Adam Makkai - Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[ill]See: IT’S AN ILL WIND THAT BLOWS NOBODY GOOD, TAKE ILL.

[ill at ease] {adj. phr.} Not feeling at ease or comfortable; anxious; worried; unhappy. •/ Donald had never been to a big party before and he was ill at ease. / •/ When Joe first went to dancing school, he was ill at ease, not knowing how to act. / Contrast: AT EASE(2).

[ill-favored] {adj.} Ugly; unprepossessing. •/ Oddly enough, the father had less trouble in marrying off his ill-favored daughter than her prettier sister. /

[ill-gotten gains] {n. phr.} Goods or money obtained in an illegal or immoral fashion. •/ The jailed criminal had plenty of time to think about his ill-gotten gains. /

[image]See: SPITTING IMAGE or SPIT AND IMAGE.

[impose on] {v.} To try to get more from (a person who is helping you) than he or she intended to give. •/ Don’t you think you are imposing on your neighbor when you use his telephone for half an hour? / •/ You may swim in the Allens' pool so long as you do not impose on them by bringing all your friends. / Compare: TAKE ADVANTAGE.

[improve on]or [improve upon] {v.} To make or get one that is better than (another). •/ Dick made good marks the first year, but he thought he could improve on them. / •/ Charles built a new model racer for the derby race, because he knew he could improve upon his old one. /

[I’m telling you] {informal} It is important to listen to what I am saying. •/ Marian is a smart girl but I’m telling you, she doesn’t always do what she promises. /

[in a bad frame of mind] {adv. phr.} In an unhappy mood. •/ Make sure the boss is not in a bad frame of mind when you ask him for a raise. / Contrast: IN A GOOD FRAME OF MIND.

[in a bad way] {adv. phr.} , {informal} In trouble or likely to have trouble. •/ If you have only those two girls to help you, you are in a bad way. / •/ Jerry has written only one sentence of his term paper that is due tomorrow, and he knows he is in a bad way. / •/ Mrs. Jones has cancer and is in a bad way. / •/ A new supermarket opened across the street, and the Peters' grocery business was soon in a bad way. /

[in a big way] {adv. phr.} , {informal} As fully as possible; with much ceremony. •/ Our family celebrates birthdays in a big way. / •/ John likes to entertain his dates in a big way. /

[in a bind]or [in a box] {adv. phr.} , {informal} Likely to have trouble whether you do one thing or another. •/ Sam is in a bind because if he carries home his aunt’s groceries, his teacher will be angry because he is late, and if he doesn’t, his aunt will complain. / Compare: BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, HORNS OF A DILEMMA.

[in a breeze]See: WIN IN A WALK or WIN IN A BREEZE.

[in absentia] {adv. phr.} , {formal} When the person is absent. — Used in graduation exercises when presenting diplomas to an absent student or during a court case. •/ On Commencement Day, Joe was sick in bed and the college gave him his bachelor’s degree in absentia. / (Latin, meaning "in absence.")

[in accordance with] {adv. phr.} In consonance with something; conforming to something. •/ Employees at this firm are expected to always behave in accordance with the rules. /

[in a circle]or [in circles] {adv. phr.} Without any progress; without getting anywhere; uselessly. •/ The committee debated for two hours, just talking in circles. / •/ If you don’t have a clear aim, you can work a long time and still be going in circles. / •/ He seemed to be working hard, but was just running around in circles. /

[in addition] {adv. phr.} As something extra; besides. •/ We saw a Mickey Mouse cartoon in addition to the cowboy movie. / •/ Aunt Mary gave us sandwiches for our picnic and a bag of cookies in addition. / •/ He has two cars and in addition a motorboat. /

[in advance]or [in advance of] {adv. phr.} 1. In front; ahead (of the others); first. •/ In the parade, the band will march in advance of the football team. / •/ The soldiers rode out of the fort with the scouts in advance. / 2. Before doing or getting something. •/ The motel man told Mr. Williams he would have to pay in advance. / •/ The paperhanger mixed his paste quite a while in advance so it would have time to cool. / •/ It will be easier to decorate the snack bar if we cut the streamers in advance of the actual decorating. /

[in a family way]or [in the family way] {adj. phr.} , {informal} Going to have a baby. •/ Sue and Liz are happy because their mother is in the family way. / •/ The Ferguson children are promising kittens to everyone because their cat is in a family way. / Compare: WITH CHILD.

[in a fix] {adv. phr.} In trouble. •/ Last night Jack wrecked his car and now he is in a fix. / Compare: IN A JAM, IN A PICKLE.

[in a flash]also [in a trice] {adv. phr.} Very suddenly. •/ We were watching the bird eat the crumbs; then I sneezed, and he was gone in a flash. / •/ Bob was looking over his notes for English class and in a flash he knew what he would write his paper about. /

[in a flutter] {adv. phr.} , {informal} In a state of nervous excitement. •/ Whenever Norm and Cathy are near one another, both are in a flutter; they must be in love. /

[in a fog]or [in a haze] {adv. phr.} Mentally confused; not sure what is happening. •/ I didn’t vote for Alice because she always seems to be in a fog. / •/ I was so upset that for two days I went around in a haze, not even answering when people spoke to me. / Contrast: ALL THERE, HIT ON ALL CYLINDERS.

[in a good frame of mind] {adv. phr.} In a happy mood. •/ After a relaxing holiday in the Bahamas, the boss was in a very good frame of mind. / Contrast: IN A BAD FRAME OF MIND.

[in a hole]or [in a spot] {adj. phr.} , {informal} In an embarrassing or difficult position; in some trouble. •/ When the restaurant cook left at the beginning of the busy season, it put the restaurant owner in a hole. / Compare: BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL, IN THE HOLE.

[in a huff] {adv. phr.} , {informal} Angrily. •/ Ellen went off in a huff because she didn’t get elected class president. /

[in a jam] {adv. phr.} , {informal} In a predicament; in a situation fraught with difficulty. •/ If you continue to disregard the university instructions on how to take a test, you’ll wind up in a jam with the head of the department. / Compare: IN A PICKLE, IN DEEP SHIT.

[in a jiffy] {adv. phr.} , {informal} Immediately; right away; in a moment. •/ Wait for me; I’ll be back in a jiffy. /

[in a kind of way]See: IN A WAY(1).

[in a lather] {adj.} , {slang} In great excitement; all worked up; extremely agitated. •/ I couldn’t get across to Joe, he was all in a lather. /

[in all] {adv. phr.} 1. All being counted; altogether. •/ You have four apples and I have three bananas, making seven pieces of fruit in all. / •/ In all we did very well. / 2. See: ALL IN ALL(2).

[in and out] {adv. phr.} 1. Coming in and going out often. •/ He was very busy Saturday and was in and out all day. / 2. See: INSIDE OUT(2).

[in another’s place]See: PUT ONESELF IN ANOTHER’S PLACE.

[in a nutshell] {adv. phr.} , {informal} In a few words; briefly, without telling all about it. •/ We are in a hurry, so I’ll give you the story in a nutshell. / •/ In a nutshell, the car is no bargain. / Compare: IN SHORT.

[in any case]also [in any event]or [at all events] {adv. phr.} 1. No matter what happens: surely; without fail; certainly; anyhow; anyway. •/ It may rain tomorrow, but we are going home in any case. / •/ I may not go to Europe, but in any event, I will visit you during the summer. / 2. Regardless of anything else; whatever else may be true; anyhow; anyway. •/ Tom was not handsome and he was not brilliant, but at all events he worked hard and was loyal to his boss. / •/ I don’t know if it is a white house or a brown house. At all events, it is a big house on Main Street. / Compare: AT ANY RATE, AT LEAST(2).

[in any event]See: IN ANY CASE.

[in a pickle] {adv. phr.} , {informal} In a quandary; in a difficult situation. •/ I was certainly in a pickle when my front tire blew out. /

[in a pig’s eye] {adv.} , {slang} , [informal]Hardly; unlikely; not so. •/ Would I marry him? In a pig’s eye. /

[in a pinch] {adv. phr.} , {informal} In an emergency. •/ Dave is a good friend who will always help out in a pinch. /

[in arms] {adv. phr.} Having guns and being ready to fight; armed. •/ When our country is at war, we have many men in arms. / Syn.: UP IN ARMS!

[in a row]See: GET ONE’S DUCKS IN A ROW.

[in arrears] {adv. phr.} Late or behind in payment of money or in finishing something. — Usually used of a legal debt or formal obligation. •/ Poor Mr. Brown! He is in arrears on his rent. / •/ He is in arrears on the story he promised to write for the magazine. /

[in a sense] {adv. phr.} In some ways but not in all; somewhat. •/ Mr. Smith said our school is the best in the state, and in a sense that is true. / •/ In a sense, arithmetic is a language. /

[inasmuch as] {conj.} 1. See: INSOFAR AS. 2. also [for as much as] {formal} Because; for the reason that; since. •/ Inasmuch as this is your team, you have the right to choose your own captain. / •/ Inasmuch as the waves are high, I shall not go out in the boat. /

[in a sort of way]See: IN A WAY(1).

[in a spot]See: ON THE SPOT(2).

[in a trice]See: IN A FLASH.

[in at the kill] {adj. phr.} , {informal} Watching or taking part, usually with pleasure, at the end of a struggle; present at the finish. •/ Frank and John have been quarreling for a long time and tonight they are having a fight. Bill says he wants to be in at the kill, because he is Frank’s friend. /