in step
in step — idiom
1. Moving your feet so that they touch the ground at exactly the same time as the f
Moving your feet so that they touch the ground at exactly the same time as the feet of the people around you, especially when marching, dancing, or walking in a group.
The soldiers marched in step past the reviewing stand, their boots hitting the ground as one.
march in step — used for military marching
The dancers struggled to stay in step during the fast routine, and two of them lost the beat.
stay in step — with music as the reference
Omar fell in step beside his friend, and they walked together without saying a word.
The children tried to walk in step with the parade music, but some kept skipping ahead.
Staying in step with fifty other marchers requires listening carefully to the drumbeat.
- in time
emphasises matching a musical beat or count rather than visual synchronisation
- in rhythm
focuses on the patterned sequence of movements, often in dance
- keeping pace
highlights maintaining the same speed rather than the exact foot timing
- out of step
the direct opposite in both literal and figurative senses
文法句型
be in step
stay in step
keep in step
fall in step
march/walk in step
用法筆記
Commonly follows verbs such as 'be', 'keep', 'stay', 'fall', 'march', or 'walk'. The phrase is almost always followed by 'with' when specifying the group or rhythm being matched.
常見錯誤
2. Having opinions, ideas, beliefs, or methods that match those of another person,
Having opinions, ideas, beliefs, or methods that match those of another person, group, or standard — or being in harmony with the general way things are done.
Elena and Omar discovered they were in step on every major political issue they discussed.
be in step on [topic] — share the same opinion
The company's environmental policies are not in step with what consumers now expect from big brands.
A good government must stay in step with the changing needs of ordinary citizens.
The research team's methods fell out of step with current scientific standards, so their results were questioned.
When a couple falls out of step over spending, money arguments become a regular problem.
- in agreement
more direct and general; less idiomatic than 'in step'
- in harmony
suggests a natural, peaceful compatibility rather than simple alignment
- aligned with
more formal and often used in business or technical contexts
- on the same page
informal equivalent, common in workplace conversations
- out of step
the direct opposite, used for both literal and figurative mismatch
- at odds
suggests active conflict rather than simple disagreement
- out of touch
implies being unaware of current standards or opinions
文法句型
be in step with
keep in step with
stay in step with
fall out of step with
用法筆記
Very common in negative or contrastive constructions: 'out of step' often carries a stronger tone of disagreement or outdatedness than the positive 'in step'. The phrase can be used with organizations, trends, standards, or individuals.