British & Australian, informal, American, informal

if a public performance or a sports event puts bums on seats, many people pay to go and see it.

This production needs a big name to put bums on seats.

• in the doldrums
• in the driver's seat
• in the dumps
• in the end
• in the event of
• in the event of something
• in the eyes of
• in the eyes of someone
• in the eyes of the law
• in the face of
• in the face of something
• in the family way
• in the fast lane
• in the final analysis
• in the first place
• in the flesh
• in the fullness of time
• in the grand scheme of things
• in the great scheme of things
• in the grip of
• in the grip of something
• in the groove
• in the hands of
• in the hands of someone
• in the heat of