call in sick — to telephone your workplace to say that you are ill and cannot come to work
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to telephone your workplace to say that you are ill and cannot come to work
Pronunciation (IPA): /kɔːl ɪn sɪk/
Example Sentences
- Tom called in sick three Mondays in a row - his boss is getting suspicious!
- She had to call in sick because she ate too much pizza at the office party.
- If you're feeling unwell, please call in sick rather than spreading germs at the office.
call in sick
VERB[/kɔːl ɪn sɪk/]
to telephone your workplace to say that you are ill and cannot come to work
a person sits on the edge of their bed holding a phone to their ear, looking visibly unwell with flushed cheeks and tired eyes. The person speaks into the phone while holding their forehead with their free hand. On the other end, we can see a small thought bubble showing their concerned boss at an office desk listening. The boss nods understandingly while looking at a work schedule on the desk. someone telephoning their workplace to say they are ill and cannot come to work
Grab your stick and call in sick - be quick!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
This phrasal verb developed in modern English by combining 'call in' (to contact by telephone) with 'sick' (ill or unwell). It emerged as a workplace expression to describe notifying an employer of absence due to illness.
Breakdown
call (to contact by phone) + in (into, denoting communication) + sick (ill, unwell). The phrase combines the phrasal verb 'call in' with the adjective 'sick' to create a unified idiomatic expression.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“Tom called in sick three Mondays in a row - his boss is getting suspicious!”
“She had to call in sick because she ate too much pizza at the office party.”
“If you're feeling unwell, please call in sick rather than spreading germs at the office.”
“The entire accounting team called in sick after eating at the new sushi restaurant.”
📚Related Words
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