[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.
[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."/
