Adam Makkai - Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[in the know] {adj. phr.} , {informal} Knowing about things that most people do not know about; knowing secrets or understanding a special subject. •/ Tina helped Professor Smith make some of the exam questions, and she felt important to be in the know. / •/ In a print shop, Mr. Harvey is in the know, but in a kitchen he can’t even cook an egg. / Compare: GET WISE. Contrast: IN THE DARK.

[in the lap of luxury] {adv. phr.} Well supplied with luxuries; having most things that money can buy. •/ Mike grew up in the lap of luxury. / Compare: ON EASY STREET, WELL-TO-DO.

[in the lap of the gods]also [on the knees of the gods] {adv. phr.} , {literary} Beyond human control; not to be decided by anyone. •/ Frank had worked hard as a candidate, and as election day came he felt that the result was in the lap of the gods. / •/ The armies were evenly matched and the result of the battle seemed to be on the knees of the gods. /

[in the least] {adv. phr.} Even a little; in any degree or amount. — Used in negative, interrogative, and conditional sentences. •/ Sue did not understand physics in the least. / •/ Are you in the least interested in sewing? / •/ Mother won’t be upset if you come for supper; I’ll be surprised if she cares in the least. / •/ Mike was not upset in the least by the storm. / •/ It is no trouble to help you. Not in the least. / Compare: AT ALL.

[in the line of duty] {adj. phr.} Done or happening as part of a job. •/ The policeman was shot in the line of duty. / •/ The soldier had to clean his rifle in the line of duty. /

[in the long run] {adv. phr.} In the end; in the final result. •/ John knew that lie could make a success of the little weekly paper in the long run. / •/ You may make good grades by studying only before examinations, but you will succeed in the long run only by studying hard every day. /

[in the lurch]See: LEAVE IN THE LURCH.

[in the main] {adv. phr.} , {formal} In most cases; generally; usually. •/ In the main, small boys and dogs are good friends. / •/ In the main, the pupils did well on the test. /

[in the market for] {adj. phr.} Wishing to buy; ready to buy. •/ Mr. Jones is in the market for a new car. / •/ People are always in the market for entertainment. /

[in the middle] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} In between two sides of an argument; caught between two dangers. •/ Mary found herself in the middle of the quarrel between Joyce and Ethel. / •/ John promised Tom to go fishing, but his father wanted him to help at home. John was in the middle. /

[in the middle of nowhere] {adv. phr.} In a deserted, faraway place. •/ When my car stopped on the highway in the middle of nowhere, it took forever to get help. /

[in the money]See: IN THE CHIPS.

[in the mood (for)] {adj. phr.} 1. Interested in doing something. •/ Sorry, I’m just not in the mood for a heavy dinner tonight. / 2. Feeling sexy. •/ I am sorry, darling, I am just not in the mood tonight. /

[in the mouth]See: LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH.

[in the neck]See: CATCH IT IN THE NECK or GET IT IN THE NECK.

[in the nick of time] {adv. phr.} Just at the right time; barely soon enough; almost too late. •/ The doctor arrived in the nick of time to save the child from choking to death. / •/ Joe saw the other car in the nick of time. / Compare: IN TIME.

[in the pink]or [in the pink of condition] {adj. phr.} , {informal} In excellent health; strong and well; in fine shape. •/ Mr. Merrick had aged well; he was one of those old men who always seem in the pink of condition. / •/ After a practice and a rubdown, Joe felt in the pink. /

[in the --- place] {adv. phr.} As the (first or second or third, etc.) thing in order or importance; first, second, or third, etc. — Used with "first", "second", "third", and other ordinal numbers. •/ No, you cannot go swimming. In the first place, the water is too cold; and, in the second place, there is not time enough before dinner. / •/ Stealing is wrong, in the first place, because it hurts others, and, in the second place, because it hurts you. / Compare: FOR ONE THING.

[in the prime of life] {adv. phr.} At the peak of one’s creative abilities; during the most productive years. •/ Poor John lost his job due to restructuring when he was in the prime of his life. /

[in the public eye] {adj. phr.} Widely known; often seen in public activity; much in the news. •/ The senator’s activity kept him in the public eye. / •/ A big league ballplayer is naturally much in the public eye. /

[in the raw] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} 1. In the simplest or most natural way; with no frills. •/ Henry enjoyed going into the woods and living life in the raw. / 2. {informal} Without any clothing; naked. •/ In the summer the boys slept in the raw. /

[in the red] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} , {informal} In an unprofitable way; so as to lose money. •/ A large number of American radio stations operate in the red. / •/ A rich man who has a farm or ranch often runs it in the red, but makes his money with his factory or business. / Contrast: IN THE BLACK. (From the fact that people who keep business records usually write in red ink how much money they lose and in black ink how much money they gain.)

[in the right] {adj. phr.} With moral or legal right or truth on your side; in agreement with justice, truth, or fact; correct. •/ When the cars collided, John was clearly in the right. / •/ In going before his wife down the stairs, Mr. Franklin was in the right. / •/ In many disputes, it is hard to say who is in the right. / Contrast: IN THE WRONG.

[in the rough]See: DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH.

[in the running] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} Having a chance to win; not to be counted out; among those who might win. •/ At the beginning of the last lap of the race, only two horses were still in the running. / •/ A month before Joyce married Hal, three of Joyce’s boyfriends seemed to be still in the running. / •/ Al was in the running for the trophy until the last hole of the golf tournament. / Contrast: OUT OF THE RUNNING.

[in the saddle]adv. or {adj. phr.} In command; in control; in a position to order or boss others. •/ Mr. Park was in the saddle when he had over half the company’s stock. / •/ Getting appointed chief of police put Stevens in the saddle. /

[in the same boat] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} In the same trouble; in the same fix; in the same bad situation. •/ When the town’s one factory closed and hundreds of people lost their jobs, all the storekeepers were in the same boat. / •/ Dick was disappointed when Fern refused to marry him, but he knew others were in the same boat. /

[in the same breath] {adv. phr.} 1. At the same time; without waiting. •/ John would complain about hard times, and in the same breath boast of his prize-winning horses. / •/ Jane said Bill was selfish, but in the same breath she said she was sorry to see him leave. / 2. In the same class; in as high a group. — Usually used in the negative with "mention", "speak", or "talk". •/ Mary is a good swimmer, but she should not be mentioned in the same breath with Joan. /

[in the same place]See: LIGHTNING NEVER STRIKES TWICE IN THE SAME PLACE.

[in the sand]See: HIDE ONE’S HEAD IN THE SAND.

[in the second place]See: IN THE --- PLACE.

[in the short run] {adv. phr.} In the immediate future. •/ We are leasing a car in the short run; later we might buy one. / Contrast: IN THE LONG RUN.

[in the soup] {adj. phr.} , {slang} In serious trouble; in confusion; in disorder. •/ When his wife overdrew their bank account without telling him, Mr. Phillips suddenly found himself really in the soup. / •/ The police misunderstood Harry’s night errand, and arrested him, which put him in the soup with the boss. /

[in the spotlight] {adv. phr.} In the center of attention, with everybody watching what one is doing. •/ It must be difficult for the President to be in the spotlight wherever he goes. / Compare: IN THE LIMELIGHT.

[in the swim] {adj. phr.} Doing the same things that other people are doing; following the fashion (as in business or social affairs); busy with what most people are doing. •/ Jim found some college friends at the lake that summer, and soon was in the swim of things. / •/ Mary went to New York with introductions to writers and artists, and that winter she was quite in the swim. / Contrast: OUT OF THE SWIM.

[in the third place]See: IN THE --- PLACE.

[in the till]See: ROB THE TILL or HAVE ONE’S HAND IN THE TILL.

[in the twinkling of an eye]See: BEFORE ONE CAN SAY JACK ROBINSON.

[in the wake of] {prep.} , {literary} As a result of; right after; following. •/ Many troubles follow in the wake of war. / •/ There were heavy losses of property in the wake of the flood. /

[in the way]See: IN ONE’S WAY.

[in the way of]See: PUT IN THE WAY OF.

[in the wind] {adj. phr.} Seeming probable; being planned; soon to happen. •/ Changes in top management of the company had been in the wind for weeks. / •/ Tom’s close friends knew that marriage was in the wind. / Compare: IN THE AIR(1).

[in the works] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} In preparation; being planned or worked on; in progress. •/ John was told that the paving of his street was in the works. / •/ It was reported that the playwright had a new play in the works. / •/ The manager told the employees that a raise in wages was in the works. / Compare: UNDER WAY.

[in the world]or [on earth] {adv. phr.} , {informal} Of all possible things; ever. — Usually used for emphasis after words that ask questions, as "who", "why", "what", etc. •/ Where in the world did you find that necktie? / •/ The boys wondered how on earth the mouse got out of the cage. / •/ Betty could not understand what on earth the teacher meant. /

[in the wrong] {adj. phr.} With moral or legal right or truth against you; against justice, truth, or fact; wrong. •/ In attacking a smaller boy, Jack was plainly in the wrong. / •/ Mary was in the wrong to drink from a finger bowl. / •/ Since he had put pennies behind the fuses, Bill was in the wrong when fire broke out. / Compare: OUT OF THE WAY. Contrast: IN THE RIGHT.