in the running
Having a chance to win; not to be counted out; among those who might win.
At the beginning of the last lap of the race, only two horses were still in the running.
A month before Joyce married Hal, three of Joyce's boyfriends seemed to be still in the running.
Al was in the running for the trophy until the last hole of the golf tournament.
in the saddle
In command; in control; in a position to order or boss others.
Mr. Park was in the saddle when he had over half the company's stock.
Getting appointed chief of police put Stevens in the saddle.
in the same boat
In the same trouble; in the same fix; in the same bad situation.
When the town's one factory closed and hundreds of people lost their jobs, all the storekeepers were in the same boat.
Dick was disappointed when Fern refused to marry him, but he knew others were in the same boat.
in the same breath
At the same time; without waiting.
John would complain about hard times, and in the same breath boast of his prize-winning horses.
Jane said Bill was selfish, but in the same breath she said she was sorry to see him leave.
In the same class; in as high a group. Usually used in the negative with mention, speak, or talk.
Mary is a good swimmer, but she should not be mentioned in the same breath with Joan.
in the short run
over the short haul
In the immediate future.
We are leasing a car in the short run; later we might buy one.
in the soup
In serious trouble; in confusion; in disorder.
В трудном положении; в замешательстве; "сесть в лужу".
When his wife overdrew their bank account without telling him, Mr. Phillips suddenly found himself really in the soup.
The police misunderstood Harry's night errand, and arrested him, which put him in the soup with the boss.
She is in the soup now, because she has no money at all to pay for a bill.
Она попала в неудобное положение, потому что у нее нет совсем денег, что оплатить счет.
in the spotlight
In the center of attention, with everybody watching what one is doing.
It must be difficult for the President to be in the spotlight wherever he goes.
in the swim
Doing the same things that other people are doing; following the fashion (as in business or social affairs); busy with what most people are doing.
Jim found some college friends at the lake that summer, and soon was in the swim of things.
Mary went to New York with introductions to writers and artists, and that winter she was quite in the swim.