# call in

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/call-in
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to phone your workplace to say you cannot come to work, usually because you are sick.

For teachers: to contact one's place of employment by telephone to report an absence; most frequently used in the context of illness or personal emergencies.

## Examples

- I need to call in sick today.
- Three people called in this morning, so we are very short-staffed at the restaurant.
- The manager requested that employees call in at least two hours before their shift begins if they are unable to attend.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I called in to the office sick." but "I called in sick to the office." — the adjective 'sick' usually follows the phrasal verb directly before any prepositional phrases.

## Usage notes

- often used with the adjective 'sick' or 'well' to specify the reason for the call.
- Teaching tip: this is a common workplace idiom; explain that 'call in' is often shorthand for 'call in sick' even if the word 'sick' is omitted in context.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.