[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. •/Fatherspoke about school in relation to finding a job when we are older./ •/Whatdid you say in relation to what happened yesterday?/ •/With relation to hisjob, skill is very important./ •/In relation to Texas, Rhode Island isquite 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 respectto the importance of being honest./ •/In respect to your visit with us, wehope you can come before September./ •/There was no shortage in respect tofood./ Compare: AS TO, IN REFERENCE TO, IN RELATION TO.

[in return]{adv. phr.} In order to give back something; as payment; inrecognition or exchange. — Often used with "for". •/Bud gave me his knifeand I gave him marbles in return./ •/The lady helped Mother when she wassick and in return Mother often invited her to dinner./ •/How much did Johngive you in return for your bicycle?/ •/I hit him in return for the time hehit 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 reversewithout looking first./ •/The first of the year Bob did well in school butthen he started moving in reverse./

[in round figures]{adv. phr.} As an estimated number; as a rounded-offfigure containing no decimals or fractions. •/Skip the cents and just tell mein 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 doingsomething; the different parts. •/The janitor knows all the ins and outs ofthe big school building./ •/Jerry’s father is a good life insurancesalesman; he knows all the ins and outs of the business./

[in search of] or {literary} [in quest of] {prep.} Seeking orlooking 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 lookedeverywhere in search of our dog./

[in season]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. {literary} At the properor best time. •/Fred’s father told him that he was not old enough yet butthat he would learn to drive in season./ 2a. At the right or lawful time forhunting or catching. •/Deer will be in season next week./ •/In springwe’ll go fishing when trout are in season./ 2b. At the right time orcondition for using, eating, or marketing; in a ripe or eatable condition.•/Christmas trees will be sold at the store in season./ •/Native tomatoeswill 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 toperform well. •/The football team will he in shape for the first game of theseason./ •/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 gotready in short order after his father said that he could come to the ball gameif he was ready in time./

[in short supply]{adj. phr.} Not enough; in too small a quantity oramount; in less than the amount or number needed. •/The cookies are in shortsupply, so don’t eat them all up./ •/We have five people and only fourbeds, 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 alabel on the inside of the box./ •/Hand your papers in to me inside ofthree days./ Contrast: OUTSIDE OF.

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

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

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

[in so many words]{adv. phr.} 1. In those exact words. •/He hintedthat 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 toldhim in so many words that he was crazy./ •/Bob was very late for theirdate, 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; inopposition to; defying the effect of; despite. •/In spite of the bad stormJohn 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; ratherthan. •/I wore mittens instead of gloves./ •/The grown-ups had coffee butthe children wanted milk in place of coffee./ •/The boys went fishinginstead of going to school./ •/The Vice-President talked at the meeting inplace of the President, because the President was sick./ •/The magicianappeared on the program in lieu of a singer./ Compare: IN PERSON.

[in step]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. With the left or right footstepping at the same time as another’s or to the beat of music; in matchingstrides with another person or persons. •/The long line of soldiers marchedall in step: Left, right! Left, right!/ •/Johnny marched behind the band instep 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 thesides ache; in a fit of laughing hard. •/The comedian was so funny that hehad everyone who was watching him in stitches./

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