in pledge • under pledge in pledge —said of an article left with a person until the giver has paid a debt, etc.: Pressed for a sum of money … he had put his Sunday coat in pledge . under pledge —placed under an obligation to do or not to do smth.: The minister has been released from custody under pledge not to leave town. in pocket • in the pocket in pocket—(coll.) 1. having money available: Follow my advice and you will be well in pocket . 2. said of the amount of money left over or gained as profit: At the end of their jour- ney, they are above a hundred crowns in pocket . in the pocket—(U.S. Drug users) enjoying the best part of a psychedelic intoxication: It was a golden time, and I was right in the pocket . See also: out of one’s own pocket / out of pocket. in possession of something • in the possession of someone in possession of something—having smth. as one’s own: It is illegal for any person convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. in the possession of someone—held or possessed by a person: Police have now recovered eight of the stolen weapons, all of which were found in the possession of criminal elements. in principle • on principle in principle —in essence; in general: An electric toothbrush is not very different in principle from an ordinary toothbrush. You still have a stick with a brush on the end. on principle —as a matter of principle; because of one’s moral convictions: There was a time when I could not read Pope, but disliked him on principle . in print • in the print in print—1. in printed form: These uses were probably col- loquial with fishers and seamen some time before they appeared in print . 2. (of a book, etc.) published; available from the publisher: No sooner in print , than out of print. The reviews revere him. in the print—in the printing trade: For our mother, only a minimum of education was required to ensure a good safe job in the print . in proportion of something • in proportion to something in proportion of something—in terms of how much there is of each thing (in a combination): Make a syrup of the sugar and water in proportion of a pint of sugar to a quart of water… in proportion to something—1. as compared with smth.; con- sidered with reference to smth.: His expenditure on pleasure and luxuries is rather high in proportion to his income. 2. corresponding to smth. in degree or amount: The subjects ought to contribute towards the support of the government in proportion to their respective abilities. in public • in the public eye in public — do smth. in such a way that the public may see, hear, or know: They will not admit it in public , but … they also know of these problems. in the public eye —1. (of people or things) much publicized by the media: His investigations on behalf of these men kept him in the public eye . 2. in the opinion of the public: He regretted, I think, that in the public eye he was regarded as the guy who had failed and ended up in the gutter. in Queer street • on the queer in Queer street(UK dated) heavily in debt; in financial trouble: Now don’t you go doing anything that’ll land you in Queer Street . on the queer—(Underworld) living dishonestly: He was con- vinced that he could get along as well on the queer as he could by keeping straight. in question • out of the question in question—under consideration; forming the subject of discourse: While Dr. Bits really is an authority, he is not an authority on the issue in question . out of the question—impossible in the circumstances; not worth considering: Any effort by the military to defy civilian authority is now out of the question . Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase not the question—not the matter; not the point: Yes, I heard all you said, but his health is not the question . Is he thoroughly dependable? in receipt of something • on receipt of something in receipt of something—1. (formal) having received smth.: We are in receipt of your letter of the 17th of January. 2. receive smth. on a regular basis: All people who are in receipt of fixed incomes … benefit from the fall in prices. on receipt of something—as soon as smth. is received: On receipt of your instructions we will send you the goods. in recess • in the recess in recess —said with reference to a period in which a legisla- tive body is not sitting, or to a break during court proceedings: Congress is now in recess until the first week of December. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase in recessionused of a period of economic decline: Investors poured into Asia because their own economies were in recession . in the recess —in an indented or hollowed-out space set into a wall: The street was deserted except for a man standing in the recess of the entry to the apartment building. in red • in the red in red—1. wearing red clothes: A beautiful girl dressed in red entered the room and a wave of admiring gasps and whis- pers followed her. 2. (coll., also: in red ink) in a bad financial position: We’ve got to put forth our best efforts from now till the end of the month, or we’ll be in red on the books. 3. exe- cuted or finished in various shades of red: The fragments dis- covered showed linear architectural decoration, executed in red , blue, and white. in the red— = in red 2: If I don’t get some money from somewhere very soon, I shall be in the red . Cf.: out of the red — (coll.) solvent; operating at a profit: Most of the airlines are now out of the red and profitable. in request • on request in request—(of goods, services, etc.) very popular; much sought after: His novels are not much in request nowadays. on request—(also: at request) whenever asked for: Further information will be supplied on request . in safety • with safety in safety —1. in a safe state or position: Cut off by the rising waters, the boys climbed on to a ledge of rock, where they remained in safety . 2. do smth. without running any risk: The people of this city can go where they want to go, do what they have to do and do it in safety . with safety — = in safety 2: That ladder looks rather rickety; don’t attempt to climb it unless you are sure you can do it with safety . in secret • in the secret in secret—1. secretly; in private: Men of the most different – 193 – in secret