in care

in care of someone [to be delivered to some-

one] through someone or by way of

someone. (Indicates that mail is to be de-

livered to a person at some other person’s

address.) Bill Jones is living at his fa-

ther’s house. Address the letter to Bill in

care of Mr. John Jones. Bill said, “Please

send me my mail in care of my father at

his address.”

in case in the event (that). What do we

do in case the building catches fire? We

should close the windows just in case it

rains.

in case of something in the event of some-

thing. (Compare this with in the case of

someone or something; in case something hap-

pens.) Please leave the building at once

in case of fire. Please take your raincoat

in case of rain.

in character typical of someone’s behav-

ior. For Tom to shout that way wasn’t

at all in character. He’s usually quite pleas-

ant. It was quite in character for Sally

to walk away angry.

in clover with good fortune; in a very good

situation, especially financially. (Slang.)

If I get this contract, I’ll be in clover for

the rest of my life.  I have very little

money saved, so when I retire I won’t ex-

actly be in clover.

in cold blood without feeling; with cruel

intent. (Informal or slang. Frequently

said of a crime, especially murder.)

The killer walked up and shot the woman

in cold blood. How insulting! For a per-

son to say something like that in cold blood

is just horrible.

in cold storage stored away for future use;

in an out-of-the-way place. (Also literal.)

I have had this special gift in cold stor-

age for an occasion such as this. Todd

had been keeping himself in cold storage,

trying to study for his exams.

in concert (with someone) in cooperation

with someone; with the aid of someone.

Mrs. Smith planned the party in concert

with her sister. In concert they planned

a lovely event.

in condition and in shape in good health;

strong and healthy. (Used only with peo-

ple. Compare this with in good shape. In

can be replaced with into. See the note

at in a bind and the examples below.)

Bob exercises frequently, so he’s in condi-

tion.  If I were in shape, I could run

faster and farther. I’m not healthy. I

have to try to get into shape.

in consequence (of something) as a result of

something; because of something. In

consequence of the storm, there was no

electricity.  The wind blew down the

wires. In consequence, we had no

electricity.

in contempt (of court) disrespect for a

judge or for courtroom procedures.

The bailiff ejected the lawyer who was held

in contempt. The judge found the juror

in contempt of court when she screamed at

the attorney.

in creation Go to on earth.

in custody of someone or something and in

someone’s or something’s custody the condi-

tion of being kept guarded by someone

or some group. The suspect was in the

sheriff ’s custody awaiting a trial. The

prisoner is in the custody of the state.

in debt having debts; having much debt;

owing money. Mary is deeply in debt.

I am in debt to the bank for my car loan.

in deep 1. deeply involved. John and

Mary have been seeing each other for

months now. They are really in deep.

Bill loves the theater. He’s definitely in

deep. He tries out for all the plays and gets

into many of them. 2. deeply in debt.

Bill owes a lot of money to the bank. He’s

really in deep. John is in deep with his

stockbroker.

in deep water in a dangerous or vulnera-

ble situation; in a serious situation; in

trouble. (Refers to swimming in or falling

into water that is over one’s head. See also

go off the deep end. In can be replaced

with into. See the note at in a bind and

the examples below.) John is having

trouble with his taxes. He’s in deep water.

Bill is in deep water in algebra class. He’s

almost failing. He really got himself into

deep water.

in denial in a state of refusing to believe

something that is true. Mary was in de-

nial about her illness and refused treat-

ment. Tom doesn’t think he’s an alco-

holic because he’s still in denial.

in disguise hidden behind a disguise; look-

ing like something else. Santa Claus

was really the little child’s father in dis-

What I thought was terrible

turned out to be a blessing in disguise!

in drag in the clothing of the opposite sex.

(Usually refers to a man wearing women’s

clothing.) The actor played the woman’s

part in drag. We all went to the costume

party dressed in drag.

in due course and in due time; in good

time; in the course of time; in time

in a normal or expected amount of time.

The roses will bloom in due course.

The vice president will become president in

due course. I’ll retire in due time. Just

wait, my dear. All in good time. It’ll all

work out in the course of time. In time,

things will improve.

in due time Go to in due course.

in Dutch (with someone) in trouble with

someone. (Informal. In can be replaced

with into. See in a bind and the examples

below.) I’m in Dutch with my parents

for my low grades. You’re in Dutch quite

a bit. Don’t get into Dutch with anyone.

in essence basically; essentially.

lots of detailed advice for you, but in

essence, I want you to do the best you can.

In essence, lightning is just a giant spark

of electricity.

in existence now existing; currently and

actually being. The tiger may not be in

existence in a few decades. All the oil in

existence will not last the world for another

century.

in fact in reality; really; actually. I’m over

forty. In fact, I’m forty-six. This is a very

good computer. In fact, it’s the best.

in fashion fitting in well with the clothing

that has been designed for a particular

season of a particular year; fashionable.

I understand that long skirts are in fash-

ion this year. I always want to find out

what styles are in fashion so I can avoid

them.

in favor of someone Go to in someone’s favor.

in favor (of someone or something) approving,

supporting, or endorsing someone or

something. (See also in someone’s favor.)

Are you in favor of lower taxes? Of

course, I’m in favor.

in fine feather in good humor; in good

health. (In can be replaced with into. See

the note at in a bind and the examples be-

low.) Hello, John. You appear to be in

fine feather.  Of course I’m in fine

feather. I get lots of sleep. Good food and

lots of sleep put me into fine feather.

in flux and in a (constant) state of flux

in constant change; changing.

in force in a very large group. (See also out

in force.) The entire group arrived in

force. The mosquitoes will attack in force

this evening.

in for something due to receive a surprise;

due to receive punishment. (When the

something is it, the it usually means pun-

ishment.) I hope I’m not in for any sur-

prises when I get home. Tommy, you

broke my baseball bat. You’re really in for

it!

in full swing in progress; operating or run-

ning without restraint. (In can be re-

placed with into. See the note at in a bind

and the examples below.) We can’t

leave now! The party is in full swing.

Our program to help the starving people

is in full swing. You should see results soon.

Just wait until our project gets into full

swing.

in general referring to the entire class be-

ing discussed; speaking of the entire

range of possibilities; in most situations

or circumstances. I like vegetables in

general, but not beets. In general, I pre-

fer a hotel room on a lower f loor, but will

take a higher room if it’s special.

in good condition Go to in good shape.

in good faith with good and honest intent;

with sincerity. (Compare this with in bad

faith.) We are convinced you were act-

ing in good faith, even though you made

a serious error. I think you didn’t sign

the contract in good faith. You never in-

tended to carry out our agreement.

in good hands in the safe, competent care

of someone. Don’t worry. Your children

are in good hands. Sally is a good baby-

Your car is in good hands. My

mechanics are factory-trained.

in good shape and in good condition

physically and functionally sound and

sturdy. (Used for both people and things.

Compare this with in condition. In can be

replaced with into. See the note at in a

bind and the examples below.) This car

isn’t in good shape. I’d like to have one

that’s in better condition. Mary is in

good condition. She works hard to keep

healthy. You have to make an effort to

get into good shape.

in good spirits happy and cheerful; posi-

tive and looking toward the future, de-

spite unhappy circumstances. The pa-

tient is in good spirits and that will speed

her recovery. Tom wasn’t in very good

spirits after he heard the bad news.

in good time 1. quickly; in a short amount

of time. We traveled from Mexico to

Texas in good time. I’ve never been able

to make that trip in good time. 2. Go to

in due course.

in good (with someone) in someone’s favor;

to have pull with someone. (Compare this

with in bad (with someone).) I can ask

Mary a favor. I’m in good with her.

Well, I’m not in good with her. I don’t

know Mary. How do I go about getting in

good?

in great demand wanted by many people;

eagerly sought after. Liz is in great de-

mand as a singer. Mary’s paintings are

in great demand.

in great haste very fast; in a big hurry.

John always did his homework in great

haste.  Why not take time and do it

right? Don’t do everything in great haste.

in high dudgeon feeling or exhibiting great

resentment; taking great offense at some-

thing. (Often with leave.)  After the

rude remarks, the person who was insulted

left in high dudgeon. Dennis strode from

the room in high dudgeon, and we knew

he would get his revenge eventually.

in high gear very fast and active. (Also lit-

eral. Informal. In can be replaced with

into. See the note at in a bind and the ex-

amples below.) Don’t leave now. The

party is just now in high gear. When

Jane is in high gear, she’s a superb athlete.

When Jane moved into high gear, I knew

she’d win the race.

in hindsight Go to in retrospect.

in hock in debt. After buying the luxury

car, Bob was in hock for years.  I am

deeply in hock and have to pay off my

debts.

in honor of someone or something showing re-

spect or admiration for someone or

something. Our club gave a party in

honor of the club’s president. I wrote a

poem in honor of John and Mary’s

marriage.

in hopes of something expecting something.

(Also with high, as in the example.) I

was in hopes of getting there early. We

are in high hopes that John and Mary will

have a girl.

in horror with intense shock or disgust.

Mike stepped back from the rattlesnake in

The jogger recoiled in horror

when she came upon a body in the park.

in hot water in trouble. (Slang. In can be

replaced with into. See in a bind and the

examples below.) John got himself into

in its entirety and in their entirety in a

state of completeness. I watched the

basketball game in its entirety.  My

friends and I ate the two large pizzas in

their entirety.

in its prime Go to in one’s prime.

in jeopardy in danger; at risk; at hazard.

John puts himself in jeopardy every time

he goes skydiving.  I was in jeopardy

when my car broke down on the deserted

road.

in (just) a minute Go to in (just) a second.

in (just) a second and in (just) a minute

in a very short period of time. I’ll be

there in a second. I’ll be with you in just

a minute. I’m on the phone.

in keeping (with something) and in line

with something in accord or harmony with

something; following the rules of some-

thing. In keeping with your instructions,

I’ve canceled your order.  I’m disap-

pointed with your behavior. It really wasn’t

in keeping. It was not in line with the

kind of behavior we expect here.

in kind 1. in goods rather than in money.

The country doctor was usually paid in

kind. He accepted two pigs as payment for

an operation. Do you have to pay tax on

payments made in kind? 2. similarly; [giv-

ing] something similar to what was re-

ceived. John punched Bill, and Bill gave

it back in kind. She spoke rudely to me,

so I spoke to her in kind.

in labor [of a woman] experiencing the

pains and exertion of childbirth. Su-

san was in labor for nearly eight hours.

As soon as she had been in labor for an

hour, she went to the hospital.

in league (with someone) in cooperation

with someone; in a conspiracy with

someone. The mayor is in league with

the city treasurer. They are misusing public

money. Those two have been in league

for years.