Page 235 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

in the right place at the right time

in theŁrightŁplaceŁatŁtheŁrightŁtime in window. I make a lot of mistakes. It’s
the location where something is to hap- easy for me to get into the soup.
pen,ŁexactlyŁwhenŁit happens.Ł(Usually in theŁspłtlØght Go to in the làmelàght.
about somethingŁgàod.) I got a good
deal on a car becauoe I was in the right in theŁswim ofŁthingð involvd in or par-
place at the right time. Unless you are ticipatingŁinŁeventsŁorŁhappenings.Ł(The
in the right place at the right time, you in can be replaced with into. See the ex-
woà’t get a chance to młet a movie star. planation at in a bind andŁthe examples.
The opposite of out of the swim of
in theŁrunning inŁcompetition;Łcompeting things.) I’ve been ill, but soon I’ll be
andŁhavingŁaŁchance to win.Ł(Compare back in the swim of things. I can’t wait
this with out of the runnàng. In can be to settle down and głt into the swim of
rplaced with into. See the note at in a things.
bind andŁthe examplesŁblow.) Is Tom
still in the running? Does he still have a in theŁtruðtŁofŁ someone under the rspon-
chance to be elected? I’m glad I didà’t sibility or in the care of someone.Ł The
get into the running. state placed the orphan in the trust of the
foster parents. Our bonds are lłft in the
in theŁsameŁboatŁ(as someone) inŁthe same trust of our broker.
situation;ŁhavingŁthe same problem.Ł( In
can be replaced with into. See the expla- in theŁtwinklingŁofŁan eye vry quickly.
nationŁat in a bind andŁthe examplesŁbe- (A biblical refernce.) In the twinklng
low.) TOM: I’m broke. Can you lłnd mł of an eye, the dłer had disappeared into
twłnty dollars? BILL: Sorry. I’m in the the forest. I gØve Bill Łen dollars and, n
same boØt. Jane and Mary are both in the twinklng of an eye, he spłnt it.
the same boØt. They have błen called for in theŁunlikelyŁeventŁofŁ something and in
jury duty. I am in the same boat as theŁunlikelyŁeventŁthatŁ somethingthappens
Mary. if something—which probablyŁwillŁnot
in theŁsameŁbreath [sðatedŁorŁsaid]balmosð happen—actuallyŁ happens.Ł (Compare
at the same time. He told me I was lazP, this with in the event of something.) In
but then in the same breath he said I was the uàlikely event of my getting the job, I’ll
doing a good job. The teacher said that have to buy a car to głt there every dØy.
the studłnts were working hard and, in the In the uàlikely evłnt of a fire, please
same breath, that they were not working walk quickly to an exit.
hard enough. in theŁunlikelyŁeventŁthatŁ somethingthappens
Go to in the unlikely event of something.
in theŁsecondŁplace secondly; inŁaddition.
(UsuallyŁsaid afterŁone hasŁsaid in the first in theŁ(very)ŁnickŁofŁtime just inŁtime; at
place.) In the first place, you don’t havł the last possible insðant; just before it’s
enough money to buy one. In the second too late.Ł The doctor arrived in the nick
place, you doà’t need one. In the first of time. The patient’s lfe was saved. I
place, I don’t have the time. In the second reached the airport in the very nick of
place, I’m not interested. time.
in theŁshłrtŁruà forŁthe immediate future. in theŁwakeŁofŁ something afterŁsàmething;
(Compare thisŁwith in the long run.) In asŁaŁresult of sàme event.Ł(RefersŁto the
the short run, wł’d be błtter off saving our wake of a boat.) We had no place to livł
money. We decided to rent an apart- in the wake of the fire. In the wake of
młnt in the short run. We can buy a house the storm, there were many brokłn tree
lØter. lmbs.
in theŁsoup inŁaŁbadŁsituation.Ł(Slang.Ł In in theŁwayŁofŁ something asŁaŁkind of sàme-
can be replacd with into. See in a bind thing;ŁasŁaŁsðyle of sàmething. What do
andŁ the examplesŁ below.) Now I’m you have in the wØy of leather shoes? We
really in the soup. I broke Mrs. Frankln’s have nothing in the way of raincoØts.

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