in the hands of . possessed by为…所有

The town is still in the hands of the enemy．这个城镇仍在敌人控制之下。

in the interest of . for the sake of为了…的利益

They are exploring the space in the interest of humanity．他们在为人类的利益开发空间。

in the least . even a little；in the smallest degree；to the least degree or extent （常用于否定句中）一点（不）；丝毫（不）

Mike was not upset in the least by the storm．暴风雨一点也没有使迈克感到焦虑不安。

in the long run . finally； in the end最终；从长远观点来看

Real ability will win in the long run．真正的才能最终会使人获得成功的。

It pays in the long run to buy goods of high quality．买优质产品终归是合算的。

You may make good grades by studying only before examinations，but you will succeed in the long run by studying hard every day．你考试前才看书也许会取得好成绩，不过你若每天努力学习最终定会成功。

in the main . in most cases 大体上；多数情况下；基本上；主要

What he has said conforms in the main to facts．他所讲的基本上符合事实。

The letters were in the main from my old classmates．这些信件主要是我老同学写来的。

In the main，the students did well on the test．总的说来，学生们考得不错。

The results are in the main satisfactory．结果总的来说是满意的。

in the matter of . as regards在…上；就…而言

He is strict in the matter of discipline．他在纪律方面是严格的。

He has not a good reputation in the matter of honesty．要说诚实，他的名声不好。

You have everything you need in the matter of books．就书而言，你需要的都有。

in the meantime . at the same time；meanwhile同时

In the meantime，they took part in various contests and games．与此同时，他们参加了各种比赛和游戏。

 in the middle . between two sides of an argument，two choices，在…之间；夹在争论双方的中间或两种选择之间

Mary found herself in the middle of the quarrel between Joyce and Ethel．乔埃斯和埃塞尔发生争执，玛丽不知该倾向哪一方。

John promised Larry to go fishing but his father wanted him to help at home．John was in the middle．约翰答应莱里去钓鱼，可是他父亲却要他帮助做家务。约翰为难了。

in the name of . using the authority of凭…的权威；以…的名义

I arrest you in the name of the law．我根据法律逮捕你。

I am speaking in the name of all the students of our class．我是代表我们班全体同学讲话的。

in the name of . for the sake of为了…的缘故

He did it in the name of his brother．他为了他弟弟的缘故而这样做。

in the open  . in the open air . not within a building露天

They slept in the open last night．昨夜他们露宿。

in the open  . in the open air . without secrecy公开的；非秘密的

The problem caused discussion in the open．这个问题引起了公开的讨论。

in the possession of . owned or controlled by被…占有

The famous portrait is now in the possession of the National Gallery，那张有名的照片被保存在国家美术馆里。

in the presence of . before在…面前

He was calm in the presence of danger．他临危不乱。

The girl was shy in the presence of strangers．这个女孩在陌生人面前显得腼腆。

He didn't get discouraged in the presence of failure．他在失败面前没有气馁。

in the same boat . in the same trouble；sharing the same misfortune 境遇相同；共患难

Dick was disappointed because Fern refused to marry him，but he knew others were in the same boat．狄克很失望，因为费恩不肯嫁给他，不过他知道，其他人也没能娶上费恩。

They were in the same boat during the war．他们在战时共患难过。

We are all in the same boat．我们的处境都是相同的。

in the same breath . at the same time同时

He admitted and denied his mistake in the same breath．他刚承认了错误又立即推翻了。

in the same breath . in the same class；in as high a group（usu．used in the negative）在同一等级；同一程度；相提并论

Mary is a good swimmer，but she should not be mentioned in the same breath with you．玛丽是一位很好的游泳者，但她还不能和你相提并论。

in the swim . doing the same things that other people are doing做别人正在做的事；随大流

Jim found some college friends at the lake that summer and soon was in the swim of things．那年夏天吉姆发现他的一些大学同学在湖边度假，于是他很快加入到他们的活动中去。

in the swim . following fashion赶时髦

Mary went to the city and found girls were dressed in green，and soon she was quite in the swim．玛丽去那座城市，发现姑娘们都穿绿色的衣服，于是很快也赶上了潮流。

 in the twinkling of an eye   . in a moment；very quickly 倾刻间；一刹那

The children finished eating all the candies in the twinkling of an eye．孩子们刹那间就把糖果全吃光了。

 in the wake of . as a result of；right after；following由于；紧随

There were many troubles in the wake of the war．战后许多麻烦接踵而来。

There were heavy losses of property in the wake of the flood．由于洪水使得财产受到重大损失。

Traders came in the wake of the conquering armies．商人随着征服的军队而来。

The students followed in the wake of the teacher．学生们跟在老师的后面。