[in two]{adv. phr.} Into two parts or pieces; into two divisions. •/John and Mary pulled on the wishbone until it came in two./ •/There was only one piece of cake, but we cut it in two./ Syn.: IN HALF.

[in two shakes of a lamb’s tail]{adv.}, {informal} Quickly; in no time at all. •/I’ll be back in two shakes of a lamb’s tail./

[in --- up to the] See: UP TO THE --- IN.

[in vain]{adv. phr.} 1. Without effect; without getting the desired result; without success. •/The drowning man called in vain for help./ •/To cry over spilled milk is to cry in vain./ Compare: GO FOR NOTHING, NO USE. 2. See: TAKE ONE’S NAME IN VAIN.

[in view]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. In sight; visible. •/We came around a bend and there was the ocean in view./ 2. As a purpose, hope, or expectation. •/John had his son’s education in view when he began to save money./ •/The end that we must keep always in view is peace with justice./ Compare: EYE TO.

[in view of]{prep.} After thinking about; because of. •/Schools were closed for the day in view of the heavy snowstorm./ •/In view of rising labor costs, many companies have turned to automation./ Syn.: IN THE LIGHT OF.

[in virtue of] See: BY VIRTUE OF.

[in wait] See: LIE IN WAIT.

[in with]{prep.} In friendship, favor, or closeness with; in the trust or liking of. •/We trusted on Byrd’s being in with the mayor, not knowing that the mayor no longer liked him./ •/It took the new family some time to get in with their neighbors./

[I.O.U.]{adj. phr.} I owe you, abbreviated; a promissory note. •/I had to borrow some money from John and, in order to remind both of us, I wrote him an I.O.U. note for $250./

[Irish] See: GET ONE’S DANDER UP or GET ONE’S IRISH UP.

[iron horse]{n.}, {informal} A railroad locomotive; the engine of a railroad train. •/In its first days, the iron horse frightened many people as it roared across country scattering sparks./

[iron in the fire]{n. phr.} Something you are doing; one of the projects with which a person is busy; job, •/John had a number of irons in the fire, and he managed to keep all of them hot./ — Usually used in the phrase "too many irons in the fire". •/"Ed has a dozen things going all the time, but none of them seem to work out." "No wonder. He has too many irons in the fire."/

[iron out]{v.}, {informal} To discuss and reach an agreement about (a difference); find a solution for (a problem); remove (a difficulty). •/The company and its workers ironed out their differences over hours and pay./ •/The House and Senate ironed out the differences between their two different tax bills./ Compare: MAKE UP(5).

[is] See: SUCH AS IT IS, THAT IS.

[island] See: SAFETY ISLAND.

[issue] See: AT ISSUE, TAKE ISSUE.

[is that so]{informal} 1. Oh, indeed? That’s interesting. — Used in simple acceptance or reply. •/"The Republicans have pulled a trick at city hall." "Is that so?"/ 2. Surely not? — Used in disbelief or sarcasm. •/"The moon is made of green cheese." "Is that so?"/ •/"I’m going to take your girlfriend to the dance," said Bob. "Oh, is that so!" said Dick. "Try it and you’ll be sorry."/

[itching palm]{n.}, {slang} A wish for money; greed. •/He was born with an itching palm./ •/The bellboys in that hotel seem always to have itching palms./

[I tell you] See: I’LL SAY.

[I tell you what] See: I’LL TELL YOU WHAT.

[item] See: COLLECTOR’S ITEM, CONSUMER ITEMS.

[it figures]{informal sentence} It checks out; it makes sense; it adds up. •/It figures that Bob got the highest raise at our firm; he is the most productive salesman./

[it is an ill wind that blows nobody good] No matter how bad a happening is, someone can usually gain something from it. — A proverb. •/When Fred got hurt in the game John got a chance to play. It’s an ill wind that blows nobody good./

[it never rains but it pours] One good thing or bad thing is often followed by others of the same kind. — A proverb, •/John got sick, then his brothers and sisters all got sick. It never rains but it pours./

[it’s a cinch]{informal sentence} It is very easy. •/"What about the final exam?" Fred asked. "It was a cinch" Sam answered./ Compare: PIECE OF CAKE.

[it’s a deal]{informal sentence} Consider it done; OK; it is agreed. •/"How much for this used car?" Bill asked. "Two thousand," the man answered. "I’ll give $1,500," Bill said. "It’s a deal!" the owner answered as they sealed the transaction./

[it’s been ---, it’s been real]{informal} Shortened form for "it has been real nice (being with you)" — used colloquially between very close friends.

[itself] See: END IN ITSELF.

[it’s high time]{informal sentence} It is overdue. •/It is high time for John Browning to be promoted to full professor; he has written a great deal but his books went unnoticed./

[Ivy League]{n.} A small group of the older and more famous eastern U.S. colleges and universities. •/Several Ivy League teams play each other regularly each year./ •/Harvard, Yale, and Princeton were the original Ivy League./

[Jack] See: ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY.

[jack] See: EVERY LAST MAN also EVERY MAN JACK.

[jack of all trades]{n.}, {informal} (Often followed by the words "master of none.") A person who is knowledgeable in many areas. Can be used as praise, or as a derogatory remark depending on the context and the intonation. •/Peter is a jack of all trades; he can survive anywhere!/ •/"How come Joe did such a sloppy job?" Mary asked. "He’s a jack of all trades," Sally answered./

[jackpot] See: HIT THE JACKPOT.

[jack-rabbit start]{n.}, {informal} A very sudden start from a still position; a very fast start from a stop. •/Bob made a jack-rabbit start when the traffic light turned green./

[Jack Robinson] See: BEFORE ONE CAN SAY JACK ROBINSON.

[jack up]{v.} 1. To lift with a jack. •/The man jacked up his car to fit a flat tire./ 2. {informal} To make (a price) higher; raise. •/Just before Christmas, some stores jack up their prices./

[jailbait]{n.}, {slang} A girl below the legal age of consent for sex; one who tempts you to intimacy which is punishable by imprisonment. •/Stay away from Arabella, she is a jailbait./

[jailbird]{n.}, {informal} A convict; someone who is in jail or has been recently released from prison. •/Because Harry was a jailbird, it was understandably hard for him to find a job after being imprisoned./

[jake flake]{n.}, {slang} A boring person whose company is usually not wanted. •/Please don’t invite Turner, he is a jake flake./

[jar on]{v. phr.} To irritate. •/The constant construction noise was beginning to jar on the nerves of the members of the meeting./

[jaw] See: GLASS JAW.

[jawbreaker]{n.} 1. A large piece of hard candy or bubblegum. •/Billy asked his mother for a quarter to buy some jawbreakers and a chocolate bar./ 2. [informal] A word or name that is hard to pronounce. •/His name, Nissequogue, is a real jawbreaker./