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limp in

B2 neutral intransitive
In simple words

To come inside or arrive somewhere while limping — either really walking with pain, or barely making it.

Literal meaning: To walk with an uneven gait into a place — largely transparent.

Meanings

1 B1 neutral

To enter a place walking with a limp due to injury or pain.

"The injured player limped in from the field to get treatment on the sideline."

2 B2 idiomatic neutral

To arrive or reach a destination in a damaged, reduced, or barely functional state (used figuratively of vehicles, teams, or organisations).

"The damaged tanker limped in to the harbour with one engine running."

Usage notes

Used both literally for a person or animal arriving while limping, and figuratively for vehicles, aircraft, teams, or organisations barely managing to arrive or complete something. The figurative use is common in sports reporting.

Commonly used with

airport finish line port game final season home

Forms

Base
limp in
I/you/we/they
3rd person
limps in
he/she/it
Past simple
limped in
yesterday
Past participle
limped in
have + pp
-ing form
limping in
continuous

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Synonyms

hobble in stagger in drag oneself in arrive injured crawl in

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