[in regard to] See: IN REFERENCE TO.

[in relation to] or [with relation to] {prep.} In connection with; in dealing with; as concerns; in comparison to; respecting; about. •/Father spoke about school in relation to finding a job when we are older./ •/What did you say in relation to what happened yesterday?/ •/With relation to his job, skill is very important./ •/In relation to Texas, Rhode Island is quite a small state./ Compare: IN REFERENCE TO, IN RESPECT TO.

[in respect to] or [with respect to] In connection with; related to, about; on. •/The teacher told stories about Washington and Lincoln in respect to the importance of being honest./ •/In respect to your visit with us, we hope you can come before September./ •/There was no shortage in respect to food./ Compare: AS TO, IN REFERENCE TO, IN RELATION TO.

[in return]{adv. phr.} In order to give back something; as payment; in recognition or exchange. — Often used with "for". •/Bud gave me his knife and I gave him marbles in return./ •/The lady helped Mother when she was sick and in return Mother often invited her to dinner./ •/How much did John give you in return for your bicycle?/ •/I hit him in return for the time he hit me./ •/I wrote Dad a letter and got a package in return./

[in reverse]{adj.} or {adv. phr.} In a backward direction; backward. •/John hit the tree behind him when he put the car in reverse without looking first./ •/The first of the year Bob did well in school but then he started moving in reverse./

[in round figures]{adv. phr.} As an estimated number; as a rounded-off figure containing no decimals or fractions. •/Skip the cents and just tell me in round figures how much this car repair will cost./

[in round numbers] See: IN ROUND FIGURES.

[ins and outs]{n. phr.} The special ways of going somewhere or doing something; the different parts. •/The janitor knows all the ins and outs of the big school building./ •/Jerry’s father is a good life insurance salesman; he knows all the ins and outs of the business./

[in search of] or {literary} [in quest of] {prep.} Seeking or looking for; in pursuit of. •/Many men went West in search of gold./ •/The hunter stayed in the woods all day in quest of game./ •/We looked everywhere in search of our dog./

[in season]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. {literary} At the proper or best time. •/Fred’s father told him that he was not old enough yet but that he would learn to drive in season./ 2a. At the right or lawful time for hunting or catching. •/Deer will be in season next week./ •/In spring we’ll go fishing when trout are in season./ 2b. At the right time or condition for using, eating, or marketing; in a ripe or eatable condition. •/Christmas trees will be sold at the store in season./ •/Native tomatoes will be in season soon./ •/Oysters are in season during the "R" months./ Compare: IN GOOD TIME. Contrast: OUT OF SEASON.

[in secret]{adv. phr.} In a private or secret way; in a hidden place. •/The miser buried his gold in secret and no one knows where it is./ •/The robbers went away in secret after dark./ Compare: IN PRIVATE.

[in shape] or [in condition] {adj. phr.} In good condition; able to perform well. •/The football team will he in shape for the first game of the season./ •/Mary was putting her French in shape for the lest./ Compare: IN PRACTICE. Contrast: OUT OF SHAPE.

[in short] See: IN BRIEF.

[in short order]{adv. phr.} Without delay; quickly. •/Johnny got ready in short order after his father said that he could come to the ball game if he was ready in time./

[in short supply]{adj. phr.} Not enough; in too small a quantity or amount; in less than the amount or number needed. •/The cookies are in short supply, so don’t eat them all up./ •/We have five people and only four beds, so the beds are in short supply./

[inside] See: STEP INSIDE.

[inside and out] See: INS AND OUTS, INSIDE OUT(2).

[inside of]{prep.} In; within; on or in an inside part of; not beyond; before the end of. •/There is a broom inside of the closet./ •/There is a label on the inside of the box./ •/Hand your papers in to me inside of three days./ Contrast: OUTSIDE OF.

[inside out]{adv.} 1. So that the inside is turned outside. •/Mother turns the stockings inside out when she washes them./ 2. or [inside and out] also [in and out] In every part; throughout; completely. •/David knows the parts of his bicycle inside out./ •/We searched the house inside and out for the kitten./ Compare: BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS, INS AND OUTS, THROUGH AND THROUGH.

[inside track]{n. phr.} 1. The inside, shortest distance around a curved racetrack; the place that is closest to the inside fence. •/A big white horse had the inside track at the start of the race./ 2. {informal} An advantage due to special connections or information. •/I would probably get that job if I could get the inside track./

[insofar as ]{conj.} To the extent that; to the point that; as much as. •/You will learn your lessons only insofar as you are willing to keep studying them./

[in so many words]{adv. phr.} 1. In those exact words. •/He hinted that he thought we were foolish but did not say so in so many words./ 2. or [in no uncertain terms] In an outspoken way; plainly; directly. •/I told him in so many words that he was crazy./ •/Bob was very late for their date, and Mary told Bob in no uncertain terms what she thought of him./ Compare: WORDS OF ONE SYLLABLE.

[in someone else’s shoes] See: IN ONE’S SHOES.

[insomuch as] See: INASMUCH AS.

[in spite of]{prep. phr.} Against the influence or effect of; in opposition to; defying the effect of; despite. •/In spite of the bad storm John delivered his papers on time./ •/In spite of all their differences, Joan and Ann remain friends./

[instance] See: FOR EXAMPLE or FOR INSTANCE.

[in state] See: LIE IN STATE.

[instead of] or [in place of] also {formal} [in lieu of] {prep.} In the place of; in substitution for; in preference to; rather than. •/I wore mittens instead of gloves./ •/The grown-ups had coffee but the children wanted milk in place of coffee./ •/The boys went fishing instead of going to school./ •/The Vice-President talked at the meeting in place of the President, because the President was sick./ •/The magician appeared on the program in lieu of a singer./ Compare: IN PERSON.

[in step]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. With the left or right foot stepping at the same time as another’s or to the beat of music; in matching strides with another person or persons. •/The long line of soldiers marched all in step: Left, right! Left, right!/ •/Johnny marched behind the band in step to the music./ 2. In agreement; abreast. — Often followed by "with". •/Mary wanted to stay in step with her friends and have a doll too./ Contrast: OUT OF STEP.

[in stitches]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Laughing so hard that the sides ache; in a fit of laughing hard. •/The comedian was so funny that he had everyone who was watching him in stitches./

[in stock]{adj. phr.} Having something ready to sell dr use; in present possession or supply; to be sold. •/The store had no more red shoes in stock, so Mary chose brown ones instead./ Compare: IN STORE, ON HAND. Contrast: OUT OF STOCK.