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

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call in sick

Plus, humans can call in sick or hit up against service limits that cap how many hours a day they can be behind the wheel.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 8, 2026

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

From BBC ● Mar. 4, 2026

Proteus doesn’t call in sick, doesn’t file workers’ comp and doesn’t require bathroom breaks.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 12, 2025

As she scrambled to find a hotel room, De Salvo forgot to call in sick from her job as a court interpreter.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 16, 2025

Why didn't I tell my mother to call in sick today?

From "The Sky at Our Feet" by Nadia Hashimi