phoning it in

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Though Microsoft, Paramount and other large companies are stepping up calls to get back to the workplace, many of their employees are still phoning it in as their managers struggle to enforce mandates.

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 24, 2025

If you think we’re phoning it in with this intro, you should see next week’s, when there won’t even be an intro because there will be no Surge.

From Slate • Nov. 23, 2024

It’s the difference between phoning it in and feeling it.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 12, 2024

I felt crestfallen seeing Adam Scott, who’s so droll in “Party Down” and “Parks and Rec,” and Zosia Mamet, sweetly silly in “Girls,” phoning it in from another planet — the polar opposite of funny/sweet/anything.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 2, 2024

Why work hard at generating disinformation when phoning it in works just as well?

From Salon • Mar. 13, 2023