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

in a kennel • in the doghouse
in a kennel —(coll.) said of a small and mean dwelling or
hut: He got us a room — we were in a kennel before.
in the doghouse —(sl.) in disgrace; out of favor: My dad’s in
the doghouse after getting drunk last night.
in a little • in little
in a little —after a short time: It isn’t as dark as it looks
because we are under the trees, but in a little they will light
their lanterns.
in little —on a small scale: The Temple was an imitation in
little of that at Ephesus.
in a mood • in the mood
in a mood —in a bad temper: Don’t ask the boss for more
wages today — he’s in a mood.
in the mood — feeling ready or willing for smth.: I didn’t
laugh at all during the whole play — I just wasn’t in the mood.
in a pickle • in pickle
in a pickle —(coll.) in an embarrassing or difficult situation
(also: in a fine pickle): If it had been any hotter or the climb
any longer we would have been in a pickle.
in pickle —(coll.) kept in reserve for future use : He will
return to the tranquil enjoyment of his 
1
,000,000 pounds now
in pickle, it is said, in the English funds.
in a position • in position
in a position —able to do smth.: The government was
unaware of anyone who was in a position to offer a deal that
was acceptable to Washington.
in position —in the right place (for a particular purpose):
When the camera has been placed in position the cap of the
lens should be removed.
in a round • in the round
in a round —
1
. in a circle; around the perimeter: I casually
glanced in to find a group of students sitting in a round and
discussing something. 2. during one stage in a game or contest:
It is possible for one player to identify more than one word
in a round, and he therefore scores according to the “places”
he takes.
in the round —
1
. = in a round 
1
: That was a wonderful pro-
gram concept: the artists sitting in the round and sharing their
stories and songs for each other. 2. in full sculptured form
unattached to a background: The camera also gives an impres-
sion in the round of the man who seems one-dimensional in
print. 3. displaying a given subject from all aspects: It is not
an easy part, seeing that it is the only character in the whole
cast to be drawn in the round. 4. (of a performance on a stage
or arena) surrounded by the auditorium: I do object to playing
to them in the round, because it gives them a chance to get
at the actor physically.