1 A2 neutral
To draw air, smoke, or liquid into the body or a space through suction.
"She sucked in a sharp breath when she heard the news."
separable
suck in
B1 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To draw air, liquid, or a person inward by suction, or to deceive and involve someone in something.
In plain English
Pull something or someone inside using force, or trick someone into getting involved.
What does "suck in" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic informal
To deceive or manipulate someone into becoming involved in a situation, often a negative one.
"Don't let those online scammers suck you in with promises of easy money."
separable
3 B1 neutral
To pull the stomach or cheeks inward deliberately.
"He sucked in his stomach as she walked past, trying to look slimmer."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To suck (draw by suction) something inward — the physical act of drawing something inside.
Actually means
Pull something or someone inside using force, or trick someone into getting involved.
Usage tip
The physical sense is common and neutral (sucking in air). The figurative sense (being deceived or drawn into a bad situation) is very common in informal speech. 'Don't let yourself get sucked in' is a very frequent idiomatic warning.
Words that pair with "suck in"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
air breath stomach scam scheme crowd
How to conjugate "suck in"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
suck in
I/you/we/they
3rd person
sucks in
he/she/it
Past simple
sucked in
yesterday
Past participle
sucked in
have + pp
-ing form
sucking in
continuous
Hear "suck in" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "suck in" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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