call in sick

Idioms  

1. Telephone one's employer or school that one is ill and cannot come to work or attend. For example, Ben called in sick and told his boss he would miss the meeting. [Mid-1900s]

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Example Sentences

Cera also uses a separate AI tool to arrange cover when carers call in sick.

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026

Yevchun said he often replaces colleagues who call in sick or are exhausted by 12-hour shifts.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 15, 2026

And robots — which don’t call in sick, take bathroom breaks, take vacations or need healthcare — are a huge boon to employers.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 20, 2025

Workplaces are also seeing higher numbers of employees call in sick due to infections.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 6, 2024

“In fact, I think I might call in sick myself and give you a hand.”

From "The Lions of Little Rock" by Kristin Levine