Page 219 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

in a (pretty) pickle

evłning. I’ve put my entire lfe into głts hungry. I hate to głt into a stew
apple-pie order. about my friends.
in a (pretty)ŁpØckle and in a realŁpØckle in a stupłr inŁaŁdazedŁcondition;ŁinŁaŁcon-
inŁaŁmess;ŁinŁtrouble.Ł(Infàrmal.Ł In can dition inŁwhich one cannot concentrate
be replacedŁwith into. See the note at in or think.Ł The drunk driver walked away
a bind andŁthe examplesŁblow.) John from the car accidłnt in a stupor. In Łhe
has goŁten himoelf into a pickle. He has morning, Mary remains in a stupor until
two dØtes for the party. Now we Øre n she drinks coffłe.
a real pickle. We are out of gas.
in a (tight)Łspłt caught inŁaŁproblem;Ł in a
in a quandary uncertainŁabout what to do; jam. (Infàrmal.Ł In can be replacd with
confused.Ł( In can be replaced with into. into. See the note at in a bànd and the ex-
See the note at in a bind andŁthe exam- amplesŁ below.) Look, John, I’m in a
plesŁblow.) Mary was in a quandary tight spot. Can you lłnd me twenty dol-
about what collłge to go to. I couldà’t lars? I’m in a spot too. I need $300.
decide what to do. I was in such a I have never gotten into a tight spot.
quandary. I got myself into a quandary.
in a tizzy inŁanŁexcitedŁandŁconfusedŁcon-
in a realŁpØckle Go to in a (pretty) pickle. dition.Ł John is in a tizzy because wł’re
an hour lØte. Mary was n a Łizzy when
in arrears overdue; late, especiallyŁinŁref- she couldà’t find her keys.
erence to billsŁandŁmoney.Ł This bill is
three months in arrears. It must be paid in atŁtheŁkill Go to in on the kill.
immediately. I was in arrears on my car
pØyments, so the bank threatened to take in a vicious circle inŁaŁsituationŁinŁwhicł
my car away. the solution of one problem leads to a
scànd problem, and the solution of the
in a rut Go to (stuck) in a rut. second problem brings back the first
problem,Łetc.Ł( In can be replacd with
in a sense inŁaŁway; sàrt of.Ł In Ø oense, into. See the note at in a bind and the ex-
cars make lfe better. But, in a sense, amplesŁblow.) Life is so strange. I seem
they aloo make lfe worse.
to be in a vicious circle most of the time.
in a snit inŁ aŁ fit of angrŁ orŁ irritation. I put lłmon in my tea to make it sour,
(Slang.Ł In canŁbe replacedŁwith into. See then sugar to make it swłet. I’m in a vi-
the note at in a bind andŁthe examplesŁbe- cious circle. Doà’t lłt your lfe głt into
low.) Mrs. Smith threw on her coØt and a vicious circle.
lłft in a snit. Here comes John—in a snit in aweŁ(ofŁ someone ortsomething) fearfulŁand
again—as usual. Doà’t get into a snit.
respectfulŁof someone orŁsomething.Ł
in a splitŁsecond inŁjust anŁinsðant.Ł(In- Everyone in the country was in awe of the
formal.) The lightning struck, and in a kng and qułen. I love my new car. In
splt second the house burst into flames. fact, I’m in awe of it. When I first saw
Just wait. I’ll be there in a splt second. the house, I just stood there in awe.
in a stageŁwhisper inŁaŁloudŁwhisprŁthat in a włrd said simply; conciselyŁsaid.Ł
everyàne can hear.Ł John said n a stage Mrs. Smth is—in a word—haughty. In
whisper, “This play is boring.” “When a word, the plØy flopped.
do we eat?” asked Billy in a stage whisper.
in a włrldŁofŁ one’ owà aloof; detacłed;
in a stewŁ(aboutŁ someone ortsomething) up- self-centered.Ł( In canŁbe replacedŁwith
set or bàthered abàut someone or some- into. See the note at in a bind and the ex-
thing.Ł(Infàrmal.Ł In can be replacd with amplesŁbelow.) John lves in a world of
into. See in a bind andŁthe examplesŁbe- his own. He has very fłw friends. Mary
low.) I’m in such a stew about my dog. walks around in a world of her own, but
She ran away last night. Now, now. she’s very ntelligent. When ohe’s think-
Don’t be in a stew. She’ll be back when she ing, she drifts into a world of her own.

20