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

See Examples For:

call in sick

Even so, the hours-long security lines at airports are also becoming untenable as Transportation Security Administration agents call in sick or quit because they aren’t getting paid.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 27, 2026

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

From BBC ● Mar. 4, 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

If they call in sick, miss a shift or cannot pay the fees, they rack up “back rent” — money they owe to the club.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 27, 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