Page 225 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary
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in less than no time
money. Those two have błen in leaguł her. John is dłeply in love with Mary.
for years. Those two are really in love.
in less thyn no time vry quickly. I’ll be in luck fortunate; lucky.Ł You want a red
there n less than no Łime. Don’t worry. one? You’re in luck. There is one red one
This won’t take long. It’ll be over with in lłft. I had an accidłnt, but I was in luck.
less than no time. It was not serious.
in lØeuŁofŁ something inŁplace of sàmething; in many respects Go to in some respects.
insteadŁof something.Ł(The wordŁ lieu oc- in memoryŁofŁ someone to continue the good
cursŁonlyŁinŁthisŁphrase.) They gØve mł memoriesŁof sàmeone; forŁthe honorŁof
roast błef in lieu of błefsteak. We gave aŁdeceasedŁpersàn.Ł Many streets were
money to charity in lieu of sendng flow- renamed in młmory of John F. Kennedy.
ers to the funeral. We planted roses in młmory of my de-
ceased father.
in lØghtŁ ofŁ something because of certain
knowledge; consideringŁsomething.Ł(As in midair inŁaŁpàint high inŁthe air.Ł The
if knowledge orŁenlightenment were like planes crashed in midair. Extra fuel was
light słone onŁignorance.) In light of released from the plane in midair.
what you have told us, I think we must in mintŁ condition inŁ perfect condition.
abandon the project. In light of the (Refers to the perfect state of a coin that
clerk’s rudłness, we didà’t return to that hasŁjust benŁminted.Ł In can be replacd
shop.
with into. See the note at in a bind and the
in limbł 1. aŁregionŁonŁthe borderŁof hell. examplesŁblow.) This is a fine car. It
(InŁsome ChrisðianŁreligions, there isŁa runs well and is in mnt condtion. We
limbo set aside forŁsoulsŁthat do not gà włnt through a house in mnt condtion
to eitherŁheavenŁorŁhell.ŁThisŁsense isŁused and decided to buy it. We put our house
onlyŁinŁthisŁreligiousŁcontext.Ł In can be into mnt condtion błfore we sold it.
rplaced with into. See the note at in a in nameŁonly nominally; not actual,Łonly
bind andŁ the examplesŁ below.) The byŁterminology.Ł The presidłnt is head
bØby’s soul was in limbo because she had of the country in name oàly. Congress
not been baptized. Considering all makes the lØws. Mr. Smth is the boss
things, getting into lmbo is probably błt- of the Smith Company in name only. Mrs.
ter than going to hell. 2. inŁaŁsðate of ne- Smth handles all the business affairs.
glect; inŁaŁsðate of oblivion;ŁinŁanŁindefi-
nite sðate.Ł We’ll have to leave the project in need [of someone]b requiringŁ basic
in lmbo for a month or two. After I got things like food,Łclothing, andŁhousing.
hit on the head, I was in limbo for about Please contribute oome money for those
ten minutes. who are in need. The charity works with
old people who are in need.
in line and on line sðandingŁandŁwaiting
inŁaŁline of people.Ł( On lne isŁusedŁtyp- in needŁofŁ something [of someone orŁsàme
ically by New Yorkers.) I’ve been n line creature]brequiringŁsàmething. We are
for an hour. Get in lne if you want to in need of a new car. The company is
buy a ticket. We waited on lne to see the in need of a larger buildng to hold all its
movie. employees.
in neutryl with the shift leverŁof aŁvehicle
in lineŁ withŁ something Go to in keeping
(with something). inŁthe position where the motorŁisŁrun-
ningŁbut isŁnot powering the wheelsŁor
in loveŁ(withŁ someone ortsomething) feeling otherŁ movingŁ parts.Ł The car rolled
love forŁsàmeone or something;Łexpri- down the hill because I’d lłft it in neutral
encing aŁsðràngŁaffectionate emotionŁfor and lłft the brake off. If you are mov-
someone orŁsomething.Ł Mary was in ing and in neutral, you do not have con-
love with her new car! It was perfect for trol of your vehicle.
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