phone in

present singular third person phones in · participle present phoning in · participle past phoned in · past phoned in

1. ambitransitiveTo deliver a message by telephone when etiquette demands the effort and respect conveyed by communication in person.

   Please give us the courtesy of showing up instead of phoning in.

   1 more example

   Please give us the courtesy of delivering it in person instead of phoning it in.

   Synonyms: call in

2. intransitiveTo make a telephone call to a broadcasting station, especially to participate in a program being aired.

   We've got Brian phoning in from Phoenix. Brian, you're on the air.

   1 more example

   I've been trying to phone in to your program for the last half hour.

   Synonyms: call in

3. ambitransitivefigurativelyidiomaticTo fulfill a responsibility with a minimum effort rather than the appropriate level of effort.

   phone it in

   5 more examples

   He thought he could phone in the scheduling process, but it takes sharp negotiations around here.

   He thought he could phone it in. [pronoun antecedent: the scheduling process]

   We're sick of Alice's attitude. She's been phoning it in ever since Bob left. [pronoun antecedent: notional: either "her job" or undefined]

   But here was someone who could have been paid regally for just phoning it in for another year or two willing instead to throw that all away

   1998 January 12, “It's All About Timing”, in TIME

   his new show with Julia Child -- "Julia and Jacques Cooking At Home" on WMPT Channel 22 -- is a clever marketing stroke, but at times both of these veteran teachers seem to be phoning it in.

   2000 April 26, Candy Sagon, “All Talk, No Cooking”, in Washington Post

   Synonyms: mail it in

4. transitiveTo make an unseemly, timid performance; to be restrained and timid when bold action is called for.