What Does “Call sth in” Mean?
“Call sth in” means to request help, service, or assistance from an expert or authority, often by phone or official contact.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “call sth in” is commonly used in English when someone needs to ask for help or bring in a professional to handle a specific task. For example, if a machine breaks down, you might “call in” a technician. The phrase is often used in workplaces, emergencies, or situations where outside expertise is necessary. Understanding the “call sth in” meaning helps you communicate clearly when requesting support or services. This phrase can be applied in many contexts, from calling in sick at work to calling in a favor or reinforcements.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: call sth in (call something in)
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: to request help or service from someone, usually an expert or authority
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Call sth in” is a separable phrasal verb. This means the object (something) can come between “call” and “in” or after “in.”
- Call something in
- Call in something
Both forms are correct, but “call something in” is more common. For example:
- We need to call the electrician in.
- We need to call in the electrician.
How to Use “Call sth in”?
You use “call sth in” when you want to request help, service, or support from an expert, authority, or outside source. It often involves contacting someone by phone or official means to handle a problem or situation. It can also mean reporting something officially, like calling in a report or complaint.
Common contexts include:
- Workplace problems (e.g., calling in a specialist)
- Medical situations (e.g., calling in a doctor)
- Reporting absences (e.g., calling in sick)
- Law enforcement or emergency services (e.g., calling in reinforcements)
Examples
- We had to call in a plumber to fix the leaking pipe.
- The company called in an expert to evaluate the damage.
- She called in sick because she had a fever.
- The manager called in extra staff for the busy weekend.
- They called in the police when the alarm went off.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: I will call in the doctor the patient.
Correct: I will call the doctor in for the patient. - Incorrect: He calls in sick tomorrow.
Correct: He will call in sick tomorrow. - Incorrect: We call in the technician yesterday.
Correct: We called in the technician yesterday.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include:
- Call off: to cancel something (different meaning)
- Call up: to telephone someone or to summon for military service
- Bring in: to involve someone or something, often for help or advice
Call sth in specifically means to request help or report something officially. Unlike “bring in,” it focuses on the act of contacting or requesting assistance.
Common Collocations
- Call in a favor
- Call in sick
- Call in the experts
- Call in the police
- Call in a technician
- Call in reinforcements
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of call sth in:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: The air conditioner stopped working again.
Ben: Should we try to fix it ourselves?
Anna: No, better call in a professional this time.
Ben: Good idea. I’ll call in the repair service now.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “call in”:
- We _______ a mechanic to fix the car yesterday.
- If you feel unwell, you should _______ sick to your manager.
- The company decided to _______ a consultant for advice.
- They _______ the police after the break-in.
FAQs
- What does “call sth in” mean? It means to request help or service from an expert or authority, usually by phone or official contact.
- Is “call sth in” separable? Yes, you can say both “call something in” and “call in something.”
- Can I use “call in” for reporting absence? Yes, “call in sick” is a common phrase used when reporting you are unable to work due to illness.
- What is the difference between “call in” and “call off”? “Call in” means to request help or report, while “call off” means to cancel something.
- Can “call in” be used in emergencies? Yes, you can call in emergency services like police or medical help.