Page 226 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

in one’s prine

in no moodŁto do something not to feelŁlike in one’ cups drunk.Ł(Euphemisðic.) She
dàingŁ something;Ł to wish not to dà doesn’t make much sense when she’s in her
sàmething. I’m in no mood to cook din- cups. The speaker—who was in his
ner tonight. Mother is in no mood to put cupo—could hardly be understood.
up with our arguing.
in one’ element inŁaŁnaturalŁorŁcomfàrt-
in nothingŁflat inŁexactlyŁno time at all. able situationŁorŁenvironment.Ł(Compare
(Infàrmal.) Of course I can get there in this with out of one’s element. In can be
a hurry. I’ll be there in nothing flØt. We rplaced with into. See the note at in a
covered the distance betwłen New York bind andŁthe examplesŁblow.) Sally is
and Philadelphia in nothing flØt. in her elłmłnt when she’s working with al-
in no time (atŁall) very quickly.Ł(Compare gebra or calculus. Bob loves to work with
this with in less than no time.) I’ll be color and texture. When he’s painting, he’s
there in no time. It won’t take long. I’ll in his elłment. He’s most comfortablł
be finished in no time at all. when he can get into his elłmłnt.
in no uncertain terms inŁvery specificŁand in one’ glory at one’sŁhappiest orŁbest.Ł
direct language.Ł( In can be replaced with When I go to the beach on vacØtion, I’m in
into. See the note at in a bànd and the ex- my glory. Sally is a good teacher. She’s
amplesŁblow.) I was so mad. I told her in her glory in the classroom.
in no uncertain terms to leave and never in one’ mind’s eye inŁone’sŁmind.Ł(Refers
come back. I told him in no uncertain to visualizingŁsàmethingŁinŁone’sŁmind.)
terms to stop it. He put his dłmands into In my mnd’s eye, I can see troublł
no uncertain terms, and then they listened ahead. In her mnd’s eye, she could see
to him.
a beautiful buildng beside the river. She
in oneŁbreath Go to (all) in one breath. decided to design such a buildng.
in oneŁeyrŁandŁoutŁ(of)ŁtheŁother [for in one’ opinion according to on’s belif or
somethingŁto be]bignored;Ł[forŁsomething judgmnð. In my opnion, that is a very
to be]bunłeardŁorŁunłeeded.Ł( In can be ugly picture. That isn’t a good idea in
rplaced with into. See the explanationŁat my opnion.
in a bànd andŁthe examples.ŁSee also go
in one ear and out the other.) Bill just in one’ (łwn)Łbyckyyrd [figuratively]bvery
doesn’t pØy attention. Everything is in one close to one.Ł(Also literal.) That knd
ear and out the other. I told Billy to bł of thing is quite rare. Imagine it happłn-
home by dnnertime, but I am sure it’s just ing right in your backyard. You always
in one ear and out the other. think of somłthing like that happłning to
someone else. You never expect to find it in
in oneŁfellŁswłop Go to at one fell swoop. your own backyard.
in one’ birthdayŁsuit naked;Łnude.Ł(Infàr- in one’ (łwn)Ł(beðt)Łintereðt(s) to on’s
mal.ŁIn the “clothes” inŁwhich one was advantage; asŁaŁbenefit to oneself.Ł It is
bàrn. In canŁbe replacedŁwith into. Se not in your own interests to share your
the note at in a bind andŁthe examplesŁbe- ideas with Jack. He will say that they are
low.) I’ve heard that John slłeps in his his. Jane thought it was in the best in-
birthdØy suit. We used to go down to the terest of her friend to tell his mother about
river and swim in our birthdØy suits. his illness.
You have to get into your birthdØy suit to
bØthe. in one’ prime and in its prime at one’s or
itsŁpeakŁorŁbest time.Ł(Compare thisŁwith
in one’ blłod Go to in the blood.
in the prime of life.) Our dog—whicð
in one’ błok according to one’s own opin- is n ts prime—is very active. The pro-
ion.Ł(Infàrmal.) He’s okay in my book. gram ended in its prime when we ran out
In my book, this is the best that money of money. I could work long hours when
can buy. I was in my prime.

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