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midst

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in the middle of something/doing something

busy doing something We were in the middle of supper when we heard the news. When she called, I was in the middle of giving the baby a bath.

See also: middle, of

in somebody's midst

existing in or among a group of people This law will help us identify and catch terrorists in our midst before they have an opportunity to strike. They would like the troublemakers in their midst to be dealt with.

See also: midst

in the midst of something

1. in the middle of or surrounded by something He criticized the plan to build homes in the midst of a desert. I was sitting in the midst of a classroom with little kids, listening to a children's story.

2. experiencing something We are in the midst of the worst recession in ten years. The company has been in the midst of a major reorganization.

See also: midst, of

in the midst of doing something

in the process of doing something I know that you're in the midst of writing a term paper but I was hoping you could come out today. People in the midst of moving would benefit from the information given on the website.

See also: midst, of

in the middle of

1. Also, in the midst of. During, while engaged in, as in He stopped him in the middle of his speech, or I'm in the midst of calculating my income tax. The first expression dates from about 1600, the second from about 1500. Also see in the midst.

2. in the middle of nowhere. In a very remote location, as in We found a great little hotel, out in the middle of nowhere. [Early 1900s]

See also: middle, of

in the midst

1. Also, in one's midst. Surrounded by, among, as in I saw a familiar face in the midst of the crowd, or To think there was a Nobel Prize winner in our midst! [c. 1500s]

2. See in the middle of, def. 1.

See also: midst