Текст книги "Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц"
Автор книги: Adam Makkai
Соавторы: Maya Glinberg
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Словари
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[hot and heavy]{adv. phr.}, {informal} Strongly; vigorously; emphatically. •/Fred got it hot and heavy when his wife found out how much he had lost at cards./ •/The partners had a hot and heavy argument before deciding to enlarge their store./
[hot dog]{n. phr.}, {informal} A frankfurter or wiener in a roll. •/The boys stopped on the way home for hot dogs and coffee./
[hot dog]{interj.}, {informal} Hurrah! – A cry used to show pleasure or enthusiasm. •/«Hot dog!» Frank exclaimed when he unwrapped a birthday gift of a small record player./
[hot dog roast] See: WIENER ROAST.
[hot number]{n.}, {slang} A person or thing noticed as newer, better, or more popular than others. •/The boys and girls thought that song was a hot number./ •/The new car that Bob is driving is a real hot number./ •/John invented a new can opener that was a hot number in the stores./
[hot off the press]{adj. phr.} Just appeared in print. •/This is the latest edition of the Chicago Tribune; it’s hot off the press./
[hot one]{n.}, {slang}, {informal} Something out of the ordinary; something exceptional, such as a joke, a person whether in terms of looks or intelligence. •/Joe’s joke sure was a hot one./ •/Sue is a hot one, isn’t she?/
[hot potato]{n.}, {informal} A question that causes strong argument and is difficult to settle. •/Many school boards found segregation a hot potato in the 1960s./
[hot rod]{n.}, {informal} An older automobile changed so that it can gain speed quickly and go very fast. •/Hot rods are used by young people especially in drag racing./
[hot seat]{n.}, {slang} 1. The electric chair used to cause death by electrocution in legal executions. •/Many a man has controlled a murderous rage when he thought of the hot seat./ 2. {informal} A position in which you can easily get into trouble. •/A judge in a beauty contest is on the hot seat. If he chooses one girl, the other girls will be angry with him./
[hot stuff]{n.}, {slang}, {citizen’s band radio jargon} Coffee. •/Let’s stop and get some hot stuff./
[hot under the collar]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Angry. •/Mary gets hot under the collar if you joke about women drivers./ •/Tom got hot under the collar when his teacher punished him./
[hot water]{n.}{informal} Trouble. – Used with «in», «into», «out», «of». •/John’s thoughtless remark about religion got John into a lot of hot water./ •/It was the kind of trouble where it takes a friend to get you out of hot water./
[hound] See: ROCK HOUND, RUN WITH THE HARE AND HUNT (RIDE) WFTH THE HOUNDS.
[hour] See: AFTER HOURS, ALL HOURS, COFFEE HOUR, ON THE HOUR, ZERO HOUR.
[house] See: BOARDING HOUSE REACH, BRING DOWN THE HOUSE, PUN HOUSE, HASH HOUSE, KEEP HOUSE, ON THE HOUSE, PARISH HOUSE, PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT THROW STONES, PLAGUE ON BOTH YOUR HOUSES or PLAGUE O' BOTH YOUR HOUSES, PUT ONE’S HOUSE IN ORDER or SET ONE’S HOUSE TN ORDER.
[housebroken]{adj.} Trained to go outside to relieve themselves (said of domestic pets, primarily dogs). •/All young puppies must eventually be housebroken./
[house detective]{n.} A detective employed by a hotel, store, or other business to watch for any trouble. •/The one-armed man sweeping the bank floor was really the house detective./
[house of cards]{n. phr.} Something badly put together and easily knocked down; a poorly founded plan, hope, or action. •/John’s business fell apart like a house of cards./
[house of ill fame] or [of ill repute]{n. phr.} A bordello; a brothel. •/At the edge of town there is a house of ill repute run by a Madame who used to be a singer in a bar./
[housetop] See: SHOUT FROM THE HOUSETOPS or SHOUT FROM THE ROOFTOPS.
[hover over]{v. phr.} 1. To remain close or above. •/The rescue helicopter was carefully hovering above the stranded rock climbers./ 2. To watch over; supervise. •/«Mother!» Phillip cried, «if you don’t stop hovering over me, I’ll go bananas!»/
[how] See: AND HOW!
[how about] or [what about]{interrog.} – Used to ask for a decision, action, opinion, or explanation. 1. Will you have or agree on? •/How about another piece of pie?/ •/What about a game of tennis?/ •/How about going to the dance with me Saturday?/ 2. Will you lend or give me? •/How about five dollars until Friday?/ •/What about a little help with these dishes?/ 3. What is to be done about? •/What about the windows? Shall we close them before we go?/ 4. How do you feel about? What do you think about? What is to be thought or said? •/What about women in politics?/ •/How about this button on the front of the typewriter?/
[how about that] or [what about that]{informal} An expression of surprise, congratulation, or praise. •/When Jack heard of his brother’s promotion, he exclaimed, «How about that!»/ •/Bill won the scholarship! What about that!/
[how come]{informal} also {nonstandard}[how’s come]{interrog.} How does it happen that? Why? •/How come you are late?/ •/You’re wearing your best clothes today. How come?/ Compare: WHAT FOR.
[how do you do]{formal} How are you? – Usually as a reply to an introduction; it is in the form of a question but no answer is expected. •/«Mary, I want you to meet my friend Fred. Fred, this is my wife, Mary.» «How do you do, Mary?» «How do you do, Fred?»/
[how goes it?]{v. phr.}, {interrog.} How are you and your affairs in general progressing? •/Jim asked Bill, «how goes it with the new wife and the new apartment?»/
[howling success]{n.}, {informal} A great success; something that is much praised; something that causes wide enthusiasm. •/The party was a howling success./ •/The book was a howling success./
[how’s come] See: HOW COME.
[how so]{interrog.} How is that so? Why is it so? How? Why? •/I said the party was a failure and she asked. «How so?»/ •/He said his brother was not a good dancer and I asked him, "How so? "/
[how’s that]{informal} What did you say? Will you please repeat that? •/«I’ve just been up in a balloon for a day and a half.» «How’s that?»/ •/«The courthouse is on fire.» «How’s that again?»/
[how the land lies] See: LAY OF THE LAND.
[how the wind blows] See: WAY THE WIND BLOWS.
[huddle] See: GO INTO A HUDDLE.
[hue and cry]{n.} 1. An alarm and chase after a supposed wrongdoer; a pursuit usually by shouting men. •/«Stop, thief,» cried John as he ran. Others joined him, and soon there was a hue and cry./ 2. An excited mass protest, alarm, or outcry of any kind. •/The explosion was so terrible that people at a distance raised a great hue and cry about an earthquake./
[hug the road]{v. phr.} To stay firmly on the road; ride smoothly without swinging. •/A heavy car with a low center of gravity will hug the road./ •/At high speeds a car will not hug the road well./
[huh-uh] or [hum-um] or [uh-uh]{adv.}, {informal} No. – Used only in speech or to record dialogue. •/Did Mary come? Huh-uh./ •/Is it raining out? Uh-uh./ Contrast: UH-UH.
[humble] See: EAT HUMBLE PIE.
[hump] See: OVER THE HUMP.
[hundred] See: BY THE DOZEN or BY THE HUNDRED or BY THE THOUSAND.
[hunky-dory]{adj.} OK; satisfactory; fine. •/The landlord asked about our new apartment and we told him that so far everything was hunky-dory./
[hunt] See: RUN WITH THE HARE AND HUNT (RIDE) WITH THE HOUNDS.
[hunt and peck]{n. phr.}, {informal} Picking out typewriter keys by sight, usually with one or two fingers; not memorizing the keys. •/Many newspaper reporters do their typing by hunt and peck./ – Often used, with hyphens, as an adjective. •/Mr. Barr taught himself to type, and he uses the hunt-and-peck system./
[hunt down]{v.} 1. To pursue and capture; look hard for an animal or person until found and caught. •/The police hunted down the escaped prisoner./ Compare: TRACK DOWN. 2. To search for (something) until one finds it. •/Professor Jones hunted down the written manuscript in the Library of Congress./ Syn.: TRACK DOWN.
[hunting] See: HAPPY HUNTING GROUND.
[hunt up]{v.} To find or locate by search. •/When John was in Chicago, he hunted up some old friends./ •/The first thing Fred had to do was to hunt up a hotel room./
[hurry on with] or [make haste with]{v. phr.} To make rapid progress in an undertaking. •/Sue promised to hurry on with the report and send it out today./
[hurry up]{v. phr.} To rush (an emphatic form of hurry). •/Hurry up or we’ll miss our plane./
[hurt] See: CRY BEFORE ONE IS HURT or HOLLER BEFORE ONE IS HURT.
[hush-hush]{adj.}, {informal} Kept secret or hidden; kept from public knowledge; hushed up; concealed. •/The company had a new automobile engine that it was developing, but kept it a hush-hush project until they knew it was successful./
[hush up]{v.} 1. To keep news of (something) from getting out; prevent people from knowing about. •/It isn’t always easy to hush up a scandal./ 2. {informal} To be or make quiet; stop talking, crying, or making some other noise. – Often used as a command. •/«Hush up,» Mother said, when we began to repeat ugly gossip./
I
[ice] See: BLOOD RUNS COLD or BLOOD TURNS TO ICE, BREAK THE ICE, CUT ICE, ON ICE, SKATE ON THIN ICE.
[iceberg] See: COOL AS AN ICEBERG.
[idea] See: THE IDEA, WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA or WHAT’S THE IDEA.
[I declare]{interj.}, {dialect} Well; oh my; truly. – Used for emphasis. •/I declare, it has been a very warm day!/ •/Mother said, «I declare, John, you have grown a foot.»/
[idiot box]{n.} A television set. •/Phil has been staring at the idiot box all afternoon./
[if] See: WHAT IF.
[if anything]{adv. phr.} More likely; instead; rather. •/The weather forecast is not for cooler weather; if anything, it is expected to be warmer./ •/Joe isn’t a bad boy. If anything he’s a pretty good one./ Compare: MATTER OF FACT.
[if it’s not one thing it’s another] If a certain thing doesn’t go wrong, another most probably will. •/When John lost his keys and his wallet, and his car wouldn’t start, he exclaimed in despair, «If it’s not one thing it’s another.»/ Compare: ONE DAMN THING AFTER ANOTHER (ODTAA).
[if need be]{adv. phr.} If the need arises. •/If need be, I can come early tomorrow and work overtime./
[if only] I wish. •/If only it would stop raining!/ •/If only Mother could be here./ Syn.: WOULD THAT.
[if the hill will not come to Muhammad, Muhammad will go to the hill] If one person will not go to the other, then the other must go to him. – A proverb. •/Grandfather won’t come to visit us, so we must go and visit him. If the hill won’t come to Muhammad, then Muhammad will go to the hill./
[if the shoe fits, wear it] If what is said describes you, you are meant. – A proverb. •/I won’t say who, but some children are always late. If the shoe fits, Wear it./
[if worst comes to worst] If the worst thing happens that be imagined; if the worst possible thing happens; if troubles grow worse. •/If worst comes to worst and Mr. Jones loses the house, he will send his family to his mother’s farm./ •/If worst comes to worst, we shall close the school for a few days./
[if you can’t lick them, join them] If you cannot defeat an opponent or get him to change his attitude, plans, or ways of doing things, the best thing to do is to change your ideas, plans, etc. •/«The small car manufacturers are winning over the big car makers,» the president of an American car factory said. «If we want to stay in business, we must do as they do. In other words, if you can’t lick them, join them.»/
[I’ll bet you my bottom dollar]{interj.}, {informal} An exaggerated assertion of assurance. •/I’ll bet you my bottom dollar that the Cubs will win this year./
[I’ll say] or [I tell you]{interj.}, {informal} I agree with this completely. – Used for emphasis. •/Did the children all enjoy Aunt Sally’s pecan pie? I’ll say!/ •/I’ll say this is a good movie!/
[I’ll tell you what] or [tell you what]{informal} Here is an idea. •/The hamburger stand is closed, but I’ll tell you what, let’s go to my house and cook some hot dogs./
[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./
[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.
[in black and white] See: BLACK AND WHITE.
[in brief] or [in short] or [in a word]{adv. phr.} Briefly; to give the meaning of what has been said or written in a word or in a few words; in summary. •/The children could play as long as they liked, they had no work to do, and nobody scolded them; in short, they were happy./ •/The speaker didn’t know his subject, nor did he speak well; in brief, he was disappointing./ •/John is smart, polite, and well-behaved. In a word, he is admirable./
[in cahoots with] See: IN LEAGUE WITH.
[in case]{adv. phr.}, {informal} 1. In order to be prepared; as a precaution; if there is need. – Usually used in the phrase «just in case». •/The bus is usually on time, but start early, just in case./ •/The big dog was tied up, but John carried a stick, just in case./ 2. [in case] or [in the event]{conj.} If it happens that; if it should happen that; if; lest. •/Tom took his skates in case they found a place to skate./ •/Let me know in case you’re not coming./ •/The night watchman is in the store in case there is ever afire./ •/Keep the window closed in case it rains./ •/I stayed home in case you called./ •/In the event that our team wins, there will be a big celebration./ •/What shall we do in case it snows?/
[in case of] also [in the event of]{prep.} In order to meet the possibility of; lest there is; if there is; if there should be. •/Take your umbrellas in case of rain./ •/The wall was built along the river in case of floods./
[inch] See: BY INCHES, EVERY INCH, GIVE ONE AN INCH AND HE WILL TAKE A MILE, WITHIN AN ACE OF or WITHIN AN INCH OF, WITHIN AN INCH OF ONE’S LIFE.
[inch (one’s way) along]{v. phr.} To. proceed slowly and with difficulty. •/When the electricity failed, it took John half an hour to inch his way along the corridors of the office building./
[in character]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. In agreement with a person’s character or personality; in the way that a person usually behaves or is supposed to behave; as usual; characteristic; typical; suitable. •/John was very rude at the party, and that was not in character because he is usually very polite./ •/The way Judy comforted the little girl was in character. She did it gently and kindly./ 2. Suitable for the part or the kind of part being acted; natural to the way a character in a book or play is supposed to act. •/The fat actor in the movie was in character because the character he played was supposed to be fat and jolly./ •/It would not have been in character for Robin Hood to steal from a poor man./ Contrast: OUT OF CHARACTER.
[in charge]{adv.} or {adj. phr.}, 1. In authority or control; in a position to care for or supervise; responsible. •/If you have any questions, ask the boss. He’s in charge./ 2. Under care or supervision. •/The sick man was taken in charge by the doctor./ •/During your visit to the library, you will be in the librarian’s charge./ Compare: TAKE CARE OF.
[in charge of]{prep.} 1. Responsible for; having supervision or care of. •/Marian is in charge of selling tickets./ •/The girl in charge of refreshments forgot to order the ice cream for the party./ •/When our class had a play, the teacher put Harold in charge of the stage curtain./ 2. or [in the charge of] Under the care or supervision of. •/Mother puts the baby in the charge of the baby-sitter while she is out./ •/The money was given in charge of Mr. Jackson for safekeeping./
[in check]{adv. phr.} In a position where movement or action is not allowed or stopped; under control; kept quiet or back. •/The boy was too small to keep the big dog in check, and the dog broke away from his leash./ •/The soldiers tried to keep the attacking Indians in check until help came./ •/Mary couldn’t hold her feelings in check any longer and began to cry./
[in circles] See: IN A CIRCLE.
[in circulation] or [into circulation]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Going around and doing things as usual; joining what others are doing, •/John broke his leg and was out of school for several weeks, but now he is back in circulation again./ •/Mary’s mother punished her by stopping her from dating for two weeks, but then she got hack into circulation./ Contrast: OUT OF CIRCULATION.
[inclined to]{adj. phr.} Having a tendency to; positively disposed toward. •/I am inclined to fall asleep after a heavy meal./
[in clover] or [in the clover]{adv.} or {adj. phr.}, {informal} In rich comfort; rich or successful; having a pleasant or easy life. •/They live in clover because their father is rich./ •/When we finish the hard part we’ll be in the clover./ Compare: BED OF ROSES, LIFE OF RILEY, LIVE HIGH OFF THE HOG, ON EASY STREET.
[in cold blood]{adv. phr.} Without feeling or pity; in a purposely cruel way; coolly and deliberately. •/The bank robbers planned to shoot in cold blood anyone who got in their way./ •/The bandits planned to murder in cold blood all farmers in the village by the river./
[in command]{adv. phr.} In control of; in charge. •/Helen is in command of the situation./
[in commission] or [into commission]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. On duty or ready to be put on duty by a naval or military service; in active service. •/The old battleship has been in commission for twenty years./ •/It took many months to build the new bomber, and now it is ready to be put into commission./ 2. In proper condition; in use or ready for use; working; running. •/The wheel of my bicycle was broken, but it is back in commission now./ Compare: IN ORDER(2). Contrast: OUT OF COMMISSION(2).
[in common]{adv. phr.} Shared together or equally; in use or ownership by all. •/Mr. and Mrs. Smith own the store in common./ •/The four boys grew up together and have a lot in common./ •/The swimming pool is used in common by all the children in the neighborhood./ Compare: COMMON GROUND.
[in condition] See: IN SHAPE.
[in consequence]{adv. phr.} As a result; therefore; so. •/Jennie got up late, and in consequence she missed the bus./ •/You studied hard, and in consequence you passed the test./
[in consequence of]{prep.}, {formal} As a result of. •/In consequence of the deep snow, school will not open today./ •/In consequence of his promise to pay for the broken window, Bill was not punished./ Compare: BECAUSE OF, ON ACCOUNT OF.
[in consideration of]{adv. phr.} 1. After thinking about and weighing; because of. •/iN consideration of the boy’s young age, the judge did not put him in jail for carrying a gun./ 2. In exchange for; because of; in payment for. •/In consideration of the extra work Joe had done, his boss gave him an extra week’s pay./ Compare: IN RETURN.
[in days] or [weeks] or [years to come]{adv. phr.} In the future. •/In the years to come I will be thinking of my father’s advice about life./
[in deep]{adj. phr.} Seriously mixed up in something, especially trouble. •/George began borrowing small sums of money to bet on horses, and before he knew it he was in deep./ Compare: DEEP WATER, UP TO THE CHIN IN.
