in advance
in advance of
pay in advance
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.
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 all
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.
in and out
Coming in and going out often.
He was very busy Saturday and was in and out all day.
in any case
in any event
at all events
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.
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.
in arms
Having guns and being ready to fight; armed.
When our country is at war, we have many men in arms.
in arrears
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 at the kill
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.
in brief
in short
in a word
Briefly; to give the meaning of what has been said or written in a word or in a few words; in summary.
The children could play as long as they liked, they had no work to do, and nobody scolded them; in short, they were happy.
The speaker didn't know his subject, nor did he speak well; in brief, he was disappointing.
John is smart, polite, and well-behaved. In a word, he is admirable.