Faced with a hopeless or challenging situation. Literally, in a court of chancery, which is the Lord Chancellor's court (in the UK) or a court of equity (in the US). 2. The allusion is to the condition of a person involved in the chancery court, where he was helpless, while the lawyers lived upon his estate. One Got in Chancery I was thinking about various accounts of judicial power this morning, and suddenly realized the meaning of the verse in the Ten Little Indians rhyme (in the version found in And Then There Were None): Five little Indian boys going in for law; To get (or to hold) In chancery.

Four little nigger boys going out to sea A red herring swallowed one, and then there were three.
b : a court of equity in the American judicial system. in chancery in American English 1. in process of litigation in a court of equity 2. 1 : a record office for public archives or those of ecclesiastical, legal, or diplomatic proceedings. One got in chancery, and then there were four.

I'm in chancery today, waiting for the decision in our case to be announced. 2 a capitalized : a high court of equity in England and Wales with common-law functions and jurisdiction over causes in equity. Three little nigger boys walking in the zoo A big bear hugged one, and then there were two. to get the head of an antagonist under one's arm, so that one can pommel it with the other fist at will; hence, to have wholly in One's power. Two little nigger boys sitting in the sun One got frizzled up, and then there was one.