burn myself! Ugh, I'm engaged in cleaning out the attic today—please come keep me company!

2. To include or involve one in something. Phil is always making snide comments, but I refuse to let him engage me in an argument. Although Dad tries to engage me in auto repairs, they're just not interesting to me. I'm sorry I didn't call you back—Jenny engaged me in some juicy gossip from school.

3. To occupy one with a task or activity. See if you can engage the kids in a game this afternoon so that I can get some work done. Don't worry, I'll engage the interns in filing or something. If we have a substitute teacher, they're just going to engage us in dumb busy work all day.

See also: engage

engage (someone) to (someone)

To betroth oneself or someone to someone else; to enter two people into an engagement to be married. I refuse to let my family engage me to a man I've never met before. I can't believe they've engaged Elizabeth to that awful man, simply because he will increase their family's status in this town. I refuse to engage our only daughter to a man she doesn't love!

See also: engage, to

engage in small talk

To chat with someone, usually a stranger or acquaintance, about benign topics (such as the weather or one's employment). Because Tom and Joe had never met before, they engaged in small talk by the appetizers. If you think that girl's pretty, go over and engage in small talk with her. I want to have deep conversations with people, not engage in small talk! That's so boring and superficial to me.

See also: engage, small, talk

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

engage in small talk

to talk only about minor matters rather than important matters or personal matters. All the people at the party were engaging in small talk. They chatted about the weather and otherwise engaged in small talk.

See also: engage, small, talk

engage someone as something

to hire someone to serve as something. Yes, I engaged her as a secretary just last month. Will you engage me as a general troubleshooter?

See also: engage

engage someone or something in something

 

1. . to make someone or a group busy doing something. She knew how to engage the boys in useful activity. The den mother engaged the scouts in a woodworking project.

2. to draw someone or something into something. The enemy sought to engage our troops in battle but failed. I tried to engage Gerald in conversation.

See also: engage

engage someone to someone

to betroth someone to someone. Her parents engaged her to the man she ended up marrying. She engaged herself to some guy she met at a singles bar.

See also: engage, to

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

engage in

v.

1. To participate in some activity: The soldiers engaged in combat. The law students engaged in a mock trial.

2. To involve or draw someone or something into some activity: I engaged the new student in conversation. I was engaged in deep thought when the fire alarm went off.

See also: engage

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.