[I’ll tell you what] or [tell you what] {informal} Here is an idea. •/The hamburger stand is closed, but I’ll tell you what, let’s go to my house and cook some hot dogs./

[ill] See: IT’S AN ILL WIND THAT BLOWS NOBODY GOOD, TAKE ILL.

[ill at ease]{adj. phr.} Not feeling at ease or comfortable; anxious; worried; unhappy. •/Donald had never been to a big party before and he was ill at ease./ •/When Joe first went to dancing school, he was ill at ease, not knowing how to act./ Contrast: AT EASE(2).

[ill-favored]{adj.} Ugly; unprepossessing. •/Oddly enough, the father had less trouble in marrying off his ill-favored daughter than her prettier sister./

[ill-gotten gains]{n. phr.} Goods or money obtained in an illegal or immoral fashion. •/The jailed criminal had plenty of time to think about his ill-gotten gains./

[image] See: SPITTING IMAGE or SPIT AND IMAGE.

[impose on]{v.} To try to get more from (a person who is helping you) than he or she intended to give. •/Don’t you think you are imposing on your neighbor when you use his telephone for half an hour?/ •/You may swim in the Allens' pool so long as you do not impose on them by bringing all your friends./ Compare: TAKE ADVANTAGE.

[improve on] or [improve upon] {v.} To make or get one that is better than (another). •/Dick made good marks the first year, but he thought he could improve on them./ •/Charles built a new model racer for the derby race, because he knew he could improve upon his old one./

[I’m telling you]{informal} It is important to listen to what I am saying. •/Marian is a smart girl but I’m telling you, she doesn’t always do what she promises./

[in a bad frame of mind]{adv. phr.} In an unhappy mood. •/Make sure the boss is not in a bad frame of mind when you ask him for a raise./ Contrast: IN A GOOD FRAME OF MIND.

[in a bad way]{adv. phr.}, {informal} In trouble or likely to have trouble. •/If you have only those two girls to help you, you are in a bad way./ •/Jerry has written only one sentence of his term paper that is due tomorrow, and he knows he is in a bad way./ •/Mrs. Jones has cancer and is in a bad way./ •/A new supermarket opened across the street, and the Peters' grocery business was soon in a bad way./

[in a big way]{adv. phr.}, {informal} As fully as possible; with much ceremony. •/Our family celebrates birthdays in a big way./ •/John likes to entertain his dates in a big way./

[in a bind] or [in a box] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Likely to have trouble whether you do one thing or another. •/Sam is in a bind because if he carries home his aunt’s groceries, his teacher will be angry because he is late, and if he doesn’t, his aunt will complain./ Compare: BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, HORNS OF A DILEMMA.

[in a breeze] See: WIN IN A WALK or WIN IN A BREEZE.

[in absentia]{adv. phr.}, {formal} When the person is absent. — Used in graduation exercises when presenting diplomas to an absent student or during a court case. •/On Commencement Day, Joe was sick in bed and the college gave him his bachelor’s degree in absentia./ (Latin, meaning "in absence.")

[in accordance with]{adv. phr.} In consonance with something; conforming to something. •/Employees at this firm are expected to always behave in accordance with the rules./

[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).