Commonly used english part 40 potx

in place - in the proper place or location Everything in the room was in place when we arrived for the meeting.. in point of fact - really, truthfully In point of fact there were not eno

in other words

- in a different (usually more direct) way

"In other words, if I don`t finish the assignment by Wednesday I will not pass the course."

in over one's head

- have more difficulties than one can manage

The supervisor was in over his head when he began to try and fire people for no reason

in part

- to some extent, partly

I think that the reason he is not golfing well this year is in part because of his back problem

in particular

- specifically, especially

My father likes almost all sports but in particular he loves basketball

in passing

- casually, as an aside

I mentioned to my friend in passing that I had recently decided to change jobs

in pencil

- written or signed with a pencil

I wrote the exam in pencil in case I wanted to change some of the answers

in perpetuity

- eternally, forever

The school was given the right to use the city park for sports in perpetuity

in person

- actually present at a place or event

I had to go to the bank and sign the papers in person

in place

- in the proper place or location

Everything in the room was in place when we arrived for the meeting

in place of (someone or something)

- instead of someone or something

I was able to play in the soccer tournament in place of an injured player

in plain language/English

- in simple and clear language

My bank explained to me in plain English what the terms of the loan were

in point of fact

- really, truthfully

In point of fact there were not enough people at the meeting to vote on the proposal

in practice

- in the actual doing of something

In practice the business does not operate the way that you would expect it to

in practice

- well-practiced, well-exercised

The girl was not in practice and couldn't play the piano very well

in print

- a book or magazine is available for sale from the publisher

The book which I am looking for is still in print

in private

- privately

The meeting was held in private in the office of the school principal

in progress

- taking place at this time

The meeting is now in progress so we can't enter the room

in proportion

- having the right/wrong proportion in relation to something else

We tried to make sure that the bookshelves were in proportion when we rebuilt the house

in public

- in a place/way where other people can see

People are not allowed to smoke in public in many places

in pursuit of (something)

- chase after something

The young man has been in pursuit of his dream of becoming a doctor for a long time

in rags

- dressed in worn-out and torn clothing

The man standing outside the restaurant was in rags

in reality

- really

The woman said that she wants a job but in reality I don't think that she really wants

to work

in receipt of (something)

- having received something

I am in receipt of an order from the city to cut down a tree in our backyard

in recent memory

- the recent period of time in which you can remember things

In recent memory our football team has never been as strong as it is this year

in rehearsal

- developing or practicing for a play/opera/concert

I talked to the conductor of our orchestra in rehearsal today

in remission

- a disease that seems to be getting better

The cancer of my neighbor's mother has been in remission for several weeks now

in retrospect

- thinking about the past with the knowledge one now has

In retrospect, I would have handled the conflict with my friend very differently

in return for (someone or something)

- as part of an exchange, as a way of paying someone back

In return for cleaning his carpets my friend helped me clean up our basement

in round numbers/figures

- an estimated number, a figure that has been rounded off

I was able to learn, in round numbers, how much it would cost to move to a larger apartment

in ruin

- destroyed

Most of the hotels along the beach were in ruin after the hurricane

in search of (someone or something)

- trying to find someone or something

I have been in search of a good restaurant for the family dinner for several weeks now

in season

- currently available for sale, legally able to be caught/hunted

The cherries are in season now and they are very delicious

in secret

- secretly

The meeting to talk about building the new hospital took place in secret

in session

- a court/organization is operating or functioning

The court has been in session since 9:00 AM

in seventh heaven

- very happy

I have been in seventh heaven since I started my new job

in shambles

- in a messy state

The house was in shambles after the two little boys played in it all day

in short

- stated briefly

"In short, I have just explained how we are going to do the next project."

in short order

- very quickly

I finished my work in short order and joined my friends at the restaurant

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

in sight

- able to be seen

There were no birds in sight so we went back to the hotel and stopped bird watching for the day

in single file

- lined up, one behind the other

Everybody lined up in single file behind the leader of each group

(not) in so many words

- (not) exactly, (not) explicitly

My teacher told me about the problems in our class but not in so many words

in some/many respects

- with regard to some or many details

In many respects our new house is much more convenient than our previous one

in some way/ways

- in some unspecified way or manner, by some unspecified means

In some ways I know what my friend thinks but in some ways I do not

in (someone's) clutches

- in the control of someone who has power over someone else

I think that the young boy is in his friend's clutches and can't make up his mind for himself

in (someone's) favor

- to someone's advantage or credit

The judge decided the court case in our favor and we didn't have to pay the court costs

in (someone's) name

- in someone's ownership/property

I put my father's car in my name as soon as he gave it to me

in (someone's) prayers

- remembered by name when someone prays

My friend's father was in my prayers when he went to the hospital for a major

operation

in (someone's) shoes/place

- seeing or experiencing something from someone else's point of view

I wish that my father could see some of my difficulties at work in my shoes

in spite of

- in opposition to, despite

In spite of the terrible weather we went to the beach for a picnic

in step with (someone or something)

- marching with the same rhythm as someone else, in agreement with the others in a group

All of the members of our group were in step with each other regarding the New Year's party

in stitches

- laughing

They were in stitches over their teacher`s joke

in stock

- available or ready to sell or use

The store did not have any computer discs in stock

in storage

- in a place where things are stored or kept

We put all of our furniture in storage and went for a trip around the world

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 style

- in fashion, fashionable

Recently, the clothes that my sister wears are not in style

in surgery

- undergoing or doing surgery

My grandfather was in surgery for several hours this morning

in tandem

- in single file

All of the students walked in tandem as they went to the sports festival

in tatters

- torn or destroyed

My backpack was in tatters after the dogs finished playing with it

in terms of (something)

- with regard to something

In terms of our agreement with the other company we were not allowed to sell the products online

in the absence of (someone or something)

- without someone or something

In the absence of any concrete plans for the building we decided to try and sell it

in the act of (doing something)

- while doing something

The young man was arrested in the act of stealing the stereo from the store

in the affirmative

- saying yes

Everybody in the class voted in the affirmative to go golfing for the field trip

in the air

- current, exerting an influence

It is in the air that we will be getting a new supervisor next week

in the bag

- certain, sure

The new contract will be in the bag if we put in a good proposal