Language: en
Meaning: (ambitransitive)Todeliveramessagebytelephonewhenetiquettedemandstheeffortandrespectconveyedbycommunicationin person.Synonym:call inPlease give us the courtesy of showing up instead ofphoning in.Please give us the courtesy of delivering it in person instead ofphoningitin.; (intransitive)To make atelephone callto abroadcastingstation, especially toparticipatein aprogrambeingaired.Synonym:call inWe've got Brianphoning infrom Phoenix. Brian, you're on the air.; (ambitransitive,idiomatic,figurative)Tofulfillaresponsibilitywith a minimum effort rather than the appropriate level of effort.Coordinate terms:(transitive)half-ass,shortchange,underdo;(intransitive)cut corners,skimp,slack offphoneitinHe thought he couldphone inthe scheduling process, but it takes sharp negotiations around here.He thought he couldphoneitin. [pronoun antecedent: the scheduling process]We're sick of Alice's attitude. She's beenphoningitinever since Bob left. [pronoun antecedent: notional: either "her job" or undefined]1998January 12, “It's All About Timing”, inTIME:But here was someone who could have been paid regally for justphoning it infor another year or two willing instead to throw that all away2000April 26, Candy Sagon, “All Talk, No Cooking”, inWashington Post: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 bephoning it in.2008October 6, “Getting Offensive; How Will Voters Respond?”, inABC GMA:And I think our campaign put a lot more on the line, frankly, to try to solve that problem than Senator Obama, who tried tophone it in.; (transitive)To make anunseemly,timidperformance; to berestrainedandtimidwhenboldactioniscalled for.
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