[in the hole]{adv.} or {adj. phr.}, {informal} 1a. Having ascore lower than zero in a game, especially a card game; to a score below zero.•/John went three points in the hole on the first hand of the card game./1b. Behind an opponent; in difficulty in a sport or game. •/We had theirpitcher in the hole with the bases full and no one out./ Compare: ON THESPOT. 2. In debt; behind financially. •/John went in the hole with his hotdog stand./ •/It’s a lot easier to get in the hole than to get outagain./ Compare: IN A HOLE, IN THE RED. Contrast: OUT OF THE HOLE.

[in the know]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Knowing about things thatmost people do not know about; knowing secrets or understanding a specialsubject. •/Tina helped Professor Smith make some of the exam questions, andshe felt important to be in the know./ •/In a print shop, Mr. Harvey is inthe know, but in a kitchen he can’t even cook an egg./ Compare: GET WISE.Contrast: IN THE DARK.

[in the lap of luxury]{adv. phr.} Well supplied with luxuries; havingmost things that money can buy. •/Mike grew up in the lap of luxury./Compare: ON EASY STREET, WELL-TO-DO.

[in the lap of the gods] also [on the knees of the gods] {adv.phr.}, {literary} Beyond human control; not to be decided by anyone.•/Frank had worked hard as a candidate, and as election day came he felt thatthe result was in the lap of the gods./ •/The armies were evenly matchedand the result of the battle seemed to be on the knees of the gods./

[in the least]{adv. phr.} Even a little; in any degree or amount. — Used in negative, interrogative, and conditional sentences. •/Sue did notunderstand physics in the least./ •/Are you in the least interested insewing?/ •/Mother won’t be upset if you come for supper; I’ll be surprisedif she cares in the least./ •/Mike was not upset in the least by thestorm./ •/It is no trouble to help you. Not in the least./ Compare: ATALL.

[in the line of duty]{adj. phr.} Done or happening as part of a job.•/The policeman was shot in the line of duty./ •/The soldier had to cleanhis rifle in the line of duty./

[in the long run]{adv. phr.} In the end; in the final result. •/Johnknew that lie could make a success of the little weekly paper in the longrun./ •/You may make good grades by studying only before examinations, butyou will succeed in the long run only by studying hard every day./

[in the lurch] See: LEAVE IN THE LURCH.

[in the main]{adv. phr.}, {formal} In most cases; generally;usually. •/In the main, small boys and dogs are good friends./ •/In themain, the pupils did well on the test./

[in the market for]{adj. phr.} Wishing to buy; ready to buy. •/Mr.Jones is in the market for a new car./ •/People are always in the marketfor entertainment./

[in the middle]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} In between two sides of anargument; caught between two dangers. •/Mary found herself in the middle ofthe quarrel between Joyce and Ethel./ •/John promised Tom to go fishing,but his father wanted him to help at home. John was in the middle./

[in the middle of nowhere]{adv. phr.} In a deserted, faraway place.•/When my car stopped on the highway in the middle of nowhere, it tookforever to get help./

[in the money] See: IN THE CHIPS.

[in the mood (for)]{adj. phr.} 1. Interested in doing something.•/Sorry, I’m just not in the mood for a heavy dinner tonight./ 2. Feelingsexy. •/I am sorry, darling, I am just not in the mood tonight./

[in the mouth] See: LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH.

[in the neck] See: CATCH IT IN THE NECK or GET IT IN THE NECK.

[in the nick of time]{adv. phr.} Just at the right time; barely soonenough; almost too late. •/The doctor arrived in the nick of time to save thechild from choking to death./ •/Joe saw the other car in the nick oftime./ Compare: IN TIME.

[in the pink] or [in the pink of condition] {adj. phr.},{informal} In excellent health; strong and well; in fine shape. •/Mr.Merrick had aged well; he was one of those old men who always seem in the pinkof condition./ •/After a practice and a rubdown, Joe felt in the pink./

[in the --- place]{adv. phr.} As the (first or second or third, etc.)thing in order or importance; first, second, or third, etc. — Used with"first", "second", "third", and other ordinal numbers. •/No, you cannot goswimming. In the first place, the water is too cold; and, in the second place,there is not time enough before dinner./ •/Stealing is wrong, in the firstplace, because it hurts others, and, in the second place, because it hurtsyou./ Compare: FOR ONE THING.

[in the prime of life]{adv. phr.} At the peak of one’s creativeabilities; during the most productive years. •/Poor John lost his job due torestructuring when he was in the prime of his life./

[in the public eye]{adj. phr.} Widely known; often seen in publicactivity; much in the news. •/The senator’s activity kept him in the publiceye./ •/A big league ballplayer is naturally much in the public eye./

[in the raw]{adj.} or {adv. phr.} 1. In the simplest or mostnatural way; with no frills. •/Henry enjoyed going into the woods and livinglife in the raw./ 2. {informal} Without any clothing; naked. •/In thesummer the boys slept in the raw./

[in the red]{adv.} or {adj. phr.}, {informal} In anunprofitable way; so as to lose money. •/A large number of American radiostations operate in the red./ •/A rich man who has a farm or ranch oftenruns it in the red, but makes his money with his factory or business./Contrast: IN THE BLACK. (From the fact that people who keep business recordsusually write in red ink how much money they lose and in black ink how muchmoney they gain.)

[in the right]{adj. phr.} With moral or legal right or truth on yourside; in agreement with justice, truth, or fact; correct. •/When the carscollided, John was clearly in the right./ •/In going before his wife downthe stairs, Mr. Franklin was in the right./ •/In many disputes, it is hardto say who is in the right./ Contrast: IN THE WRONG.

[in the rough] See: DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH.

[in the running]{adj.} or {adv. phr.} Having a chance to win; notto be counted out; among those who might win. •/At the beginning of the lastlap of the race, only two horses were still in the running./ •/A monthbefore Joyce married Hal, three of Joyce’s boyfriends seemed to be still in therunning./ •/Al was in the running for the trophy until the last hole of thegolf tournament./ Contrast: OUT OF THE RUNNING.

[in the saddle] adv. or {adj. phr.} In command; in control; in aposition to order or boss others. •/Mr. Park was in the saddle when he hadover half the company’s stock./ •/Getting appointed chief of police putStevens in the saddle./

[in the same boat]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} In the same trouble; inthe same fix; in the same bad situation. •/When the town’s one factory closedand hundreds of people lost their jobs, all the storekeepers were in the sameboat./ •/Dick was disappointed when Fern refused to marry him, but he knewothers were in the same boat./

[in the same breath]{adv. phr.} 1. At the same time; without waiting.•/John would complain about hard times, and in the same breath boast of hisprize-winning horses./ •/Jane said Bill was selfish, but in the same breathshe said she was sorry to see him leave./ 2. In the same class; in as high agroup. — Usually used in the negative with "mention", "speak", or "talk".•/Mary is a good swimmer, but she should not be mentioned in the same breathwith Joan./