You use in case in expressions like 'in case you didn't know' or 'in case you've forgotten' when you are telling someone in a rather irritated way something that you think is either obvious or none of their business.
[feelings]
She's nervous about something, in case you didn't notice.
'I'm waiting for Mary Ann,' she said, 'in case you're wondering.'
See full dictionary entry for case
in case in British English
(adverb)
a.
in order to allow for eventualities
b. (as conjunction)
in order to allow for the possibility that
take your coat in case it rains
c. US
if
See full dictionary entry for case
in case in American English
in the event that; if
See full dictionary entry for case
Examples of 'in case' in a sentence
in case
You can have commitments of compensation in case you have something negative.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They also had signals to stop me in case there was something dangerous ahead.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
She admitted to keeping her emotions in check in case something went wrong.
The Sun (2014)
And then hospitals have this other thing that comes in handy in case something goes wrong.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
She had not been allowed it before in case the process affected any evidence.
The Sun (2012)
Suggest a trip to the cinema or something similar in case he's too shy to ask.
The Sun (2012)
Just in case there's something on tonight.
Len Deighton Bomber
And kept reading - in case something happened.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He was thus "forbidden to give answers to supplementary questions' in case he said something damaging.
Simon Ball THE GUARDSMEN (2004)
I wanted essentially to have evidence in case something happened.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
I used to be negative in case something bad would happen.
The Sun (2011)
This means I cannot have friends round in case they let something slip.
The Sun (2015)
He added: 'I was nervous in case anything happens.
The Sun (2011)
The launch can be aborted up to 100 minutes in advance, allowing for postponement in case of cloudy weather.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I used to have the scanners on at night just in case I missed something.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
You are now responsible for the property, so make sure you have buildings insurance in place, in case something happens to it before you move in.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
All related terms of 'in case'
in case of
in the event of
in no case
under no circumstances
in any case
You say in any case when you are adding something which is more important than what you have just said , but which supports or corrects it.
just in case
You can say that you are doing something just in case to refer vaguely to the possibility that a thing might happen or be true , without saying exactly what it is.
case in point
a specific , appropriate , or relevant instance or example
a case in point
If you say that something is a case in point , you mean that it is a good example of something you have just mentioned .
in case of sth
If you do something or have something in case of a particular thing, you do it or have it because that thing might happen or be true .
in case/just in case
If you do something in case or just in case a particular thing happens , you do it because that thing might happen.
in that/which case
You say in that case or in which case to indicate that what you are going to say is true if the possible situation that has just been mentioned actually exists .