card in

Idioms

Sign in to one's place of business by use of a magnetic card, as in I told him I'd card in for him if he was late tomorrow. Similarly, card out means to sign out of one's place of business, as in I want to sneak out early, so could you please card out for me at the end of the day? This term arose in the 1940s with the invention of automated check-in systems.

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.

Steve offers me a $30 gift card in exchange for a brief interview.

From Slate • May 10, 2026

There has only been one other VAR red card in the Premier League, for Southampton's Jack Stephens on Cucurella.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

Hosseiny came to the U.S. on a student visa and was also granted asylum in 2019, then got her green card in 2023, Bis said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

For Dimon, it’s inflation that’s the wild card in the current environment.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

“Well, at least throw your business card in there, Chef!”

From "The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora" by Pablo Cartaya

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023