Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)
Шрифт:
[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./
[in a walk] See: WIN IN A WALK.
[in a way] <adv. phr.> 1. also <informal> [in a kind of way] or <informal> [in a sort of way] To a certain extent; a little; somewhat. * /I like Jane in a way, but she is very proud./ Compare: AFTER A FASHION, MORE OR LESS. 2. In one thing. * /In a way, this book is easier: it is much shorter./
[in awe of] See: STAND IN AWE OF.
[in a while] See: AFTER A WHILE, EVERY NOW AND THEN or EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.
[in a whole skin] See: WITH A WHOLE SKIN.
[in a word] See: IN BRIEF.
[in a world of one's own] or [in a world by oneself] 1. In the place where you belong; in your own personal surroundings; apart from other people. * /They are in a little world of their own in their house on the mountain./ 2a. In deep thought or concentration. * /Mary is in a world of her own when she is playing the piano./ Compare: LOSE ONESELF. 2b. <slang> Not caring about or connected with other people in thoughts or actions.
– Usually used sarcastically. * /That boy is in a world all by himself. He never knows what is happening around him./
[in a zone] <adv.>, <slang>, <informal> In a daze; in a daydream; in a state of being unable to concentrate. * /Professor Smith puts everyone in a zone./
[in back of] See: BACK OF.
[in bad] <adv. phr.>, <substandard> Out of favor; unpopular; in difficulty; in trouble. * /No, I can't go swimming today. Father told me to stay home, and I don't want to get in bad./ - Usually used with "with". * /Mary is in bad with the teacher for cheating on the test./ * /The boy is in bad with the police for breaking windows./ Contrast: IN GOOD, IN ONE'S FAVOR.
[in bad form] <adv. phr.> Violating social custom or accepted behavior. * /When Bob went to the opera in blue jeans and without a tie, his father-in-law told him that it was in bad form./ Contrast: IN GOOD FORM.
[in behalf of] or [on behalf of] <prep.>, <formal> 1. In place of; as a representative of; for. * /John accepted the championship award on behalf of the team./ 2. As a help to; for the good of. * /The minister worked hard all his life in behalf of the poor./ Compare: IN ONE'S BEHALF IN ONE'S FAVOR.