in the picture, be

Idioms and Phrases

Understand, be informed about or be involved in a particular situation or activity. For example, The new ambassador wanted to be in the picture for every event, small or large . This term is also used in such locutions as put someone in the picture , meaning “to inform or include someone,” as in Put me in the picture about the new staff , or out of the picture , meaning “to be left ignorant of or excluded from some activity,” as in The local authorities were out of the picture when it came to drug dealers . [Early 1900s] Also see get the message (picture) .