in the frame

1. Very likely to be chosen; at the forefront of all choices. After 10 years of dutiful service, she's finally in the frame to move into an upper management position.

2. Suspected of having committed some crime or wrongdoing. Two weeks after the gruesome murder that shocked the small town, police still have no suspects in the frame.

COMMON

1. If you are in the frame for a job or a successful activity, you are very likely to be chosen for it. Steve has done well. He's back in the frame and I will have a good look at him in training this week. Note: You can talk about someone being the name in the frame when they are very likely to be chosen for a job or a successful activity. Speculation about potential replacements is already rife, with Sir David Scholey and Lord Lawson among the names in the frame.

2. If someone is in the frame for a crime or a bad action, people think that they are responsible for it. The fact is, there's only ever been one guy in the frame for this killing, and that's the husband. Note: The `frame' referred to here is probably one of the frames, or images, in a reel of film.