[hug the road] <v. phr.> To stay firmly on the road; ride smoothly without swinging. * /A heavy car with a low center of gravity will hug the road./ * /At high speeds a car will not hug the road well./

[huh-uh] or [hum-um] or [uh-uh] <adv.>, <informal> No. - Used only in speech or to record dialogue. * /Did Mary come? Huh-uh./ * /Is it raining out? Uh-uh./ Contrast: UH-UH.

[humble] See: EAT HUMBLE PIE.

[hump] See: OVER THE HUMP.

[hundred] See: BY THE DOZEN or BY THE HUNDRED or BY THE THOUSAND.

[hunky-dory] <adj.> OK; satisfactory; fine. * /The landlord asked about our new apartment and we told him that so far everything was hunky-dory./

[hunt] See: RUN WITH THE HARE AND HUNT (RIDE) WITH THE HOUNDS.

[hunt and peck] <n. phr.>, <informal> Picking out typewriter keys by sight, usually with one or two fingers; not memorizing the keys. * /Many newspaper reporters do their typing by hunt and peck./ - Often used, with hyphens, as an adjective. * /Mr. Barr taught himself to type, and he uses the hunt-and-peck system./

[hunt down] <v.> 1. To pursue and capture; look hard for an animal or person until found and caught. * /The police hunted down the escaped prisoner./ Compare: TRACK DOWN. 2. To search for (something) until one finds it. * /Professor Jones hunted down the written manuscript in the Library of Congress./ Syn.: TRACK DOWN.

[hunting] See: HAPPY HUNTING GROUND.

[hunt up] <v.> To find or locate by search. * /When John was in Chicago, he hunted up some old friends./ * /The first thing Fred had to do was to hunt up a hotel room./

[hurry on with] or [make haste with] <v. phr.> To make rapid progress in an undertaking. * /Sue promised to hurry on with the report and send it out today./

[hurry up] <v. phr.> To rush (an emphatic form of hurry). * /Hurry up or we'll miss our plane./

[hurt] See: CRY BEFORE ONE IS HURT or HOLLER BEFORE ONE IS HURT.

[hush-hush] <adj.>, <informal> Kept secret or hidden; kept from public knowledge; hushed up; concealed. * /The company had a new automobile engine that it was developing, but kept it a hush-hush project until they knew it was successful./

[hush up] <v.> 1. To keep news of (something) from getting out; prevent people from knowing about. * /It isn't always easy to hush up a scandal./ 2. <informal> To be or make quiet; stop talking, crying, or making some other noise. - Often used as a command. * /"Hush up," Mother said, when we began to repeat ugly gossip./

[ice] See: BLOOD RUNS COLD or BLOOD TURNS TO ICE, BREAK THE ICE, CUT ICE, ON ICE, SKATE ON THIN ICE.

[iceberg] See: COOL AS AN ICEBERG.

[idea] See: THE IDEA, WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA or WHAT'S THE IDEA.

[I declare] <interj.>, <dialect> Well; oh my; truly. - Used for emphasis. * /I declare, it has been a very warm day!/ * /Mother said, "I declare, John, you have grown a foot."/

[idiot box] <n.> A television set. * /Phil has been staring at the idiot box all afternoon./

[if] See: WHAT IF.

[if anything] <adv. phr.> More likely; instead; rather. * /The weather forecast is not for cooler weather; if anything, it is expected to be warmer./ * /Joe isn't a bad boy. If anything he's a pretty good one./ Compare: MATTER OF FACT.

[if it's not one thing it's another] If a certain thing doesn't go wrong, another most probably will. * /When John lost his keys and his wallet, and his car wouldn't start, he exclaimed in despair, "If it's not one thing it's another."/ Compare: ONE DAMN THING AFTER ANOTHER (ODTAA).

[if need be] <adv. phr.> If the need arises. * /If need be, I can come early tomorrow and work overtime./

[if only] I wish. * /If only it would stop raining!/ * /If only Mother could be here./ Syn.: WOULD THAT.

[if the hill will not come to Muhammad, Muhammad will go to the hill] If one person will not go to the other, then the other must go to him. - A proverb. * /Grandfather won't come to visit us, so we must go and visit him. If the hill won't come to Muhammad, then Muhammad will go to the hill./

[if the shoe fits, wear it] If what is said describes you, you are meant. - A proverb. * /I won't say who, but some children are always late. If the shoe fits, Wear it./

[if worst comes to worst] If the worst thing happens that be imagined; if the worst possible thing happens; if troubles grow worse. * /If worst comes to worst and Mr. Jones loses the house, he will send his family to his mother's farm./ * /If worst comes to worst, we shall close the school for a few days./

[if you can't lick them, join them] If you cannot defeat an opponent or get him to change his attitude, plans, or ways of doing things, the best thing to do is to change your ideas, plans, etc. * /"The small car manufacturers are winning over the big car makers," the president of an American car factory said. "If we want to stay in business, we must do as they do. In other words, if you can't lick them, join them."/

[I'll bet you my bottom dollar] <interj.>, <informal> An exaggerated assertion of assurance. * /I'll bet you my bottom dollar that the Cubs will win this year./

[I'll say] or [I tell you] <interj.>, <informal> I agree with this completely. - Used for emphasis. * /Did the children all enjoy Aunt Sally's pecan pie? I'll say!/ * /I'll say this is a good movie!/

[I'll tell you what] or [tell you what] <informal> Here is an idea. * /The hamburger stand is closed, but I'll tell you what, let's go to my house and cook some hot dogs./

[ill] See: IT'S AN ILL WIND THAT BLOWS NOBODY GOOD, TAKE ILL.

[ill at ease] <adj. phr.> Not feeling at ease or comfortable; anxious; worried; unhappy. * /Donald had never been to a big party before and he was ill at ease./ * /When Joe first went to dancing school, he was ill at ease, not knowing how to act./ Contrast: AT EASE(2).

[ill-favored] <adj.> Ugly; unprepossessing. * /Oddly enough, the father had less trouble in marrying off his ill-favored daughter than her prettier sister./

[ill-gotten gains] <n. phr.> Goods or money obtained in an illegal or immoral fashion. * /The jailed criminal had plenty of time to think about his ill-gotten gains./

[image] See: SPITTING IMAGE or SPIT AND IMAGE.

[impose on] <v.> To try to get more from (a person who is helping you) than he or she intended to give. * /Don't you think you are imposing on your neighbor when you use his telephone for half an hour?/ * /You may swim in the Allens' pool so long as you do not impose on them by bringing all your friends./ Compare: TAKE ADVANTAGE.

[improve on] or [improve upon] <v.> To make or get one that is better than (another). * /Dick made good marks the first year, but he thought he could improve on them./ * /Charles built a new model racer for the derby race, because he knew he could improve upon his old one./

[I'm telling you] <informal> It is important to listen to what I am saying. * /Marian is a smart girl but I'm telling you, she doesn't always do what she promises./

[in a bad frame of mind] <adv. phr.> In an unhappy mood. * /Make sure the boss is not in a bad frame of mind when you ask him for a raise./ Contrast: IN A GOOD FRAME OF MIND.

[in a bad way] <adv. phr.>, <informal> In trouble or likely to have trouble. * /If you have only those two girls to help you, you are in a bad way./ * /Jerry has written only one sentence of his term paper that is due tomorrow, and he knows he is in a bad way./ * /Mrs. Jones has cancer and is in a bad way./ * /A new supermarket opened across the street, and the Peters' grocery business was soon in a bad way./

[in a big way] <adv. phr.>, <informal> As fully as possible; with much ceremony. * /Our family celebrates birthdays in a big way./ * /John likes to entertain his dates in a big way./

[in a bind] or [in a box] <adv. phr.>, <informal> Likely to have trouble whether you do one thing or another. * /Sam is in a bind because if he carries home his aunt's groceries, his teacher will be angry because he is late, and if he doesn't, his aunt will complain./ Compare: BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, HORNS OF A DILEMMA.

[in a breeze] See: WIN IN A WALK or WIN IN A BREEZE.

[in absentia] <adv. phr.>, <formal> When the person is absent. Used in graduation exercises when presenting diplomas to an absent student or during a court case. * /On Commencement Day, Joe was sick in bed and the college gave him his bachelor's degree in absentia./ (Latin, meaning "in absence.")

[in accordance with] <adv. phr.> In consonance with something; conforming to something. * /Employees at this firm are expected to always behave in accordance with the rules./

[in a circle] or [in circles] <adv. phr.> Without any progress; without getting anywhere; uselessly. * /The committee debated for two hours, just talking in circles./ * /If you don't have a clear aim, you can work a long time and still be going in circles./ * /He seemed to be working hard, but was just running around in circles./

[in addition] <adv. phr.> As something extra; besides. * /We saw a Mickey Mouse cartoon in addition to the cowboy movie./ * /Aunt Mary gave us sandwiches for our picnic and a bag of cookies in addition./ * /He has two cars and in addition a motorboat./

[in advance] or [in advance of] <adv. phr.> 1. In front; ahead (of the others); first. * /In the parade, the band will march in advance of the football team./ * /The soldiers rode out of the fort with the scouts in advance./ 2. Before doing or getting something. * /The motel man told Mr. Williams he would have to pay in advance./ * /The paperhanger mixed his paste quite a while in advance so it would have time to cool./ * /It will be easier to decorate the snack bar if we cut the streamers in advance of the actual decorating./

[in a family way] or [in the family way] <adj. phr.>, <informal> Going to have a baby. * /Sue and Liz are happy because their mother is in the family way./ * /The Ferguson children are promising kittens to everyone because their cat is in a family way./ Compare: WITH CHILD.

[in a fix] <adv. phr.> In trouble. * /Last night Jack wrecked his car and now he is in a fix./ Compare: IN A JAM, IN A PICKLE.

[in a flash] also [in a trice] <adv. phr.> Very suddenly. * /We were watching the bird eat the crumbs; then I sneezed, and he was gone in a flash./ * /Bob was looking over his notes for English class and in a flash he knew what he would write his paper about./

[in a flutter] <adv. phr.>, <informal> In a state of nervous excitement. * /Whenever Norm and Cathy are near one another, both are in a flutter; they must be in love./

[in a fog] or [in a haze] <adv. phr.> Mentally confused; not sure what is happening. * /I didn't vote for Alice because she always seems to be in a fog./ * /I was so upset that for two days I went around in a haze, not even answering when people spoke to me./ Contrast: ALL THERE, HIT ON ALL CYLINDERS.

[in a good frame of mind] <adv. phr.> In a happy mood. * /After a relaxing holiday in the Bahamas, the boss was in a very good frame of mind./ Contrast: IN A BAD FRAME OF MIND.

[in a hole] or [in a spot] <adj. phr.>, <informal> In an embarrassing or difficult position; in some trouble. * /When the restaurant cook left at the beginning of the busy season, it put the restaurant owner in a hole./ Compare: BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL, IN THE HOLE.

[in a huff] <adv. phr.>, <informal> Angrily. * /Ellen went off in a huff because she didn't get elected class president./

[in a jam] <adv. phr.>, <informal> In a predicament; in a situation fraught with difficulty. * /If you continue to disregard the university instructions on how to take a test, you'll wind up in a jam with the head of the department./ Compare: IN A PICKLE, IN DEEP SHIT.

[in a jiffy] <adv. phr.>, <informal> Immediately; right away; in a moment. * /Wait for me; I'll be back in a jiffy./

[in a kind of way] See: IN A WAY(1).

[in a lather] <adj.>, <slang> In great excitement; all worked up; extremely agitated. * /I couldn't get across to Joe, he was all in a lather./

[in all] <adv. phr.> 1. All being counted; altogether. * /You have four apples and I have three bananas, making seven pieces of fruit in all./ * /In all we did very well./ 2. See: ALL IN ALL(2).

[in and out] <adv. phr.> 1. Coming in and going out often. * /He was very busy Saturday and was in and out all day./ 2. See: INSIDE OUT(2).

[in another's place] See: PUT ONESELF IN ANOTHER'S PLACE.

[in a nutshell] <adv. phr.>, <informal> In a few words; briefly, without telling all about it. * /We are in a hurry, so I'll give you the story in a nutshell./ * /In a nutshell, the car is no bargain./ Compare: IN SHORT.

[in any case] also [in any event] or [at all events] <adv. phr.> 1. No matter what happens: surely; without fail; certainly; anyhow; anyway. * /It may rain tomorrow, but we are going home in any case./ * /I may not go to Europe, but in any event, I will visit you during the summer./ 2. Regardless of anything else; whatever else may be true; anyhow; anyway. * /Tom was not handsome and he was not brilliant, but at all events he worked hard and was loyal to his boss./ * /I don't know if it is a white house or a brown house. At all events, it is a big house on Main Street./ Compare: AT ANY RATE, AT LEAST(2).

[in any event] See: IN ANY CASE.

[in a pickle] <adv. phr.>, <informal> In a quandary; in a difficult situation. * /I was certainly in a pickle when my front tire blew out./

[in a pig's eye] <adv.>, <slang>, [informal] Hardly; unlikely; not so. * /Would I marry him? In a pig's eye./

[in a pinch] <adv. phr.>, <informal> In an emergency. * /Dave is a good friend who will always help out in a pinch./

[in arms] <adv. phr.> Having guns and being ready to fight; armed. * /When our country is at war, we have many men in arms./ Syn.: UP IN ARMS!

[in a row] See: GET ONE'S DUCKS IN A ROW.

[in arrears] <adv. phr.> Late or behind in payment of money or in finishing something. - Usually used of a legal debt or formal obligation. * /Poor Mr. Brown! He is in arrears on his rent./ * /He is in arrears on the story he promised to write for the magazine./

[in a sense] <adv. phr.> In some ways but not in all; somewhat. * /Mr. Smith said our school is the best in the state, and in a sense that is true./ * /In a sense, arithmetic is a language./

[inasmuch as] <conj.> 1. See: INSOFAR AS. 2. also [for as much as] <formal> Because; for the reason that; since. * /Inasmuch as this is your team, you have the right to choose your own captain./ * /Inasmuch as the waves are high, I shall not go out in the boat./

[in a sort of way] See: IN A WAY(1).

[in a spot] See: ON THE SPOT(2).

[in a trice] See: IN A FLASH.

[in at the kill] <adj. phr.>, <informal> Watching or taking part, usually with pleasure, at the end of a struggle; present at the finish. * /Frank and John have been quarreling for a long time and tonight they are having a fight. Bill says he wants to be in at the kill, because he is Frank's friend./

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