Adam Makkai - Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[in time] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. Soon enough. •/ We got to Washington in time for the cherry blossoms. / •/ We got to the station just in time to catch the bus. / •/ John liked to get to work in good time and talk. to the man who worked on his machine before him. / 2. In the end; after a while; finally. •/ Fred and Jim did not like each other at first, but in time they became friends. / 3. In the right rhythm; in step. •/ The marchers kept in time with the band. / •/ Johnny didn’t play his piano piece in time. /

[into account]See: TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.

[into a nose dive]See: oo INTO A TAIL SPIN or GO INTO A NOSE DIVE.

[into a tail spin]See: GO INTO A TAIL SPIN.

[into commission]See: IN COMMISSION.

[into effect] {adv. phr.} Into use or operation. •/ The new rule was put into effect at once. / •/ The judge ordered the old suspended penalty into effect. /

[into hot water]See: HOT WATER.

[into line] {adv. phr.} 1. Into agreement. •/ The department’s spending was brought into line with the budget. / 2. Under control. •/ Independent congressmen were brought into line by warnings that jobs for their friends would be kept back. / •/ The players who had broken training rules fell into line when the coach warned them that they would he put off the team. /

[into one’s blood]See: IN ONE’S BLOOD.

[into one’s head]See: BEAT INTO ONE’S HEAD, TAKE INTO ONE’S HEAD.

[into one’s own]See: COME INTO ONE’S OWN.

[into one’s own hands]See: TAKE THE LAW INTO ONE’S OWN HANDS.

[into one’s shell]See: IN ONE’S SHELL.

[into one’s shoes]See: STEP INTO ONE’S SHOES.

[into practice]See: IN PRACTICE.

[into question] {adv. phr.} Into doubt or argument. — Usually used with "call", "bring" or "come". •/ This soldier’s courage has never been called into question. / •/ If a boy steals, his parents' teaching comes into question. /

[into the bargain]See: IN THE BARGAIN.

[into the fire]See: OUT OP THE FRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE.

[into the ground]See: RUN INTO THE GROUND.

[into the hands of]See: PLAY INTO THE HANDS OF.

[into thin air] {adv. phr.} Without anything left; completely. •/ When Bob returned to the room, he was surprised to find that his books had vanished into thin air. / Compare: OUT OF THIN AIR.

[in toto] {adv. phr.} As a whole; in its entirety; totally; altogether. •/ The store refused the advertising agency’s suggestion in toto. / •/ They bought the newspaper business in toto. / •/ The paving job was accepted in toto. / (Latin, meaning "in the whole.")

[in touch] {adj. phr.} Talking or writing to each other; giving and getting news. •/ John kept in touch with his school friends during the summer. / •/ Police anywhere in the U.S. can get in touch instantly with any other police department by teletype. / •/ The man claimed to be in touch with people on another planet. / Compare: KEEP TRACK. Contrast: OUT OF TOUCH.

[in tow] {adj. phr.} 1. Being pulled. •/ The tugboat had the large ocean liner in tow as they came into the harbor. / •/ An engine came with a long string of cars in tow. / 2. Being taken from place to place; along with someone. •/ Janet took the new girl in tow and showed her where to go. / •/ Mrs. Hayes went to the supermarket with her four little children in tow. /

[in trust] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} In safe care for another. •/ The money was held by the hank in trust for the widow. / •/ At his death Mr. Brown left a large sum in trust for his son until he was twenty-five. /

[in tune] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. At the proper musical pitch; high or low enough in sound. •/ The piano is in tune. / 2. Going well together; in agreement; matching; agreeable. — Often used with "with". •/ In his new job, John felt in tune with his surroundings and his associates. / Contrast: OUT OF TUNE.

[in turn] {adv. phr.} According to a settled order; each following another. •/ Each man in turn got up and spoke. / •/ Two teachers supervised the lunch hour in turn. / •/ Two of the three boys tease their younger brother — John, the biggest, teases Bob, the middle boy; and Bob in turn teases Tim, the youngest. / Compare: IN ORDER.

[in two] {adv. phr.} Into two parts or pieces; into two divisions. •/ John and Mary pulled on the wishbone until it came in two. / •/ There was only one piece of cake, but we cut it in two. / Syn.: IN HALF.

[in two shakes of a lamb’s tail] {adv.} , {informal} Quickly; in no time at all. •/ I’ll be back in two shakes of a lamb’s tail. /

[in --- up to the]See: UP TO THE --- IN.

[in vain] {adv. phr.} 1. Without effect; without getting the desired result; without success. •/ The drowning man called in vain for help. / •/ To cry over spilled milk is to cry in vain. / Compare: GO FOR NOTHING, NO USE. 2. See: TAKE ONE’S NAME IN VAIN.

[in view] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. In sight; visible. •/ We came around a bend and there was the ocean in view. / 2. As a purpose, hope, or expectation. •/ John had his son’s education in view when he began to save money. / •/ The end that we must keep always in view is peace with justice. / Compare: EYE TO.

[in view of] {prep.} After thinking about; because of. •/ Schools were closed for the day in view of the heavy snowstorm. / •/ In view of rising labor costs, many companies have turned to automation. / Syn.: IN THE LIGHT OF.

[in virtue of]See: BY VIRTUE OF.

[in wait]See: LIE IN WAIT.

[in with] {prep.} In friendship, favor, or closeness with; in the trust or liking of. •/ We trusted on Byrd’s being in with the mayor, not knowing that the mayor no longer liked him. / •/ It took the new family some time to get in with their neighbors. /

[I.O.U.] {adj. phr.} I owe you, abbreviated; a promissory note. •/ I had to borrow some money from John and, in order to remind both of us, I wrote him an I.O.U. note for $250. /

[Irish]See: GET ONE’S DANDER UP or GET ONE’S IRISH UP.

[iron horse] {n.} , {informal} A railroad locomotive; the engine of a railroad train. •/ In its first days, the iron horse frightened many people as it roared across country scattering sparks. /

[iron in the fire] {n. phr.} Something you are doing; one of the projects with which a person is busy; job, •/ John had a number of irons in the fire, and he managed to keep all of them hot. / — Usually used in the phrase "too many irons in the fire". •/ "Ed has a dozen things going all the time, but none of them seem to work out." "No wonder. He has too many irons in the fire." /

[iron out] {v.} , {informal} To discuss and reach an agreement about (a difference); find a solution for (a problem); remove (a difficulty). •/ The company and its workers ironed out their differences over hours and pay. / •/ The House and Senate ironed out the differences between their two different tax bills. / Compare: MAKE UP(5).

[is]See: SUCH AS IT IS, THAT IS.

[island]See: SAFETY ISLAND.

[issue]See: AT ISSUE, TAKE ISSUE.

[is that so] {informal} 1. Oh, indeed? That’s interesting. — Used in simple acceptance or reply. •/ "The Republicans have pulled a trick at city hall." "Is that so?" / 2. Surely not? — Used in disbelief or sarcasm. •/ "The moon is made of green cheese." "Is that so?" / •/ "I’m going to take your girlfriend to the dance," said Bob. "Oh, is that so!" said Dick. "Try it and you’ll be sorry." /

[itching palm] {n.} , {slang} A wish for money; greed. •/ He was born with an itching palm. / •/ The bellboys in that hotel seem always to have itching palms. /

[I tell you]See: I’LL SAY.

[I tell you what]See: I’LL TELL YOU WHAT.

[item]See: COLLECTOR’S ITEM, CONSUMER ITEMS.

[it figures] {informal sentence} It checks out; it makes sense; it adds up. •/ It figures that Bob got the highest raise at our firm; he is the most productive salesman. /

[it is an ill wind that blows nobody good]No matter how bad a happening is, someone can usually gain something from it. — A proverb. •/ When Fred got hurt in the game John got a chance to play. It’s an ill wind that blows nobody good. /

[it never rains but it pours]One good thing or bad thing is often followed by others of the same kind. — A proverb, •/ John got sick, then his brothers and sisters all got sick. It never rains but it pours. /

[it’s a cinch] {informal sentence} It is very easy. •/ "What about the final exam?" Fred asked. "It was a cinch" Sam answered. / Compare: PIECE OF CAKE.

[it’s a deal] {informal sentence} Consider it done; OK; it is agreed. •/ "How much for this used car?" Bill asked. "Two thousand," the man answered. "I’ll give $1,500," Bill said. "It’s a deal!" the owner answered as they sealed the transaction. /

[it’s been ---, it’s been real] {informal} Shortened form for "it has been real nice (being with you)" — used colloquially between very close friends.

[itself]See: END IN ITSELF.

[it’s high time] {informal sentence} It is overdue. •/ It is high time for John Browning to be promoted to full professor; he has written a great deal but his books went unnoticed. /

[Ivy League] {n.} A small group of the older and more famous eastern U.S. colleges and universities. •/ Several Ivy League teams play each other regularly each year. / •/ Harvard, Yale, and Princeton were the original Ivy League. /

[Jack]See: ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY.

[jack]See: EVERY LAST MAN also EVERY MAN JACK.

[jack of all trades] {n.} , {informal} (Often followed by the words "master of none.") A person who is knowledgeable in many areas. Can be used as praise, or as a derogatory remark depending on the context and the intonation. •/ Peter is a jack of all trades; he can survive anywhere! / •/ "How come Joe did such a sloppy job?" Mary asked. "He’s a jack of all trades," Sally answered. /