Adam Makkai - Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[in so many words] {adv. phr.} 1. In those exact words. •/ He hinted that he thought we were foolish but did not say so in so many words. / 2. or [in no uncertain terms]In an outspoken way; plainly; directly. •/ I told him in so many words that he was crazy. / •/ Bob was very late for their date, and Mary told Bob in no uncertain terms what she thought of him. / Compare: WORDS OF ONE SYLLABLE.

[in someone else’s shoes]See: IN ONE’S SHOES.

[insomuch as]See: INASMUCH AS.

[in spite of] {prep. phr.} Against the influence or effect of; in opposition to; defying the effect of; despite. •/ In spite of the bad storm John delivered his papers on time. / •/ In spite of all their differences, Joan and Ann remain friends. /

[instance]See: FOR EXAMPLE or FOR INSTANCE.

[in state]See: LIE IN STATE.

[instead of]or [in place of]also {formal} [in lieu of] {prep.} In the place of; in substitution for; in preference to; rather than. •/ I wore mittens instead of gloves. / •/ The grown-ups had coffee but the children wanted milk in place of coffee. / •/ The boys went fishing instead of going to school. / •/ The Vice-President talked at the meeting in place of the President, because the President was sick. / •/ The magician appeared on the program in lieu of a singer. / Compare: IN PERSON.

[in step] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. With the left or right foot stepping at the same time as another’s or to the beat of music; in matching strides with another person or persons. •/ The long line of soldiers marched all in step: Left, right! Left, right! / •/ Johnny marched behind the band in step to the music. / 2. In agreement; abreast. — Often followed by "with". •/ Mary wanted to stay in step with her friends and have a doll too. / Contrast: OUT OF STEP.

[in stitches] {adj. phr.} , {informal} Laughing so hard that the sides ache; in a fit of laughing hard. •/ The comedian was so funny that he had everyone who was watching him in stitches. /

[in stock] {adj. phr.} Having something ready to sell dr use; in present possession or supply; to be sold. •/ The store had no more red shoes in stock, so Mary chose brown ones instead. / Compare: IN STORE, ON HAND. Contrast: OUT OF STOCK.

[in store] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} 1. Saved up in case of need; ready for use or for some purpose. •/ If the electricity goes off, we have candles in store in the closet. / •/ The squirrel has plenty of nuts in store for the winter. / Compare: IN RESERVE, IN STOCK, ON HAND. 2. Ready to happen; waiting. — Often used in the phrase "hold in store" or "have in store". •/ What does the future hold in store for the boy who ran away? / •/ There is a surprise in store for Helen when she gets home. /

[in stride]See: TAKE IN STRIDE.

[in substance] {adv. phr.} In important facts; in the main or basic parts; basically; really. •/ In substance the weather report said that it will be a nice day tomorrow. / •/ The two cars are the same in substance, except one is red and the other is red and white. /

[insult]See: ADD INSULT TO INJURY.

[intent]See: TO ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES.

[in terms of] {prep.} 1. In the matter of; on the subject of; especially about; about. •/ He spoke about books in terms of their publication. / •/ What have you done in terms affixing the house? / •/ The children ate a great many hot dogs at the party. In terms of money, they ate $20 worth. / 2. As to the amount or number of. •/ We swam a great distance. In terms of miles, it was three. /

[in that] {conj.} For the reason that; because. •/ I like the city, but I like the country better in that I have more friends in the country. /

[in the air] {adv. phr.} 1. In everyone’s thoughts. •/ Christmas was in the air for weeks before. / •/ The war filled people’s thoughts every day; it was in the air. / Compare: IN THE WIND. 2. Meeting the bodily senses; surrounding you so as to be smelled or felt. •/ Spring is in the air. / •/ Rain is in the air. / 3. See: LEAVE HANGING, UP IN THE AIR.

[in the back]See: STAB IN THE BACK.

[in the bag] {adj. phr.} , {informal} Sure to be won or gotten; certain. •/ Jones had the election in the bag after the shameful news about his opponent came out. / •/ We thought we had the game in the bag. / Compare: SEWED UP.

[in the balance]See: HANG IN THE BALANCE.

[in the bargain]or [into the bargain] {adv. phr.} In addition; besides; also. •/ Frank is a teacher, and an artist into the bargain. / •/ The heat failed, and then the roof began to leak in the bargain. / Compare: TO BOOT, FOR GOOD MEASURE.

[in the black] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} , {informal} In a successful or profitable way; so as to make money. •/ The big store was running in the black. / •/ A business must stay in the black to keep on. / Contrast: IN THE RED.

[in the blood]See: RUN IN THE BLOOD or RUN IN THE FAMILY.

[in the bud]See: NIP IN THE BUD.

[in the can] {adj.} , {slang} , {movie jargon} Ready; finished; completed; about to be duplicated and distributed to exhibitors. •/ No sneak previews until it’s all in the can! / •/ Once my book’s in the can, I’ll go for a vacation. /

[in the cards]also [on the cards] {adj. phr.} , {informal} To be expected; likely to happen; foreseeable; predictable. •/ It was in the cards for the son to succeed his father as head of the business. / •/ John finally decided that it wasn’t in the cards for him to succeed with that company. /

[in the charge of]See: IN CHARGE OF(2).

[in the chips] {slang} or {informal} [in the money] {adj. phr.} Having plenty of money; prosperous; rich. •/ After his rich uncle died, Richard was in the chips. / •/ After years of struggle and dependence, air transportation is in the money. / Compare: ON EASY STREET, WELL-TO-DO.

[in the circumstances]See: UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

[in the clear] {adj. phr.} 1. Free of anything that makes moving or seeing difficult; with nothing to limit action. •/ The plane climbed above the clouds and was flying in the clear. / •/ Jack passed the ball to Tim, who was in the clear and ran for a touchdown. / 2. {informal} Free of blame or suspicion; not thought to be guilty. •/ After John told the principal that he broke the window, Martin was in the clear. / •/ Steve was the last to leave the locker room, and the boys suspected him of stealing Tom’s watch, but the coach found the watch and put Steve in the clear. / 3. Free of debt; not owing money to anyone. •/ Bob borrowed a thousand dollars from his father to start his business, but at the end of the first year he was in the clear. / Syn.: IN THE BLACK.

[in the clouds] {adj. phr.} Far from real life; in dreams; in fancy; in thought. •/ When Alice agreed to marry Jim, Jim went home in the clouds. / — Often used with "head", "mind", "thoughts". •/ Mary is looking out the window, not at the chalkboard; her head is in the clouds again. / •/ A good teacher should have his head in the clouds sometimes, but his feet always on the ground. / Contrast: COME BACK TO EARTH, FEET ON THE GROUND.

[in the clover]See: IN CLOVER.

[in the cold]See: OUT IN THE COLD.

[in the cold light of day] {adv. phr.} After sleeping on it; after giving it more thought; using common sense and looking at the matter unemotionally and realistically. •/ Lost night my ideas seemed terrific, but in the cold light of day I realize that they won’t work. /

[in the dark] {adj. phr.} 1. In ignorance; without information. •/ John was in the dark about the job he was being sent to. / •/ If the government controls the news, it can keep people in the dark on any topic it chooses. / •/ Mary had a letter from Sue yesterday, but she was left in the dark about Sue’s plans to visit her. / Contrast: IN THE KNOW. See: WHISTLE IN THE DARK.

[in the doghouse] {adj. phr.} , {slang} In disgrace or disfavor. •/ Our neighbor got in the doghouse with his wife by coming home drunk. / •/ Jerry is in the doghouse because he dropped the ball, and the other team won because of that. / Compare: DOWN ON.

[in the door]See: FOOT IN THE DOOR.

[in the driver’s seat] {adv. phr.} In control; having the power to make decisions. •/ Stan is in the driver’s seat now that he has been made our supervisor at the factory. /

[in the dumps]See: DOWN IN THE DUMPS.

[in the event]See: IN CASE(1).

[in the event of]See: IN CASE OF.

[in the eye]See: LOOK IN THE EYE.

[in the face]See: BLUE IN THE FACE, LOOK IN THE EYE or LOOK IN THE FACE, SLAP IN THE FACE, STARE IN THE FACE.

[in the face of] {adv. phr.} 1. When met or in the presence of; threatened by. •/ He was brave in the face of danger. / •/ She began to cry in the face of failure. / 2. Although opposed by; without being stopped by. •/ Talking continued even in the face of the teacher’s command to stop. / Syn.: IN SPITE OF. Compare: FLY IN THE FACE OF, IN ONE’S FACE. 3. See: FLY IN THE PACE OF.

[in the family]See: RUN IN THE BLOOD or RUN IN THE FAMILY.

[in the first place] {adv. phr.} 1. Before now; in the beginning; first. •/ You already ate breakfast! Why didn’t you tell me that in the first place instead of saying you didn’t want to eat? / •/ Carl patched his old football but it soon leaked again. He should have bought a new one in the first place. / 2. See: IN THE PLACE.

[in the flesh]See: IN PERSON.

[in the groove] {adj. phr.} , {slang} Doing something very well; near perfection; at your best. •/ The band was right in the groove that night. / •/ It was an exciting football game; every player was really in the groove. /

[in the hole] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} , {informal} 1a. Having a score lower than zero in a game, especially a card game; to a score below zero. •/ John went three points in the hole on the first hand of the card game. / 1b. Behind an opponent; in difficulty in a sport or game. •/ We had their pitcher in the hole with the bases full and no one out. / Compare: ON THE SPOT. 2. In debt; behind financially. •/ John went in the hole with his hot dog stand. / •/ It’s a lot easier to get in the hole than to get out again. / Compare: IN A HOLE, IN THE RED. Contrast: OUT OF THE HOLE.