A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

be in luck • one’s luck is in
be in luck —be lucky about smth. on this one occasion:
You’re in luck — the very car you want has just come in.
one’s luck is in —enjoy a period of good luck: I think I’ll put
some money on the next race, while my luck is in.
be in murky waters • fish in murky waters
be in murky waters —said of a confused situation where peo-
ple may behave in morally questionable ways: Patton is now
trying to continue running the government without the benefit
of a budget. This puts him in murky waters…. Cf.: muddy the
waters — make the situation less clear: Announcements that parts
of this or that sector are to be sold, followed by a retraction
just a few days later, serve only to muddy the waters.
fish in murky waters —(also: fish in troubled waters) take ad-
vantage of a confused or dubious situation: The state has not
been careful with its land, which only serves the interest of
those who like to fish in murky waters.
be in progress • make progress
be in progress —be done or made; be under way: Discussions
were in progress for “an aerobus” to provide cheap travel for
large numbers.
make progress —advance or develop towards a better state:
As the days went along, I found myself perking up a bit. I
seemed to be making progress.
be in someone’s blood • run in someone’s blood
be in someone’s blood —act as an essential factor for smb.’s
character and life style: Although my music is not specifically
about Tanzania, I feel its influence because it’s in my blood.
run in someone’s blood —be typical of a person’s family or
ancestors: Tiger training runs in his blood. His grandfather
trained tigers, and his uncles carried on the tradition.
be in someone’s shoes • fill someone’s shoes
be in someone’s shoes —be in smb.’s usually unfortunate sit-
uation: I wouldn’t like to be in your shoes when he finds out
that you have deceived him. Cf.: walk a mile in someone’s
shoes — used to imply that one has to experience life from another
person’s perspective to truly understand him: “You never really
know a man till you walk a mile in his shoes,” says Atticus,
who is defending an innocent black man.
fill someone’s shoes —successfully take over smb.’s responsi-
bilities (usually with the implication that the person is going to
be hard to replace): She’s very capable. I can’t think of anyone
at this moment who can fill her shoes.
See also: put oneself in someone’s shoes / step into someone’s
shoes.