English · Idiom Historical

in for it

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

About "to catch it"; on the point of being in trouble. In such phrases as this, and as to come it strong, to rough it, etc., it is the definite object of the transitive or intransitive verb.

Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)

Sources & notes

Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.

Topics: Historical slang (1800s)

Common questions

What does “in for it” mean?

About "to catch it"; on the point of being in trouble. In such phrases as this, and as to come it strong, to rough it, etc., it is the definite object of the transitive or intransitive verb.

Is “in for it” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.

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