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phone in

B1 neutral intransitive
In simple words

To call a place by phone, especially a radio show or your workplace. Also means to do something without really trying.

Literal meaning: To phone into (a place).

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

To telephone a radio or TV programme to participate, vote, or ask a question.

"Hundreds of listeners phoned in to share their views on the new traffic policy."

2 A2 neutral

To call your workplace by phone, especially to report that you are sick or will be absent.

"She phoned in sick on Monday because she had a terrible cold."

3 B2 idiomatic informal

To do something without real effort or engagement; to go through the motions.

"The critics said the actor was just phoning it in during the second half of the film."

Usage notes

Has two main uses: (1) the literal sense of calling into a broadcast or your workplace by phone; (2) the informal, figurative sense meaning to do something with very little effort or enthusiasm, as if one isn't really present — this use is common in journalism and sport commentary. British English preference over 'call in'.

Commonly used with

sick show competition vote report programme

Forms

Base
phone in
I/you/we/they
3rd person
phones in
he/she/it
Past simple
phoned in
yesterday
Past participle
phoned in
have + pp
-ing form
phoning in
continuous

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Synonyms

call in ring in dial in participate by phone contribute by phone

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