I Idioms
Idioms Index | A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
idiot box
- television set
He sits in front of the idiot box all day and never gets any work done.if the shoe fits, wear it
- if what is being said in general describes you then it probably means you
He was complaining that most of the workers at his company were lazy. However his friend looked at him and said that if the shoe fits, wear it.if worst comes to worst
- if the worst possible thing happens
If worst comes to worst we can cancel our holiday and go next year.ill at ease
- feel nervous/uncomfortable
He appeared to be ill at ease during the interview.in a bind
- in trouble
They will really be in a bind if they can't sell their house by next month.in advance
- ahead of time
They bought the tickets in advance so that they could get a good seat.in a family way
- pregnant, going to have a baby
Our new secretary is in a family way and plans to take a few months off from work soon.in a fog (haze)
- confused, not sure what is happening
He is always in a fog and never seems to know what is going on.in a hole
- in some trouble, in an embarrassing or difficult position
He is really in a hole now that he has problems both at work and at home.in a hurry
- a need to move or act quickly
He is very busy and always in a hurry.in a jam
- in trouble
He is really in a jam now that his car is not working properly.in a kind (sort) of way
- to a certain extent, a little, somewhat
I would like to go in a kind of way but still I don't think that I will bother going today.in and out
- coming in and going out often
He has been in and out all day but I don't know where he is at the moment.in a nutshell
- briefly
I tried to explain the problem to him in a nutshell but there still wasn't enough time.in any case (event)
- no matter what happens, surely, without fail
I may not be able to meet you next week but in any case I will still give you the books before then.in a pig's eye
- hardly, unlikely, not so
In a pig's eye will I let him borrow my car next weekend.in a pinch
- okay when nothing else is available
That other tool will do in a pinch if we can't find the correct one.in arms
- armed, ready to fight
They are all in arms since they found out about the wage decrease.in a rush
- in a hurry
They got the job done in a big rush so I am a little worried about the quality.in a rut
- always doing the same thing
She feels that she is in a rut after doing the same job for seven years.in a spot
- in some trouble, in an embarrassing or difficult position
She is really in a tight spot right now since she was unable to enter university and also has no job.in a way
- to a certain extent, a little, somewhat
In a way I would like to go but basically I don't care.in a word
- briefly, to sum up
In a word, the problem with the car is that it needs a new motor.in a world of one's own
- in deep thought or concentration, not caring about other people
He is always in a world of his own and doesn't notice what other people say or think.in black and white
- in writing
I want to get the information in black and white before I go to the meeting.in cahoots with
- in secret agreement or partnership with someone
The supermarket was in cahoots with the vegetable producer to try and keep the prices high.in case
- as a precaution, in order to be prepared
In case there is a fire, we keep our computer backup files in a fireproof safe.in character
- as usual, typical, in the way that a person usually behaves
Supporting the other members of the staff is in character with her usual actions.in charge
- in control or authority, responsible
He is charge of the sales department at his company.in check
- under control, kept quiet or back
The violence was kept in check by the police department and the army.in clover
- rich or successful, having a pleasant or easy life
They are in clover now that they have sold their business and retired.in cold blood
- without feeling or pity, cooly and deliberately
The family was murdered in cold blood by the criminal gang.in common
- shared together or equally, in use or ownership by all
We had to use the bathroom in common with the other people in the house.in deep
- seriously mixed up in something like debt or trouble
He owes a lot of money and is in very deep with his new house and car.in due course
- in the usual amount of time, at the right time
We will send the information to you in due course.in fact
- actually, the truth is
He's been to China before. In fact he's been there three times.in for
- unable to avoid, sure to get
He is in for a lot of trouble now that he is unable to finish his graduation essay.in good time
- a little early, sooner than necessary
I will try and get the information to you in good time so that you will be able to decide what to do.in hand
- under control
The teacher had the class in hand when the principal came to visit the classroom.in hot water
- in trouble
I am in hot water over the extra expenses that I used during the conference.in keeping with
- going well together, agreeing, similar
In keeping with our tradition of letting the visiting team kick first we will do it for this game as well.in kind
- in a similar way, with the same kind of thing
We will pay them back in kind for the use of their sailboat.in league with
- in secret agreement or partnership with someone
The union has been in league with management in trying to build the new factory.in light of
- as a result of new information, because of
In light of his contribution to the company we decided to give him a large summer bonus.in line
- doing or being what people expect or accept, within ordinary limits
It was difficult to keep the children in line at the picnic but somehow we managed.in love
- liking very much, loving
He has been in love with his girlfriend ever since he met her in high school.in luck
- having good luck, finding something good by chance
I think that we are in luck. I have found two tickets for the concert.in memory of
- as a reminder of, as a memorial to
We decided to put our money together and buy a painting in memory of our grandfather.in nothing flat
- quickly
I will have this information printed out for you in nothing flat.in no time
- soon, quickly
I will have this done for you in no time and then you can go for lunch.in on
- joining together for something
We went in on a present for our father for Father's Day.in on
- told about, having knowledge of
I was finally let in on the secret about why she left our company.in one's element
- in an environment or situation that comes naturally to someone
She is in her element being in charge of the new sales department.in one's face
- abruptly, unexpectedly
The plan blew up in our face just as we were ready to start.in one's good books (graces)
- approved of by someone, liked by someone
I have been in her good books since I helped her with her work last month.in one's hair
- annoying someone
She has been in my hair all morning because she is on her summer holiday starting this week.in one's mind's eye
- in one's imagination
In your mind's eye try and imagine that you are on a nice sunny beach in Hawaii.in one's shell
- withdrawn, silent, not sociable
We have been trying to get her out of her shell but it is of no use. She doesn't want to talk to anyone.in one's shoes
- in someone elses place or position
I wish that I was in his shoes with his great job and new car.in one's tracks
- abruptly, immediately, just where one is at the moment
I was forced to stop in my tracks when I saw the snake on the road.in order to
- for the purpose of
We have decided to close down the school for the summer in order to do some major repairs.in other words
- say something in a different (usually more direct) way
In other words if you don't finish the assignment by Wednesday you will not pass the course.in part
- to some extent, partly
I think the reason he is not golfing well this year is in part due to his problem with his back.in point of fact
- really, truthfully
In point of fact there were not enough people at the meeting to vote on the proposal.ins and outs
- all the details
He knows all the ins and outs of the new machine.in seventh heaven
- very happy
I have been in seventh heaven since I started my new job.in short supply
- not enough, in less than the amount or number needed
Chairs were in short supply so some of the guests had to sit on the floor.inside and out
- in every part, completely
We looked through the room inside and out for my lost wallet.inside out
- so that the inside is turned outside
She turned her purse inside out in order to look for her lost key.inside track
- an advantage, shortest distance around a racetrack
I think that he has the inside track on getting the new job at the computer company.in spite of
- in opposition to, despite
In spite of the terrible weather we went to the beach for a picnic.instead of
- in place of
Let's meet at the restaurant instead of the department store as we had planned.in stitches
- laughing
They were in stitches over their teacher's joke.in stock
- having something ready to sell or use
The store didn't have any computer discs in stock so we bought some over the Internet.in store
- ready to happen, waiting
I don't really know what the future has in store for me but I will be ready for anything.in the air
- current, exerting an influence
It is in the air that we will be getting a new president next week.in the bag
- certain, sure
The new contract will be in the bag if we put in a good proposal.in the black
- have a credit balance, make a profit
The company has been in the black for over three years now.in the cards
- to be expected, likely to happen, predictable
I think that a new company structure is in the cards but I can't be sure.in the charge of
- under the care or supervision of
She has been in the charge of her grandmother since her mother and father died.in the clear
- with nothing to limit action, free of anything that makes moving or seeing difficult
We seem to be in the clear now so it should be safe to cross the road.in the clear
- free of blame or suspicion
The police talked to the three boys for a few minutes but they seem to be in the clear now.in the clouds
- far from real life, in dreams, in thought
He is usually in the clouds so you may have trouble finding out what you want to know from him.in the course of
- during
In the course of his life he visited over 45 countries.in the dark
- having no information about something
He is still in the dark about my plans to quit my job.in the doghouse
- in trouble
He is in the doghouse with his wife after staying out drinking last night.in the first place
- firstly, to begin with
Of course I can't go. In the first place I must work on Saturday. In the second place I have no money.in the groove
- at one's best, doing something very well
We are finally getting in the groove and should be able to finish this job by early next week.in the hole
- having a score lower than zero in a game, a score below zero
At the beginning of the card game I was in the hole but later I began to do well.in the hole
- in debt, behind financially
Although he is always working he always seems to be in the hole.in the line of duty
- done or happening as part of a job
The police officer was killed in the line of duty during the bank robbery.in the long run
- the distant future, in the end
For now he is losing money on his stocks but in the long run he should make money.in the market for
- wanting or ready to buy something
I am in the market for a new computer as my old one is too slow.in the red
- lose money, not make a profit
The company has been in the red for three years now.in the saddle
- in command, in control
The president is back in the saddle again after being ill for several months.in the same boat
- in a similar situation
We are all in the same boat now that our company has gone out of business.in the soup
- in serious trouble, in disorder
She is in the soup now that she has had a big fight with her boss.in the swim
- active in or knowing what is going on
He is definitely in the swim. He has information about everybody.in the wake of
- as a result of, following
In the wake of the large number of people who have recently left our company we will need to hire some more people.in the wind
- soon to happen, being planned
It is in the wind that they are planning to open a new store next year.in the works
- in preparation, being planned or worked on
Don't worry about whether or not we will be building the new computer lab. It is definitely in the works.in the wrong
- wrong; against justice, truth or fact
The driver was in the wrong and was arrested by the police after the accident.in time
- early enough
I didn't come home in time to meet my cousin.into thin air
- completely, without anything left
The group of hikers vanished into thin air and were never heard of again.in touch
- talking or writing to each other, giving or getting news
We are still in touch even though we have been out of school for many years.in tow
- being pulled
The truck had a trailer in tow when it went off the highway.in tow
- being taken from place to place, along with someone
She spent the morning at the shopping center with her child in tow.in tune
- going well together, in agreement, matching
We have been in tune with each other ever since we met at our high school graduation party.in turn
- each following another
We went up to the front of the class in turn in order to pick up our diplomas.in two shakes of a lamb's tail
- quickly, in no time at all
I will have this finished in two shakes of a lamb's tail and then I will give it to you.in vain
- without effect, without success
We tried in vain to find a good job but it was impossible.in view of
- after thinking about, because of
In view of the large number of people who have come I think that we will need a bigger room.in with
- in friendship, favor or closeness with
I think that he was in with the wrong group of people when he was in high school.iron out
- work out
We have ironed out all of our problems and are finally doing better.irons in the fire
- things one is doing, projects with which a person is busy
Recently he has too many irons in the fire. That is why he has become sick.itching palm
- a wish for money, greed
The guard at the border crossing has an itching palm so be careful of him.
