in the offing
it will probably happen soon
TRANSLATION
in the offing = bevorstehend to be in the offing = in Aussicht haben to be in the offing = sich andeuten [Gewitter], im Anzug sein [Gewitter, Gefahr], sich anbahnen [sich andeuten] [Sturm, Auseinandersetzung, etc.] --- GOOGLE INDEX in the offing: approximately 3,300,000 Google hits
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
Citi, meanwhile, has been closing foreign affiliates. It has retail operations in just 19 countries, down from 50 in 2007. Further contraction may be IN THE OFFING. Bank of America has long chosen to live down to its name, as an almost entirely domestic bank.
The Economist
The Economist
Did you
know?
in the offing
idiom
- likely to happen soon
(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)
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When something is likely to happen soon it is said to be 'in the offing’. This expression is nautical in origin. The 'offing’ refers to the sea just beyond the shoreline that stretches to the horizon. Look outs on the shore would first catch sight of approaching ships when they were 'in the offing’. They were usually expected to reach dock before the next tide, hence their arrival was typically imminent.
There are enough idioms with maritime origins to fill several pages. But we will "toe the line" here (follow the rules) and limit ourselves to just a few additional examples:
- give someone wide berth = to keep a reasonable distance from someone (Better give him wide berth as he is known to have a quick temper)
- over a barrel = to be in a situation in which someone has no choice about what to do (I forgot to pay my tax bill and now the authorities have me over a barrel)
- pipe down = to stop talking and be quiet (Pipe down over there! I can't concentrate on my work!)
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SYNONYMS
imminent, impending, expected, anticipated, at hand, close, near, approaching, fast approaching, coming, forthcoming, on the way, about to happen, upon us, in store, in the offing, in the pipeline, on the horizon, in the air, in the wind, brewing, looming, looming large; threatening, menacing
informal: on the cards
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SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"People are getting nervous. There has been talk of staff layoffs in the offing."
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QUICK, BEFORE YOU GO, TEST YOUR MEMORY !!
Do you remember yesterday’s OWAD? What's the missing word?
Pause, Auszeit, Unterbrechung = H _ _ _ _ _
Mr Barzani might blink. He recalled parliament on September 15th after a two-year H _ _ _ _ _. It may yet vote to postpone the referendum, allowing Mr Barzani to blame MPs for the U-turn.
The Economist
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idiom
- likely to happen soon
(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)
---
When something is likely to happen soon it is said to be 'in the offing’. This expression is nautical in origin. The 'offing’ refers to the sea just beyond the shoreline that stretches to the horizon. Look outs on the shore would first catch sight of approaching ships when they were 'in the offing’. They were usually expected to reach dock before the next tide, hence their arrival was typically imminent.
There are enough idioms with maritime origins to fill several pages. But we will "toe the line" here (follow the rules) and limit ourselves to just a few additional examples:
- give someone wide berth = to keep a reasonable distance from someone (Better give him wide berth as he is known to have a quick temper)
- over a barrel = to be in a situation in which someone has no choice about what to do (I forgot to pay my tax bill and now the authorities have me over a barrel)
- pipe down = to stop talking and be quiet (Pipe down over there! I can't concentrate on my work!)
---
SYNONYMS
imminent, impending, expected, anticipated, at hand, close, near, approaching, fast approaching, coming, forthcoming, on the way, about to happen, upon us, in store, in the offing, in the pipeline, on the horizon, in the air, in the wind, brewing, looming, looming large; threatening, menacing
informal: on the cards
---
SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"People are getting nervous. There has been talk of staff layoffs in the offing."
—
QUICK, BEFORE YOU GO, TEST YOUR MEMORY !!
Do you remember yesterday’s OWAD? What's the missing word?
Pause, Auszeit, Unterbrechung = H _ _ _ _ _
Mr Barzani might blink. He recalled parliament on September 15th after a two-year H _ _ _ _ _. It may yet vote to postpone the referendum, allowing Mr Barzani to blame MPs for the U-turn.
The Economist
Scroll down for more hints and answer
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