[in one’s shell] or [into one’s shell] {adv.} or {adj. phr.}, {informal} In or into bashfulness; into silence; not sociable; unfriendly. •/After Mary’s mother scolded her, she went into her shell./ •/The teacher tried to get Rose to talk to her, but she stayed in her shell./ Contrast: OUT OF ONE’S SHELL.

[in one’s shoes] also [in one’s boots] {adv. phr.} In or into one’s place or position. •/How would you like to be in a lion tamer’s boots?/ Compare: PUT ONESELF IN ANOTHER’S PLACE, STEP INTO ONE’S SHOES.

[in one’s sleeve] See: UP ONE’S SLEEVE.

[in one’s tracks]{adv. phr.}, {informal} 1. Just where one is at the moment; abruptly; immediately. •/The hunter’s rifle cracked and the rabbit dropped in his tracks./ •/Mary stopped dead in her tracks, turned around, and ran back home./ Syn.: ON THE SPOT(1), THEN AND THERE. 2. See: FOLLOW IN ONE’S FOOTSTEPS.

[in one’s way]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. Within reach; likely to be met; before you. •/The chance to work for a printer was put in my way./ Compare: PUT IN THE WAY OF. 2. or [in the way] In your path as a hindrance; placed so as to block the way. •/Fred tried to get to the door, but the table was in the way./ •/A tree had fallen across the street and was in Jim’s way as he drove./ •/Mary tried to clean the house, but the baby was always in the way./

[in order]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. In arrangement; in the proper way of following one another. •/Come to my desk in alphabetical order as I call your names./ •/Line up and walk to the door in order./ •/Name all the presidents in order./ Compare: IN TURN. 2. In proper condition. •/The car was in good working order when I bought it./ •/The club leader looked at the club treasurer’s records of money collected and spent, and found them all in order./ Compare: IN COMMISSION(2), PUT ONE’S HOUSE IN ORDER. 3. Following the rules; proper; suitable. •/Is it in order to ask the speaker questions at the meeting?/ •/At the end of a program, applause for the performers is in order./ Compare: IN PLACE. Contrast: OUT OF ORDER. 4. See: PUT ONE’S HOUSE IN ORDER or SET ONE’S HOUSE IN ORDER.

[in order that] See: SO THAT(1).

[in order to] or [so as to] {conj.} For the purpose of; to. — Used with an infinitive. •/In order to follow the buffalo, the Indians often had to move their camps./ •/We picked apples so as to make a pie./ Compare: SO THAT.

[in part]{adv. phr.} To some extent; partly; not wholly. — Often used with "large" or "small". •/We planted the garden in pan with flowers. But in large part we planted vegetables./ •/Tom was only in small part responsible./

[in particular]{adv. phr.} In a way apart from others; more than others; particularly; especially. •/The speaker talked about sports in general and about football In particular./ •/All the boys played well and Bill in particular./ •/Margaret liked all her classes, but she liked sewing class in particular./ Contrast: IN GENERAL.

[in passing]{adv. phr.} While talking about that subject; as extra information; also. •/Our teacher showed us different kinds of flowers and told us in passing that those flowers came from her garden./ •/The writer of the story says he grew up in New York and mentions in passing that his parents came from Italy./ Compare: BY THE WAY.

[in person] also [in the flesh] {adv. phr.} Yourself; personally. •/A TV actor appeared in person today in school./ •/The governor cannot march in the parade in person today, but his wife wilt march./ Compare: FACE-TO-FACE(2). Contrast: INSTEAD OF.

[in place(1)]{adv. phr.} 1a. In the right or usual place or position. •/Nothing is in place after the earthquake. Even trees and houses are turned over./ •/The picture is not in place on the wall. It is crooked./ 1b. In one place. •/Our first exercise in gym class was running in place./ 2. In proper order. •/Stay in place in line, children./ Compare: IN ORDER. Contrast: OUT OF PLACE.

[in place(2)]{adj. phr.} In the right place or at the right time; suitable; timely. •/A dog is not in place in a church./ •/Linda wondered if it would be in place to wish the bride good luck after the wedding./ Compare: IN ORDER(1). Contrast: OUT OF PLACE.

[in place of] See: INSTEAD OF.

[in plain English]{adv. phr.} Plainly; simply; in clear language. •/Stop healing around the bush and saying that John "prevaricates"; in plain English he is a liar./

[in poor shape]{adv. phr.} In a bad condition. •/Most of the streets of Chicago are in poor shape due to the heavy snow and frost during the winters./

[in practice(1)] also [into practice] {adv. phr.} In actual doing. •/The idea sounds good but will it work in practice?/ •/It is easy to say that we will he good. It is harder to put the saying into practice./

[in practice(2)]{adj. phr.} In proper condition to do something well through practice. •/A pianist gets his fingers in practice by playing scales./ •/An ice-skater keeps in practice by skating every day./ Compare: IN SHAPE. Contrast: OUT OF PRACTICE.

[in print]{adj. phr.} Obtainable in printed form from a printer or publisher; printed. •/The author has finished writing his book but it is not yet in print./ •/The story of the students' trip to Washington appeared in print in the newspaper./ •/It is a very old book and no longer in print./ Contrast: OUT OF PRINT.

[in private]{adj.} or {adv. phr.} Not openly or in public; apart from others; confidentially; secretly. •/Mr. Jones waited until they were home in private before he punished his son./ •/The teacher told Susan that she wanted to talk to her in private after class./ Compare: IN SECRET. Contrast: IN PUBLIC.

[in progress]{adj. phr.} Going ahead; being made or done; happening. •/Plans are in progress to build a new school next year./ •/A dog ran out on the playing field while the game was in progress./ Contrast: IN CHECK.

[in public]{adv. phr.} 1. In a place open to the people; in such a way that the public may see, hear, or know; not secretly; openly. •/Two boys down the street are dancing in public for pennies./ •/Actors are used to appearing in public./ •/The mayor has told his friends that he is sick but will not admit it in public./ Contrast: IN PRIVATE. 2. See: AIR ONE’S DIRTY LINEN IN PUBLIC or WASH ONE’S DIRTY LINEN IN PUBLIC.

[in question]{adj. phr.} 1. In doubt; in dispute; being argued about or examined. •/I know Bill would he a good captain for the team. That is not in question. But does he want to be captain?/ Contrast: BEYOND QUESTION. 2. Under discussion; being talked or thought about. •/The girls in question are not in school today./ •/On the Christmas Day in question, we could not go to Grandmother’s house, as we do every year./

[in quest of] See: IN SEARCH OF.

[in reason]{adv. phr.}, {formal} Following the rules of reasoning; sensibly; reasonably. •/One cannot in reason doubt that freedom is better than slavery./

[in reference to] or [with reference to] or [in regard to ] or [with regard to] {prep.} In connection with; from the standpoint of; concerning; regarding; about. •/I am writing with reference to your last letter./ •/He spoke in reference to the Boy Scouts./ •/I spoke to him with regard to his low marks./ •/In regard to the test tomorrow, it is postponed./ Compare: IN RELATION TO, IN RESPECT TO.