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[in a circle] or [in circles]{adv. phr.} Without any progress; without getting anywhere; uselessly. •/The committee debated for two hours, just talking in circles./ •/If you don’t have a clear aim, you can work a long time and still be going in circles./ •/He seemed to be working hard, but was just running around in circles./

[in addition]{adv. phr.} As something extra; besides. •/We saw a Mickey Mouse cartoon in addition to the cowboy movie./ •/Aunt Mary gave us sandwiches for our picnic and a bag of cookies in addition./ •/He has two cars and in addition a motorboat./

[in advance] or [in advance of]{adv. phr.} 1. In front; ahead (of the others); first. •/In the parade, the band will march in advance of the football team./ •/The soldiers rode out of the fort with the scouts in advance./ 2. Before doing or getting something. •/The motel man told Mr. Williams he would have to pay in advance./ •/The paperhanger mixed his paste quite a while in advance so it would have time to cool./ •/It will be easier to decorate the snack bar if we cut the streamers in advance of the actual decorating./

[in a family way] or [in the family way]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Going to have a baby. •/Sue and Liz are happy because their mother is in the family way./ •/The Ferguson children are promising kittens to everyone because their cat is in a family way./ Compare: WITH CHILD.

[in a fix]{adv. phr.} In trouble. •/Last night Jack wrecked his car and now he is in a fix./ Compare: IN A JAM, IN A PICKLE.

[in a flash] also [in a trice]{adv. phr.} Very suddenly. •/We were watching the bird eat the crumbs; then I sneezed, and he was gone in a flash./ •/Bob was looking over his notes for English class and in a flash he knew what he would write his paper about./

[in a flutter]{adv. phr.}, {informal} In a state of nervous excitement. •/Whenever Norm and Cathy are near one another, both are in a flutter; they must be in love./

[in a fog] or [in a haze]{adv. phr.} Mentally confused; not sure what is happening. •/I didn’t vote for Alice because she always seems to be in a fog./ •/I was so upset that for two days I went around in a haze, not even answering when people spoke to me./ Contrast: ALL THERE, HIT ON ALL CYLINDERS.

[in a good frame of mind]{adv. phr.} In a happy mood. •/After a relaxing holiday in the Bahamas, the boss was in a very good frame of mind./ Contrast: IN A BAD FRAME OF MIND.

[in a hole] or [in a spot]{adj. phr.}, {informal} In an embarrassing or difficult position; in some trouble. •/When the restaurant cook left at the beginning of the busy season, it put the restaurant owner in a hole./ Compare: BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL, IN THE HOLE.

[in a huff]{adv. phr.}, {informal} Angrily. •/Ellen went off in a huff because she didn’t get elected class president./

[in a jam]{adv. phr.}, {informal} In a predicament; in a situation fraught with difficulty. •/If you continue to disregard the university instructions on how to take a test, you’ll wind up in a jam with the head of the department./ Compare: IN A PICKLE, IN DEEP SHIT.

[in a jiffy]{adv. phr.}, {informal} Immediately; right away; in a moment. •/Wait for me; I’ll be back in a jiffy./

[in a kind of way] See: IN A WAY(1).

[in a lather]{adj.}, {slang} In great excitement; all worked up; extremely agitated. •/I couldn’t get across to Joe, he was all in a lather./

[in all]{adv. phr.} 1. All being counted; altogether. •/You have four apples and I have three bananas, making seven pieces of fruit in all./ •/In all we did very well./ 2. See: ALL IN ALL(2).

[in and out]{adv. phr.} 1. Coming in and going out often. •/He was very busy Saturday and was in and out all day./ 2. See: INSIDE OUT(2).

[in another’s place] See: PUT ONESELF IN ANOTHER’S PLACE.

[in a nutshell]{adv. phr.}, {informal} In a few words; briefly, without telling all about it. •/We are in a hurry, so I’ll give you the story in a nutshell./ •/In a nutshell, the car is no bargain./ Compare: IN SHORT.

[in any case] also [in any event] or [at all events]{adv. phr.} 1. No matter what happens: surely; without fail; certainly; anyhow; anyway. •/It may rain tomorrow, but we are going home in any case./ •/I may not go to Europe, but in any event, I will visit you during the summer./ 2. Regardless of anything else; whatever else may be true; anyhow; anyway. •/Tom was not handsome and he was not brilliant, but at all events he worked hard and was loyal to his boss./ •/I don’t know if it is a white house or a brown house. At all events, it is a big house on Main Street./ Compare: AT ANY RATE, AT LEAST(2).

[in any event] See: IN ANY CASE.

[in a pickle]{adv. phr.}, {informal} In a quandary; in a difficult situation. •/I was certainly in a pickle when my front tire blew out./

[in a pig’s eye]{adv.}, {slang}, [informal] Hardly; unlikely; not so. •/Would I marry him? In a pig’s eye./

[in a pinch]{adv. phr.}, {informal} In an emergency. •/Dave is a good friend who will always help out in a pinch./

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