in the offing

adv. 在视野内的远处海面(即将到来)

例句与用法：

Form where we lay anchor, we could see the ships in the offing.

从我们抛锚的地方可以看到近海的船。

Look at those black clouds. I think there is rain in the offing.

看那些乌云，我想天马上就要下雨了。

The smell of cooking tells them there is a meal in the offing.

他们闻到做菜的味儿，知道眼看要吃饭了。

The smell of cooking told them there was a meal in the offing.

他们闻到做菜的味儿，知道眼看要吃饭了。