[in store]{adj.} or {adv. phr.} 1. Saved up in case of need; ready for use or for some purpose. •/If the electricity goes off, we have candles in store in the closet./ •/The squirrel has plenty of nuts in store for the winter./ Compare: IN RESERVE, IN STOCK, ON HAND. 2. Ready to happen; waiting. — Often used in the phrase "hold in store" or "have in store". •/What does the future hold in store for the boy who ran away?/ •/There is a surprise in store for Helen when she gets home./

[in stride] See: TAKE IN STRIDE.

[in substance]{adv. phr.} In important facts; in the main or basic parts; basically; really. •/In substance the weather report said that it will be a nice day tomorrow./ •/The two cars are the same in substance, except one is red and the other is red and white./

[insult] See: ADD INSULT TO INJURY.

[intent] See: TO ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES.

[in terms of]{prep.} 1. In the matter of; on the subject of; especially about; about. •/He spoke about books in terms of their publication./ •/What have you done in terms affixing the house?/ •/The children ate a great many hot dogs at the party. In terms of money, they ate $20 worth./ 2. As to the amount or number of. •/We swam a great distance. In terms of miles, it was three./

[in that]{conj.} For the reason that; because. •/I like the city, but I like the country better in that I have more friends in the country./

[in the air]{adv. phr.} 1. In everyone’s thoughts. •/Christmas was in the air for weeks before./ •/The war filled people’s thoughts every day; it was in the air./ Compare: IN THE WIND. 2. Meeting the bodily senses; surrounding you so as to be smelled or felt. •/Spring is in the air./ •/Rain is in the air./ 3. See: LEAVE HANGING, UP IN THE AIR.

[in the back] See: STAB IN THE BACK.

[in the bag]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Sure to be won or gotten; certain. •/Jones had the election in the bag after the shameful news about his opponent came out./ •/We thought we had the game in the bag./ Compare: SEWED UP.

[in the balance] See: HANG IN THE BALANCE.

[in the bargain] or [into the bargain] {adv. phr.} In addition; besides; also. •/Frank is a teacher, and an artist into the bargain./ •/The heat failed, and then the roof began to leak in the bargain./ Compare: TO BOOT, FOR GOOD MEASURE.

[in the black]{adv.} or {adj. phr.}, {informal} In a successful or profitable way; so as to make money. •/The big store was running in the black./ •/A business must stay in the black to keep on./ Contrast: IN THE RED.

[in the blood] See: RUN IN THE BLOOD or RUN IN THE FAMILY.

[in the bud] See: NIP IN THE BUD.

[in the can]{adj.}, {slang}, {movie jargon} Ready; finished; completed; about to be duplicated and distributed to exhibitors. •/No sneak previews until it’s all in the can!/ •/Once my book’s in the can, I’ll go for a vacation./

[in the cards] also [on the cards] {adj. phr.}, {informal} To be expected; likely to happen; foreseeable; predictable. •/It was in the cards for the son to succeed his father as head of the business./ •/John finally decided that it wasn’t in the cards for him to succeed with that company./

[in the charge of] See: IN CHARGE OF(2).

[in the chips]{slang} or {informal} [in the money] {adj. phr.} Having plenty of money; prosperous; rich. •/After his rich uncle died, Richard was in the chips./ •/After years of struggle and dependence, air transportation is in the money./ Compare: ON EASY STREET, WELL-TO-DO.

[in the circumstances] See: UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

[in the clear]{adj. phr.} 1. Free of anything that makes moving or seeing difficult; with nothing to limit action. •/The plane climbed above the clouds and was flying in the clear./ •/Jack passed the ball to Tim, who was in the clear and ran for a touchdown./ 2. {informal} Free of blame or suspicion; not thought to be guilty. •/After John told the principal that he broke the window, Martin was in the clear./ •/Steve was the last to leave the locker room, and the boys suspected him of stealing Tom’s watch, but the coach found the watch and put Steve in the clear./ 3. Free of debt; not owing money to anyone. •/Bob borrowed a thousand dollars from his father to start his business, but at the end of the first year he was in the clear./ Syn.: IN THE BLACK.

[in the clouds]{adj. phr.} Far from real life; in dreams; in fancy; in thought. •/When Alice agreed to marry Jim, Jim went home in the clouds./ — Often used with "head", "mind", "thoughts". •/Mary is looking out the window, not at the chalkboard; her head is in the clouds again./ •/A good teacher should have his head in the clouds sometimes, but his feet always on the ground./ Contrast: COME BACK TO EARTH, FEET ON THE GROUND.

[in the clover] See: IN CLOVER.

[in the cold] See: OUT IN THE COLD.

[in the cold light of day]{adv. phr.} After sleeping on it; after giving it more thought; using common sense and looking at the matter unemotionally and realistically. •/Lost night my ideas seemed terrific, but in the cold light of day I realize that they won’t work./

[in the dark]{adj. phr.} 1. In ignorance; without information. •/John was in the dark about the job he was being sent to./ •/If the government controls the news, it can keep people in the dark on any topic it chooses./ •/Mary had a letter from Sue yesterday, but she was left in the dark about Sue’s plans to visit her./ Contrast: IN THE KNOW. See: WHISTLE IN THE DARK.

[in the doghouse]{adj. phr.}, {slang} In disgrace or disfavor. •/Our neighbor got in the doghouse with his wife by coming home drunk./ •/Jerry is in the doghouse because he dropped the ball, and the other team won because of that./ Compare: DOWN ON.

[in the door] See: FOOT IN THE DOOR.

[in the driver’s seat]{adv. phr.} In control; having the power to make decisions. •/Stan is in the driver’s seat now that he has been made our supervisor at the factory./

[in the dumps] See: DOWN IN THE DUMPS.

[in the event] See: IN CASE(1).

[in the event of] See: IN CASE OF.

[in the eye] See: LOOK IN THE EYE.

[in the face] See: BLUE IN THE FACE, LOOK IN THE EYE or LOOK IN THE FACE, SLAP IN THE FACE, STARE IN THE FACE.

[in the face of]{adv. phr.} 1. When met or in the presence of; threatened by. •/He was brave in the face of danger./ •/She began to cry in the face of failure./ 2. Although opposed by; without being stopped by. •/Talking continued even in the face of the teacher’s command to stop./ Syn.: IN SPITE OF. Compare: FLY IN THE FACE OF, IN ONE’S FACE. 3. See: FLY IN THE PACE OF.

[in the family] See: RUN IN THE BLOOD or RUN IN THE FAMILY.

[in the first place]{adv. phr.} 1. Before now; in the beginning; first. •/You already ate breakfast! Why didn’t you tell me that in the first place instead of saying you didn’t want to eat?/ •/Carl patched his old football but it soon leaked again. He should have bought a new one in the first place./ 2. See: IN THE PLACE.

[in the flesh] See: IN PERSON.

[in the groove]{adj. phr.}, {slang} Doing something very well; near perfection; at your best. •/The band was right in the groove that night./ •/It was an exciting football game; every player was really in the groove./