Phrasal verb
phone in
Irregular verb
Forms
Infinitive
phone in
Past
phoned in
Past participle
phoned in
Definition
phrasal verb. to call a place to give information or a report. You use this when you call your office to say you are sick or call a radio show to share your opinion.
phrasal verb. To deliver a report or information via telephone, often to a central hub or broadcast. It is frequently used intransitively in the context of talk radio or transitively when reporting work-related updates.
Examples
“Please phone in your sales figures by Friday afternoon.”
“The radio host invited listeners to phone in and share their favorite memories of the city.”
“Despite the technical difficulties at the stadium, the commentator managed to phone in a live update just as the winning goal was scored.”
Examples
simple
“Please phone in your sales figures by Friday afternoon.”
contextual
“The radio host invited listeners to phone in and share their favorite memories of the city.”
complex
“Despite the technical difficulties at the stadium, the commentator managed to phone in a live update just as the winning goal was scored.”
Usage
Commonly used with objects like 'sick', 'a report', or 'an order'.
Teaching tip
Distinguish between the literal reporting sense and the informal idiom 'to phone it in', which describes doing something with minimal effort.
Pitfall
I need to phone sick today.
I need to phone in sick today.
The particle 'in' is required in the fixed expression 'to phone in sick'.
Phrasal verb
Particles
in
Separability
optional
Pattern
phone + in (+ object)
Synonyms
Word family
ADJECTIVE
PHRASAL VERB
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/phone-in