[in hopes] <adj. phr.> Hopeful; hoping. * /The Mayor was in hopes of having a good day for the parade./ * /Mother was in hopes that the cake would be good to eat./
[in horror] See: THROW UP ONE'S HANDS IN HORROR.
[in hot water] See: HOT WATER.
[in] or [into orbit] <adj. phr.> Thrilled; exuberantly happy; in very high spirits. * /When Carol won the lottery she went right into orbit./
[in] or [into the clear] <adj. phr.> Free; cleared of all responsibility and guilt. * /Because of the new evidence found, Sam is still in the clear, but Harry is still behind bars./
[in] or [into the doldrums] <adj. phr.> Inactive; sluggish; depressed. * /The news of our factory's going out of business put all of us in the doldrums./
[in] or [into the limelight] <adj. phr.> In the center of attention. * /Some people will do almost anything to be able to step into the limelight./ Compare: IN THE SPOTLIGHT.
[in itself] See: END IN ITSELF.
[injury] See: ADD INSULT TO INJURY.
[in keeping] <adj. phr.> Going well together; agreeing; similar. * /Mary's hair style was in keeping with the latest fashion./ * /Having an assembly on Friday morning was in keeping with the school program./ Contrast: OUT OF KEEPING.
[in kind] <adv. phr.> In a similar way; with the same kind of thing. * /My neighbor pays me in kind for walking her dog./ * /Low returned Mary's insult in kind./
[in knots] See: TIE IN KNOTS.
[in league with] or <informal> [in cahoots with] <prep.> In secret agreement or partnership with (someone); working together secretly with, especially for harm. * /People once believed that some women were witches in league with the devil./ * /The mayor's enemies spread a rumor that he was in cahoots with gangsters./
[in left field] See: OUT IN LEFT FIELD.
[in lieu of] See: INSTEAD OF.
[in light of] also [in the light of] <adj. phr.> 1. As a result of new information; by means of new ideas. * /The teacher changed John's grade in the light of the extra work in the workbook./ 2. Because of. * /In light of the muddy field, the football team wore their old uniforms./ Syn.: IN VIEW OF.
[in line(1)] <adv. phr.> In or into a straight line. * /The boys stood in line to buy their tickets./ * /Tom set the chairs in line along the wall./ * /The carpenter put the edges of the boards in line./
[in line(2)] <adj. phr.> 1. In a position in a series or after someone else. * /John is in line for the presidency of the club next year./ * /Mary is fourth in line to be admitted to the sorority./ 2. Obeying or agreeing with what is right or usual; doing or being what people expect or accept; within ordinary or proper limits. * /The coach kept the excited team in line./ * /When the teacher came back into the room, she quickly brought the class back in line./ * /The government passed a new law to keep prices in line./ Compare: IN HAND. Contrast: OUT OF LINE.
[in line with] <prep.> In agreement with. * /Behavior at school parties must be in line with school rules./ * /In line with the custom of the school, the students had a holiday between Christmas and New Year's Day./
[in love] <adj. phr.> Liking very much; loving. * /John is in love with Helen./ * /Tom and Ellen arc in love./ * /Mary is in love with her new wristwatch./
[in luck] <adj. phr.> Being lucky; having good luck; finding something good by chance. * /Bill was in luck when he found the money on the street./ * /Mary dropped her glasses and they did not break. She was in luck./
[in memory of] <prep.> As something that makes people remember (a person or thing); as a reminder of; as a memorial to. * /The building was named Ford Hall in memory of a man named James Ford./ * /Many special ceremonies are in memory of famous men./
[in midair] See: UP IN THE AIR(2).
[in mind] <adv. phr.> 1. In the center of your thought; in your close attention. * /You have to be home by 11 o'clock. Keep that in mind, Bob./ * /Mary is studying hard with a good grade in mind./ * /Bear in mind the rules of safety when you swim./ Compare: ON ONE'S MIND. 2. See: PUT IN MIND OF.
[in mint condition] <adj. phr.> Excellent; as good as new. * /Grandma seldom uses her car; it is already ten years old, but it is still in mint condition./
[in my book] See: BY MY BOOK.
[in name] <adj.> or <adv. phr.> Having a title, but not really doing what someone with the title is expected to do. * /The old man is a doctor in name only. He does not have patients now./ * /He was the captain of the team in name only./
[in need of] <adj. phr.> Destitute; lacking something. * /The young girl is so ill that she is seriously in need of medical attention./
[inner city] <n.>, <colloquial> Densely populated neighborhoods in large metropolitan areas inhabited by low income families usually of minority backgrounds, such as Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, or African Americans; characterized by slums and government-owned high rises. * /Joe comes from the inner city - he may need help with his reading./
[in nothing flat] See: IN NO TIME.
[in no time] or [in nothing flat] <adv. phr.>, <informal> In a very little time; soon; quickly. * /When the entire class worked together they finished the project in no time./ * /The bus filled with students in nothing flat./
[in no uncertain terms] See: IN SO MANY WORDS(2).
[in on] <prep.> 1. Joining together for. * /The children collected money from their classmates and went in on a present for their teacher./ 2. Told about; having knowledge of. * /Bob was in on the secret./ * /The other girls wouldn't let Mary in on what they knew./
[in one ear and out the other] See: GO IN ONE EAR AND OUT THE OTHER.
[in one fell swoop] or [at one fell swoop] <adv. phr.> 1. <literary> In one attack or accident; in one bad blow. * /The millionaire lost his money and his friends at one fell swoop./ 2. At one time; at the same time. * /Three cars drove into the driveway, and Mrs. Crane's dinner guests all arrived at one fell swoop./
[in one's bad graces] <adj. phr.> Not approved by; not liked by. * /John was in his mother's bad graces because he spilled his milk on the tablecloth./ * /Don got in the bad graces of the teacher by laughing at her hat./ Compare: DOWN ON, IN BAD, OUT OF FAVOR. Contrast: IN ONE S GOOD GRACES.
[in one's behalf] or [on one's behalf] <adv. phr.>, <informal> 1. For someone else; in your place. * /My husband could not be here tonight, but I want to thank you on his behalf./ 2. For the good of another person or group; as a help to someone. * /My teacher went to the factory and spoke in my behalf when I was looking for a job./ Compare: IN BEHALF OF, ON ONE'S ACCOUNT.
[in one's blood] or [into one's blood] <adv. phr.> Agreeing perfectly with one's sympathies, feelings, and desires. * /Living in a warm section of the country gets in your blood./ * /The woods got into Jim's blood./ Contrast: OUT OF ONE'S BLOOD.
[in one's bones] See: FEEL IN ONE'S BONES.
[in one's boots] See: DIE IN ONE'S BOOTS or DIE WITH ONE'S BOOTS ON, IN ONE'S SHOES also IN ONE'S BOOTS.
[in one's craw] or [in one's crop] See: STICK IN ONE'S CRAW or STICK IN ONE'S CROP.
[in one's cups] <adj. phr.>, <literary> Drunk. * /The man was in his cups and talking very loudly./
[in one's element] <adv. phr.> 1. In one's natural surroundings. * /The deep-sea fish is in his element in deep ocean water./ 2. Where you can do your best. * /John is in his element working on the farm./ Compare: AT HOME 2. Contrast: OUT OF ONE'S ELEMENT.
[in one's face] <adv. phr.> 1. Against your face. * /The trick cigar blew up in the clown's face./ * /A cold wind was in our faces as we walked to school./ 2. In front of you. * /The maid slammed the door in the salesman's face./ * /I told the boys that they were wrong, but they laughed in my face./ Compare: IN THE FACE OF, THROW SOMETHING IN ONE'S FACE, TO ONE'S FACE, UNDER ONE'S NOSE.
[in one's favor] <adv.> or <adj. phr.> In a way that is good for you. * /Both teams claimed the point, but the referee decided in our favor./ * /Bob made good grades in high school, and that was in his favor when he looked for a job./ Compare: COME ONE'S WAY.
[in one's footsteps] See: FOLLOW IN ONE'S FOOTSTEPS.
[in one's glory] <adj. phr.> Pleased and contented with yourself. * /When John won the race, he was in his glory./ * /Tom is very vain, and praise puts him in his glory./
[in one's good books] See: IN ONE'S GOOD GRACES.
[in one's good graces] or [in one's good books] <adv. phr.> Approved of by you; liked by someone. * /Ruth is in her mother's good graces because she ate all her supper./ * /Bill is back in the good graces of his girlfriend because he gave her a box of candy./ Compare: IN GOOD. Contrast: IN ONE'S BAD GRACES.