land in

land in

1. To descend from the air and set down in some place or thing. The plane was forced to land in Atlanta due to a problem with its fuel tank. The wasp landed right in the bowl of pudding.
2. Of an aircraft, to perform a landing in the midst of certain weather conditions (e.g., fog, rain, snow, etc.). I don't know how you expect to land in fog as thick as this! The helicopter was forced to land in gale-force winds.
3. To arrive at, come to, or end up in a particular situation, especially one that is problematic, dangerous, undesirable, etc. In this usage, a name or pronoun can be used after "land" when talking about performing the action on someone else. You're going to land in a whole heap of trouble if you don't start filing your taxes. I hope you realize that this investigation could land us in prison.
See also: land
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

land someone in something

to cause someone to end up in something. His criminal activity finally landed him in jail. You really landed yourself in a fine mess!
See also: land

land in something

 
1. Lit. [for an airplane] to return to earth in or near a particular city. We landed in Chicago on time. They could not land in San Francisco, so they flew on to Sacramento.
2. Fig. [for someone] to end up in something, such as a mess, jail, trouble, etc. If you don't mend your ways, you're going to land in jail! Andy is going to land in hot water if he doesn't start paying his bills.
3. [for an airplane] to make a landing in something, such as bad weather, darkness, daylight, fog, etc. You can't land this plane in fog like this. The novice pilot is not capable of landing in the dark.
See also: land
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

land in

Also, land up. Arrive at, end in something. For example, This situation could land you in a terrible mess, or I never thought I'd land up with a reward for excellence. These expressions both employ land in the sense of "to end," a usage dating from the late 1600s.
See also: land
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

land in

v.
1. To come down and settle in something after traveling through the air: The fly landed in my soup.
2. To arrive in some situation or condition as a result of a course of action: I landed in court after they fired me.
3. To cause someone or something to arrive in some situation or condition: The company's poor fiscal policies landed it in bankruptcy.
See also: land
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • land on
  • land upon
  • hurry down
  • hurry down (to some place)
  • tank up
  • tank up (on something)
  • tanked
  • tanked up
  • walk down
  • wing heavy
References in classic literature
"Why, Pivart's a new name hereabout, brother, isn't it?" she said; "he didn't own the land in father's time, nor yours either, before I was married."
The Mill on the Floss
Kimho Ma is scheduled to land in Phnom Penh later this week as we go to press.
Sent back. (Action)
They can't land in Cochrane on a regular basis to pick up nobody or one person.
Efforts begin to spruce up Cochrane airport
If Elian sails off into the sunset, he'll land in Cuba.
Reading Elian
The promised land in our times remains the economic powerhouse of the United States, which each year draws thousands, legally or otherwise, to its shores.
Let my people stay