position
assume the position
1. To take over the role and responsibilities of a particular job. My boss wants me to assume the position of treasurer this year, but I don't know if I want the extra workload.
2. A command issued by US law enforcement officers, meaning to stand with one's back to the officer and hold one's arms in a position to be either handcuffed or frisked. Primarily heard in US, South Africa. I knew I was in trouble when they asked me out of the car, but I knew I was going to jail when they told me to assume the position.
See also: assume, position
be in pole position
To be ideally positioned for success. The phrase comes from racing, in which the starting position at the inside of the front row (the "pole position") is thought to improve one's chance of winning. She is in pole position to win the scholarship, thanks to all of her extracurricular activities.
See also: pole, position
come in
1. To enter a place, such as a room, house, etc. Often used as an imperative. In this usage, "on" can be used between "come" and "in." I came in while the meeting was in progress, so I waited in the back. Come in! I'm in the kitchen! Come on in and have a seat.
2. To arrive at a particular place or destination. Those dresses were scheduled to come in last Tuesday. When does your flight come in?
3. To finish a contest or competition in a particular position or place (as in first, second, third, etc.). I didn't expect to come in first or anything, but finishing last is pretty disappointing.
4. To join something that is already in progress, often in a particular way or role. Ashley will sing the verse, and then we'll all come in on the chorus.
5. To be received, as of a transmission. Call me back later—you're not coming in well, so I can barely hear you.
6. To have or finish with a particular value or measurement. You came in at two minutes and 30 seconds, which is a better time than your last race. The estimate came in way too high, so we have to solicit more bids.
7. To approach or reach the shore, as of the tide. If you're trying to stay dry, we should move our chairs back before the tide comes in again.
8. To receive or be subject to something. Those boys are going to have to come in for a punishment after starting the food fight.
9. To join a group in doing something. We're pooling our money to get Sean a graduation gift, if you want to come in with us.
See also: come
come to the position with (something)
To provide or offer a useful skill or attribute to some role, as in a company. He comes to the position with years of leadership experience.
See also: come, position
cowgirl position
A sex position in which the woman is on top of the man, with both partners facing each other. The "Kama Sutra" is totally blowing my mind—all I knew how to do before was the cowgirl position!
See also: position
in pole position
1. In auto racing, in the starting position on the inside in the front row, which is considered the most favorable. The term originated in horse racing. He started in pole position but fell behind by the third lap.
2. By extension, in an exceptionally strong, advantageous, or competitive position. Used especially in reference to sports. Primarily heard in UK. Barcelona finds themselves in pole position after a last-minute victory puts them at the top of the league. It looks like Danielson is in pole position for presidency of the central bank.
See also: pole, position
in scoring position
1. literally, in sports, to be within the distance from which scoring a goal, run, or other type of point is much more likely. Thanks to that play, the Jayhawks now have two runners in scoring distance. It's fourth down and ten, but we're in scoring distance if we opt for a field goal—what should we do, Coach?
2. By extension, in a position that makes one's success attainable or very likely. Following the sudden and immense success of the first film, the studio is in scoring position to set up a huge blockbuster franchise. It is the tireless work of our research team that puts our projects in scoring position.
See also: position, score
jockey for position
1. Literally, to move one's horse into a good or ideal position while racing. He's jockeying for position, but I don't think he'll finish higher than third.
2. To compete against others for a desirable role or thing. With the CEO retiring, everyone in management is jockeying for position The more outgoing kids started jockeying for position as soon as the class took the stage.
See also: jockey, position
jockey into position
1. Literally, to move one's horse into a good or ideal position while racing. A noun or pronoun can be used between "jockey" and "into." He's jockeying into position, but I don't think he'll finish higher than third. I left it too late to jockey my horse into position, so I knew I had no hope of winning.
2. By extension, to move oneself or one's vehicle into a good or ideal position in order to do something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "jockey" and "into." The runners all began jockeying into position as they neared the finish line. The students jockeyed into position so that they would be at the front of the stage for their recital.
3. To compete against others for a desirable role or position. With the CEO retiring, everyone in management is jockeying into position so that they'll be considered for the job. The major political parties have spent the entire year jockeying into position ahead of the election.
See also: jockey, position
jockeying for position
The act of competing against others for a desirable role or thing. This jockeying for position needs to stop—the CEO has already chosen his successor.
See also: jockey, position
make (one's) position clear
To make one's opinion, point of view, or intention (about something) clearly understood. Often used with modifiers before the word "clear." You have to be sure to make your position very clear, both in person and in writing, so that if there's a dispute later on the other party can't claim to have been misinformed. The boss made his position on the issue crystal clear.
See also: clear, make, position
place (one) in an awkward position
To cause one to be in a situation or scenario that could prove to be embarrassing or damaging to one's reputation, career, relationship with someone else, etc. Because I'm good friends with both Jack and Jenny, their breakup places me in a really awkward position. I hope you realize that it will place us in an awkward position if you decide to leave the company right now.
See also: awkward, place, position
put (one) in an awkward position
To cause one to be in a situation or scenario that could prove to be embarrassing or damaging to one's reputation, career, relationship with someone else, etc. Because I'm such good friends with both Jack and Jenny, their breakup puts me in a really awkward position. I hope you realize that it will put us in an awkward position if you decide to leave the company right now.
See also: awkward, position, put
the missionary position
A sexual position in which the partner who is penetrating lies on top of the other and faces them. The term is often said to have originated with Christian missionaries' supposed promotion of the position among native tribal peoples as the proper one, but the phrase likely originated as the result of sex researcher Alfred Kinsey conflating anthropologists' reports. The missionary position is probably the most popular sexual position, or at least the most well known.
See also: missionary, position
within scoring position
1. Literally, in sports, to be within the distance from which scoring a goal, run, or other type of point is much more likely. Thanks to that play, the Jayhawks now have two runners within scoring distance. It's fourth down and ten, but we're within scoring distance if we opt for a field goal—what should we do, Coach?
2. By extension, in a position that makes one's success attainable or very likely. Following the sudden and immense success of the first film, the studio is within scoring position to set up a huge blockbuster franchise. It is the tireless work of our research team that puts our projects within scoring position.
See also: position, score, within
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
come in
1. to enter. (Often a command or polite request.) Please come in. If you will come in and have a seat, I will tell Betty that you are here.
2. to arrive; [for a shipment of something] to arrive. New models come in almost every week. When do you expect a new batch to come in? The tomatoes will come in at the end of July. The election results came in early in the evening.
3. [for a broadcast signal] to be received satisfactorily. Can you hear me? How am I coming in? You are coming in all right.
See also: come
come in a certain position
to finish in a certain position or rank. Fred came in fourth in the race. He was afraid he would come in last.
See also: certain, come, position
Come (on) in.
and come on in(to) somethingEnter.; Come into this place. (A polite invitation to enter someone's home, office, room, etc. It is more emphatic with on.) Bob: Hello, you guys. Come on in. We're just about to start dinner. Bill: Come in. Nice to see you. Mary: I hope we're not too early. Bill: Not at all. Come on into the house and have a cold drink.
See also: come
come to the job with something
and come to the position with something; come to the task with somethingto bring a particular quality to a task or job. She comes to the job with great enthusiasm. Ann comes to this position with a lot of experience.
See also: come, job
jockey for position
1. Lit. to work one's horse into a desired position in a horse race. Three riders were jockeying for position in the race. Ken was behind, but jockeying for position.
2. . Fig. to work oneself into a desired position. The candidates were jockeying for position, trying to get the best television exposure. I was jockeying for position but running out of campaign money.
See also: jockey, position
jockey someone or something into position
to manage to get someone or something into a desirable position. (See also jockey for position.) The rider jockeyed his horse into position. Try to jockey your bicycle into position so you can pass the others.
See also: jockey, position
make someone's position clear
to clarify where someone stands on an issue. I don't think you understand what I said. Let me make my position dear. I can't tell whether you are in favor of or against the proposal. Please make your position clear.
See also: clear, make, position
place someone in an awkward position
Fig. to put someone in an embarrassing or delicate situation. Your decision places me in an awkward position. I'm afraid I have put myself in sort of an awkward position.
See also: awkward, place, position
put someone in an awkward position
to make a situation difficult for someone; to make it difficult for someone to evade or avoid acting. Your demands have put me in an awkward position. I don't know what to do. I'm afraid I've put myself in sort of an awkward position.
See also: awkward, position, put
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
come in
1. Arrive, become available for use or begin to produce, as in Has the new fall line come in yet? or The latest reports are coming in now, or This well has just begun to come in. [Late 1800s]
2. Also, come in on. Join an enterprise, as in Do you want to come in on our venture? [Mid-1800s]
3. Be one of those who finish a contest or race, as in My horse came in last. [Late 1800s]
4. Perform or function, as in This mixer comes in very handy, or Where does my department come in? [Late 1800s] Also see come in handy.
5. Enter into an account, issue, or list, as in Where does this question come in? or Please explain where in this long process I come in. This usage dates from Shakespeare's time and appears in The Tempest (2:1): "Widow? A pox on that! How came that widow in?" Also see subsequent entries beginning with come in; come into; this is where I came in.
See also: come
jockey for position
Maneuver or manipulate for one's own benefit, as in The singers are always jockeying for position on stage. This expression, dating from about 1900, originally meant maneuvering a race horse into a better position for winning. It was transferred to other kinds of manipulation in the mid-1900s.
See also: jockey, position
scoring position, in
About to succeed, as in The publisher is in scoring position with that instant book about the trial. This term comes from sports, where it signifies being in a spot where scoring is likely. In baseball it refers to a situation in which a runner is on second or third base. The figurative use of the term dates from the second half of the 1900s.
See also: score
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
in pole position
mainly BRITISHIf you are in pole position, you are in a very strong position in a competition or competitive situation, and are likely to win or be successful. As the European market leader we are in pole position to exploit this market. The chancellor is fighting hard to remain in pole position to take over from the prime minister. Note: This expression comes from motor racing, where the driver who starts the race in front of all the other drivers is said to start `in pole position'.
See also: pole, position
jockey for position
If someone jockeys for position, they try to get into a better position or situation than people they are competing against. Reporters with their cameras jockeyed for position. Some presenters are already jockeying for position to see who will read the new Six O'Clock News. Note: Jockeying for position is also used as a noun. There was a constant jockeying for position between the superpowers. Note: The image here is of jockeys (= riders of race horses) trying to get their horses into the best position at the beginning of a race.
See also: jockey, position
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
jockey for position
manoeuvre in order to gain advantage over rivals in a competitive situation.See also: jockey, position
in pole position
in an advantageous position.In motor racing, pole position is the position on the front row of the starting grid which will allow the driver to take the first bend on the inside. The phrase originated in the 19th century as a horse-racing term, referring to the starting position nearest the inside boundary rails.
See also: pole, position
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
come in
v.
1. To enter some enclosed region: You may open the door and come in.
2. To arrive or become available: We don't have any summer hats now, but a new shipment will be coming in soon. Some important information just came in that we think you should know about.
3. To arrive at an airport, harbor, or other central location. Used especially of modes of transportation: The flight comes in at 6:00.
4. To approach or encroach upon a shoreline: The tide is coming in after noon. Big waves will come in for some time after the storm.
5. To arrive, among those who finish a contest or race, at some rank with respect to the others: My friend came in fifth place in the spelling contest, and I came in last. These two runners will come in ahead of the others.
6. To be received. Used of wireless communications: The radio signal is not coming in well because of the electrical storm.
7. To take on a specified role: You don't have to help move the boxes; come in when we need you for the furniture. Chapter five of the book is where the main character comes in.
8. come in at To be measured or evaluated as having some value: The heaviest of the parcels came in at more than ten pounds.
9. come in for To be subject to something: The engineers came in for high praise with their clever design. The officials will come in for sharp criticism by the newspapers.
10. come in with To join some group in some endeavor or toward achieving something: Do you want to come in with us to buy a birthday present for Timmy?
See also: come
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
jockey for position, to
To maneuver or manipulate, to further one’s own interest. The verb to jockey has meant to gain an advantage through adroit maneuvering from about 1700 or so. To jockey for position was used literally (meaning to maneuver a racehorse) in the early twentieth century and was only transferred to other endeavors about 1950. The London Times had it in 1955, “Lawyers jockeying for position to appear before the right judge.”
See also: jockey
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- assume the position
- be sleeping on the job
- assume the mantle
- warm body
- wear too many hats
- ordain
- ordain (one) as (something)
- pass the torch
- take on too much
- take too much on