In 15 Seconds
- To request the presence or help of a specialist or authority.
- Commonly used for professional help like doctors, police, or repairmen.
- Often used in the workplace context of 'calling in sick'.
Meaning
To ask someone with special skills or authority to come and help with a specific situation.
Key Examples
3 of 6A plumbing emergency at home
The leak got worse, so I had to call in a plumber.
The leak got worse, so I had to call in a plumber.
A difficult project at the office
We might need to call in the consultants to finish this on time.
We might need to call in the consultants to finish this on time.
Feeling unwell before work
I have a terrible fever, so I'm going to call in sick today.
I have a terrible fever, so I'm going to call in sick today.
Cultural Background
In the US, 'calling in' is heavily associated with the 'expert culture.' Americans are often quick to call in specialists for everything from dog training to financial planning, reflecting a society that values niche expertise. In the UK, 'calling in' is frequently used in the context of the NHS (National Health Service). If a GP (General Practitioner) cannot solve a problem, they 'call in' or refer the patient to a consultant. In global business, 'calling in the consultants' is a common move during mergers or crises. It can sometimes be seen negatively by employees as a sign that management doesn't trust the internal team. This phrase is universal in English-speaking military and police forces for requesting 'reinforcements.' It implies a formal escalation of force or resources.
Use the Passive
It sounds very natural to say 'The experts were called in' rather than 'We called in the experts.'
Pronoun Placement
Never say 'call in them.' Always say 'call them in.'
In 15 Seconds
- To request the presence or help of a specialist or authority.
- Commonly used for professional help like doctors, police, or repairmen.
- Often used in the workplace context of 'calling in sick'.
What It Means
Call in is about bringing in the experts. It means you need help that you cannot provide yourself. Think of it as summoning a specialist. You are not just inviting a friend over for tea. You are asking someone to perform a task or solve a problem. It implies a transition from a normal situation to one requiring extra hands.
How To Use It
You can use this phrase with people or services. You call in the police, a plumber, or a consultant. It is a separable phrasal verb. This means you can say call in the doctor or call the doctor in. Both are correct. If you use a pronoun like him or them, it must go in the middle. You would say call them in to help with the project. It sounds active and decisive.
When To Use It
Use it when a situation gets too big for you. Use it at work when you need a senior manager's input. Use it at home when the sink explodes. It is perfect for professional settings. It also works when you are reporting a problem. If you see something suspicious, you call in a report. It feels like you are taking charge of a chaotic moment.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use call in for casual social hangouts. Do not say "I will call in my friend to watch a movie." That sounds like your friend is a professional movie watcher! Also, do not confuse it with call up. Call up just means to phone someone. Call in means they actually need to arrive or intervene. Avoid using it for simple greetings.
Cultural Background
This phrase has roots in the idea of summoning help to a physical location. In the past, you literally shouted into a house or office. Today, it is heavily used in police and medical dramas. It gives a sense of urgency and importance. In the UK and US, it also has a specific meaning for work. If you are sick, you call in sick. This means you phone your boss to say you cannot come.
Common Variations
The most common variation is call in sick. This is a daily phrase in the English-speaking corporate world. Another is call in a favor. This means you are asking someone to help you because you helped them before. You might also hear call in the big guns. This is a funny way to say you are bringing in the most powerful person available.
Usage Notes
The phrase is neutral but leans toward professional or emergency contexts. Be careful with the word order when using pronouns like 'me', 'him', or 'it'.
Use the Passive
It sounds very natural to say 'The experts were called in' rather than 'We called in the experts.'
Pronoun Placement
Never say 'call in them.' Always say 'call them in.'
Business English
In a job interview, say 'I knew when to call in my supervisor' to show you understand your limits.
Radio Shows
If you hear 'This is a call-in show,' it means you can participate by phoning the host.
Examples
6The leak got worse, so I had to call in a plumber.
The leak got worse, so I had to call in a plumber.
Used here for a professional service technician.
We might need to call in the consultants to finish this on time.
We might need to call in the consultants to finish this on time.
Suggests bringing in outside expertise for a task.
I have a terrible fever, so I'm going to call in sick today.
I have a terrible fever, so I'm going to call in sick today.
A very common idiomatic use meaning to report an absence.
Officer 42 here, I need to call in some backup immediately!
Officer 42 here, I need to call in some backup immediately!
High urgency, requesting additional official support.
I helped him move last year, so I'm calling in a favor today.
I helped him move last year, so I'm calling in a favor today.
Using the phrase to request help based on past history.
This room is so messy I should call in the hazmat team!
This room is so messy I should call in the hazmat team!
Sarcastic use, implying the mess is a biohazard.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'call in'.
The situation was so bad that the army was ______ to help.
The sentence is in the passive voice, so we use the past participle 'called in'.
Which sentence uses the pronoun correctly?
The manager needs to talk to John.
In phrasal verbs with a pronoun object, the pronoun must go between the verb and the particle.
Match the person to the situation where you would 'call them in'.
1. A burst pipe, 2. A complex legal contract, 3. A mysterious illness.
You call in specialists based on their specific field of expertise.
Complete the dialogue.
A: I can't get this software to work. B: Don't worry, I'll ______ our IT guy.
'Call in' is used for summoning an expert to help with a problem.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesThe situation was so bad that the army was ______ to help.
The sentence is in the passive voice, so we use the past participle 'called in'.
The manager needs to talk to John.
In phrasal verbs with a pronoun object, the pronoun must go between the verb and the particle.
1. A burst pipe, 2. A complex legal contract, 3. A mysterious illness.
You call in specialists based on their specific field of expertise.
A: I can't get this software to work. B: Don't worry, I'll ______ our IT guy.
'Call in' is used for summoning an expert to help with a problem.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
14 questionsOnly if they are helping you in a professional capacity. Otherwise, use 'invite over'.
No. 'Phone' is the action of using the device. 'Call in' is the act of summoning help.
It means to phone your workplace to say you cannot come to work because you are ill.
Use 'call in' for summoning. Use 'call into' for joining a meeting or a place.
Yes, it is very common to say 'The police were called in.'
It is neutral. It is fine for both casual and professional settings.
A radio or TV show where the audience telephones the host.
Yes, it means to ask someone to help you because you helped them before.
'Call in' implies a temporary summons for a crisis; 'bring in' often implies a more permanent addition.
Use 'called in'. Example: 'They called in a specialist yesterday.'
Yes, it is used in all major varieties of English.
Yes, it means to demand that a loan be paid back immediately.
It suggests bringing someone 'into' the circle of the problem.
Yes, it is a transitive, separable phrasal verb.
Related Phrases
bring in
similarTo involve someone in a project.
call on
similarTo ask someone to do something or to visit them.
summon
synonymTo officially order someone to come.
call out
contrastTo challenge or criticize someone.
draft in
specialized formTo bring in people to help, often from another department.
