English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - I,
from: 'in the first place'
to: 'in retrospect'
- in the first place
- Someone that is done in the first place is done at the beginning, before anything else.
"Why didn't you tell me in the first place that he was your boyfriend?
It would have saved a lot of embarrassment."
- Someone that is done in the first place is done at the beginning, before anything else.
- in keeping with
- If something is in keeping with, for example, a style or tradition, it is suitable or appropriate in a particular situation.
"We exchange presents at Christmas in keeping with tradition."
- If something is in keeping with, for example, a style or tradition, it is suitable or appropriate in a particular situation.
- in the heat of the moment
- If you say or do something in the heat of the moment, you say or do it without pausing to think, at a time when you are experiencing unusually
strong emotions such as anger, excitement, etc.
"I was so angry that in the heat of the moment I said things that I later regretted."
- If you say or do something in the heat of the moment, you say or do it without pausing to think, at a time when you are experiencing unusually
strong emotions such as anger, excitement, etc.
- in the interim
- Something that happens in the interim takes place during a period of time between two events.
"I won't have the apartment until next month. In the interim I'm staying at a local hotel."
- Something that happens in the interim takes place during a period of time between two events.
- in inverted commas
- When describing something, if you use a word which you say is 'in inverted commas', you indicate that the word is
not quite true or appropriate.
"We were served a 'meal', in inverted commas, but we were too hungry to complain."
- When describing something, if you use a word which you say is 'in inverted commas', you indicate that the word is
not quite true or appropriate.
- in leaps and bounds
- If you do something in leaps and bounds, you make rapid or spectacular progress or growth.
"The number of subscribers to the newsletter has grown in leaps and bounds."
- If you do something in leaps and bounds, you make rapid or spectacular progress or growth.
- in the long run
- The term 'in the long run' refers to something that will have effect over or after a long period of time.
"Learning Chinese is going to be difficult, but it'll be worth it in the long run because it will help me to get a better job."
- The term 'in the long run' refers to something that will have effect over or after a long period of time.
- in the lurch
- If something leaves you in the lurch, it leaves you in a difficult or embarrassing situation.
"When Paul missed the last bus, he was left in the lurch."
- If something leaves you in the lurch, it leaves you in a difficult or embarrassing situation.
- in the middle of nowhere
- If a place is in the middle of nowhere, it is in a remote area, far from towns, villages or houses
"The campsite was in the middle of nowhere so I couldn't send you a postcard."
- If a place is in the middle of nowhere, it is in a remote area, far from towns, villages or houses
- in mint condition
- Something that is in mint condition is in such perfect condition that it looks new or as good as new.
"His father's car is 10 years old but according to Tom it's in mint condition."
- Something that is in mint condition is in such perfect condition that it looks new or as good as new.
- in one's own sweet time
- If you do something in your own sweet time, you take as long as you please to do it, in spite of the wishes of others.
"OK, I'll do it - but in my own sweet time!"
- If you do something in your own sweet time, you take as long as you please to do it, in spite of the wishes of others.
- in over your head
- If you are in over your head, you are involved in something that is too difficult for you to handle.
"I accepted to organise the festival, but I quickly realized that I was in over my head."
- If you are in over your head, you are involved in something that is too difficult for you to handle.
- in raptures
- If you are in raptures, you are delighted or very enthusiastic.
"Amanda is in raptures about her new apartment."
- If you are in raptures, you are delighted or very enthusiastic.
- in retrospect
- The term ‘in retrospect’ is used when thinking about a past situation or event with the knowledge you have today, particularly
if your present opinion is different from the one you had in the past.
"In retrospect, we were not aware of the effects on the environment at that time."
- The term ‘in retrospect’ is used when thinking about a past situation or event with the knowledge you have today, particularly
if your present opinion is different from the one you had in the past.
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alphabetical lists I... I1 I2 I3
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