Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 411 in the wind - soon to happen, being planned It is in the wind that they are planning to open a new store next year. in the works - in preparation, being planned or worked on Don`t worry about whether or not we will be building the new computer lab. It is definitely in the works. in the worst way - very much I would like to go to the new movie in the worst way. in the wrong - wrong, against justice/truth/fact The driver was in the wrong and was arrested by the police after the accident. in the wrong place at the wrong time - something bad happens in a place or time where you happen to be The man was in the wrong place at the wrong time when the car hit him. in theory - theoretically In theory it is possible to make much money selling real estate but in practice it is very difficult. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 412 in this day and age - presently, currently In this day and age it is almost impossible to find a store that sells the old style of cassette tape players. in time - early enough I didn`t come home in time to meet my cousin. in times past - long ago, in previous times In times past many people would attend the sports festival in the small town. in top form - in very good physical condition The tennis star was in top form during the big tournament. in touch - talking or writing to each other, giving or getting news We are still in touch even though we have been out of school for many years. in tow - being pulled The truck had a trailer in tow when it went off the highway. in tow - being taken from place to place, going along with someone She spent the morning at the shopping center with her child in tow. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 413 in transit - in the process of being transported The cars were in transit when there was a train and truck accident. in trouble - in danger, in difficulty The boy has been in trouble with the school all of this term. in tune - going well together, in agreement, matching We have been in tune with each other ever since we met at our high school graduation party. in turn - each following another We went up to the front of the class in turn in order to pick up our diplomas. in two shakes of a lamb`s tail - quickly, in no time at all "I will have this finished in two shakes of a lamb`s tail and then I will give it to you." in unison - acting as one, together and at the same time The fans cried out in unison when the star player made a goal. in vain - without effect, without success I tried in vain to find a good job but it was impossible. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 414 in view of - after thinking about, because of In view of the large number of people who have come, I think that we will need a bigger room. in with - in friendship/favor/closeness with someone I think that he was in with the wrong group of people when he was in high school. inch along - move along slowly The road was very bad this morning and the traffic was only inching along. inch by inch - little by little, one inch at a time I checked the park inch by inch to try and find my watch. inclined to (do something) - tend toward doing something Our boss is not inclined to let us take extra days off work during the busy summer months. incumbent upon (someone) to (do something) - necessary for someone to do something It is incumbent upon the next mayor to try and do something about crime in the city. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 415 ins and outs of (something) - all the details of something He knows all the ins and outs of the new machine. inside and out - in every part, completely We checked the room inside and out for my lost wallet. inside out - so that the inside is turned outside She turned her purse inside out in order to look for her lost key. inside track - an advantage, shortest distance around a racetrack I think that he has the inside track on getting the new job at the computer company. instead of - in place of "Let`s meet at the restaurant instead of the department store as we had planned." instrumental in (doing something) - playing an important part in doing something Our teacher was instrumental in getting the school to change their policy on using the library after school. intent on (doing something) - determined to do something I am intent on buying some new furniture when we move to a new house. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 416 into being - into existence The new parking regulations came into being early last week. into thin air - completely, without anything left The group of hikers vanished into thin air and were never heard of again. invasion of (someone's) privacy - intrude and cause someone to lose their privacy It was an invasion of our privacy when the supervisor asked us to open the mail that we received in the company. invest (something) in (something) - put one's time/effort/energy into doing something I have been investing a lot of time into the project to raise money for the new counseling center for young people. iron out (something) - work out something, solve a problem We have ironed out all of our problems at work and are doing better now. irons in the fire - things one is doing, projects with which a person is busy Recently he has too many irons in the fire. That is why he has become sick. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 417 issue a call for (something) - make a public invitation or request for something The government issued a call for people to donate goods to help the hurricane victims. itching palm - a wish for money, greed The guard at the hotel has an itching palm so be careful of him. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 418 J a jack-of-all-trades - a person who can do many things We gave the man a job because we needed a jack-of-all-trades to look after the many repairs. jack up (something) - raise prices, raise something with a lifting device The gas station jacked up their prices during the snow storm. We jacked up the car so we could change the tire. jam on the brakes - quickly put the brakes on in a car to stop He jammed on the brakes and was able to avoid hitting the child. jam-packed - crowded, full The train that we took this morning was jam-packed with people. to jazz up (something) - brighten up something, add more noise/movement/color to something They jazzed up the community center for the party tonight. Jekyll and Hyde - someone with both an evil and a good personality My co-worker is like Jekyll and Hyde. One minute he is very friendly but the next minute he is angry. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 419 jockey for position - try to push one's way into an advantageous position Several of the salesmen began to jockey for position when they learned that the director of sales was leaving. jog (someone's) memory - stimulate someone's memory to recall something The questions that the police officer asked helped to jog the man's memory. John Doe - a name used for an unknown/average person The application forms use the name "John Doe" as the name of a person who is applying for something. John Henry/John Hancock - one's signature "Please sign your John Henry here and we will process your order right away." Johnny-come-lately - a new-comer He`s a Johnny-come-lately and doesn`t really know what he is talking about. Johnny-on-the-spot - someone who is at the right place when needed or is right on time He is always Johnny-on-the-spot. Just when we need him he arrives. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 420 join forces (with someone) - unite/join with someone The two high schools joined forces to try and raise money for the city library expansion. join hands - hold hands with other people Everybody in the group joined hands at the end of the meeting. Join the club! - an expression used when the other person is in the same situation (usually bad) as the speaker "Join the club. None of us have enough money to go on a holiday." join the fray - join a fight or argument I did not want to join the fray and argue with the other members of the group. jolt to a stop - stop moving suddenly which causes a jolt The train jolted to a stop when the engineer put the brakes on. judge (someone or something) on its own merits - judge or evaluate someone or something on its own good points and achievements Our company always judges each employee on his or her own merits. . "Let`s meet at the restaurant instead of the department store as we had planned." instrumental in (doing something) - playing an important part in doing something Our teacher was instrumental. of something He knows all the ins and outs of the new machine. inside and out - in every part, completely We checked the room inside and out for my lost wallet. inside out - so that. matching We have been in tune with each other ever since we met at our high school graduation party. in turn - each following another We went up to the front of the class in turn in order