(~s)
1.
If someone is in ~, they have secretly gone somewhere where they cannot be seen or found.
Gray is thought to be in ~ near the France/Italy border...
The duchess is expected to come out of ~ to attend the ceremony.
N-UNCOUNT: prep N
2.
If you give someone a ~, you punish them by hitting them many times. (INFORMAL)
= beating
N-COUNT
3.
If you say that someone who is trying to achieve something is on a ~ to nothing, you are emphasizing that they have absolutely no chance of being successful. (BRIT INFORMAL)
As regards commercial survival, a car manufacturer capable of making only 50,000 cars a year is on a ~ to nothing.
PHRASE: v-link PHR emphasis