circumstance

in reduced circumstances (slightly formal)

if someone, especially someone from a high social class, is in reduced circumstances, they have a lot less money than they did before. They found him living in reduced circumstances in a flat off Fulham Road.

See also: reduce

pomp and circumstance

formal ceremony. The royal visit was accompanied by all the usual pomp and circumstance.

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under certain circumstances

because of particular conditions. Your insurance will pay for that surgery, but only under certain circumstances, for example if it's an emergency.

See also: certain

under no circumstances

not for any reason. Abby's mother said that under no circumstances could Abby go out with her pals.

under the circumstances

because of the particular situation. Going to see the scene of the explosion was, under the circumstances, a really stupid thing to do. The storm was very dangerous, so under the circumstances I think we were lucky to have had only one tree blown down.

Usage notes: also used in the form under those circumstances: There is an ongoing investigation, and under those circumstances, it wouldn't be right for me to comment.