1. To ask one to come to a particular place. A noun or pronoun can be used between 'call' and 'in.' I knew about the public outcry against my article, so I was not surprised when the editor called me into his office for a chat.Will you go call in the kids? It's nearly supper time.
2. To request one's aid or expertise. A noun or pronoun can be used between 'call' and 'in.' I've called in Nancy to help you—as a senior member of the team, she's dealt with these kinds of issues before.When that case had me stumped, I called another detective in to review it with me.
3. To call a specific place by phone. A noun or pronoun can be used between 'call' and 'in.' I called in to a radio station and won two tickets to that big concert!I am working from home today, but I have to call in for a meeting at 3.Nancy from our North Carolina office will call in to help you—she's dealt with these kinds of issues before.
4. To order something by phone. A noun or pronoun can be used between 'call' and 'in.' Just tell me what you want for dinner and I'll call it in.Headquarters just called in an air strike—we need to evacuate this area now!
57: A Call To Something More Something
5. To pull something from circulation. A noun or pronoun can be used between 'call' and 'in.' In this usage, 'back' is sometimes used before 'in,' as in, 'call (something) back in.' Due to the growing backlash, the publisher has called in that issue of the magazine.Be absolutely sure the copy is clean, because I don't want to have to call it back in.
6. To report something by phone (or other means of voice communication, such as a radio) in an official capacity, such as in law enforcement. A noun or pronoun can be used between 'call' and 'in.' I'll secure the perimeter while you call in the robbery.I know it's the end of our shift, but this is serious—we have to call it in.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
call someone or something in
1. to call on the special talents, abilities, or power of someone or something. They had to call a new doctor in.Yes, they had to call in a specialist.
2. Go to call someone or something into something.
call someone in
(for something)
1. to request that someone come to have a talk. The manager called Karen in for a private meeting.The police called in Gary for questioning.
2. to request a consultation with a specialist in some field. (The person called probably will not 'come in,' but will work at another place.) We will have to call a heart specialist in for a consultation.We called in another specialist for an opinion.
call something(back) in
and
call something into formally request (usually by mail) that something be returned. The car company called many cars back in for repairs.They called in a lot of cars.
call in (to some place)
to telephone to some central place, such as one's place of work, as to check for messages. I have to call in to the office at noon.I will call in whenever I have a chance.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
57: A Call To Something More Than
call in
1. Summon for help or consultation, as in We've decided to call in a specialist to look at Father. [Second half of 1600s]
2. Withdraw from circulation, as in We're calling in all the old models. [Late 1500s]
3. Communicate by telephone, as in In this office salesmen must call in once a day. [Mid-1900s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
call in
v.1. To summon someone into a place: I went to the window and called the children in for dinner.
2. To summon someone or something for assistance or consultation: The hospital called in a specialist from out of town to examine the patient. The soldiers stood ready in case the protests turned violent and the police needed to call them in.
3. To make a telephone call to a place: Viewers called in to the television station to complain. Has the boss called in today?
4. To conduct some transaction by telephone: I called in my order to the restaurant so that it would be ready when I arrived. The new telephone system will allow customers to call their orders in rather than submitting them by mail.
5. To withdraw something that one has issued or sent out: The library called in the book I borrowed because a professor urgently needed it. Coin collectors began saving silver dollars as soon as the government called them in.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
See also: 57: A Call To Something More Exciting
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57: A Call To Something More Difficult
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