In the barrel
adjective phrase
Without money; broke: A red hot pimp like you ain’t got no business being in the barrel
[1940s+ Black; fr the archetypal image of a destitute man who wears a barrel for clothing]
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- In the belly of the beast
adverb phrase In an extremely difficult plight; beleaguered: Esa-Pekka Salonen is in the belly of the beast. The brilliant young Finnish conductor has begun his third season as music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic [1990s+; perhaps an allusion to the plight of Jonah, swallowed by a great fish]
- In the blood
see: in one’s blood
- In the boat
Related Terms man in the boat
- In the bubble
adjective In winning form; playing very well; in the zone, on a roll [mid-1980s+ Sports; said to have been the reply of basketball player Julius Erving when he was asked what a winning streak felt like]
- In the bucks
adjective phrase Having money, esp a lot of it; in funds; flush, loaded: right after Christmas and we’re not in the bucks (1920s+)