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

in no way • no way
in no way —(also: in no shape) in no manner; not at all: The
product we bargained for in no way resembles what we end
up with.
no way —
1
. not a chance; under no circumstances: There
was just no way I could pay my way through school without
a job. 2. (exclam.) absolutely not: “Have you paid for the repair
yet?” “No way! Not until we know for sure that the computer
is actually working.” 3. (exclam.) you don’t say so; how sur-
prising: “Hey, I saw Ellie out with Andrew last night.” “No
way!”
in number • in numbers
in number —in sum total; altogether: The cavalry were
about a thousand in number.
in numbers —
1
. in large amount or quantity: Cape carts
driven by Malays rattled up and down the streets in numbers.
2. (of books) published in a series of separate parts: I consider
it vulgar, and below the dignity of literature, to publish in
numbers.
in half
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in office • in the office
in office —
1
. inside a room used as a place of business: When
the boss is in office she does not take lunch, comes in extra
early and leaves late. 2. in an official position of duty or
authority: Each President will be in office for five years, and
one person can be elected as President only twice.
in the office — = in office 
1
: Just because the boss is not in
the office doesn’t necessarily mean he is not working.
in olden days • in the old days
in olden days —(formal) in former times; in times long past
(also: in days of old): In olden days audiences took the equiv-
alent of a cut lunch to the theater and expected to be enter-
tained for hour after hour.
in the old days —long ago; years ago: We descended the hill,
and, passing by the waterhead his father so loved in the old
days of his carriage tours, we drove to the church.