phone in

faire le minimum, faire sans conviction

Faire un travail en y mettant très peu d’effort ou d’intérêt.

En anglais simple : To do a job with very little effort or interest.

• Don't phone it in; this work matters.
• The band phoned in their final performance.
• Are you trying, or are you just phoning it in?

Comment l'utiliser : phone it in (The actor knew every line but seemed to phone it in.); phone something in (She usually works hard, but she phoned this assignment in.)

Synonymes : go through the motions, coast

Expressions courantes : phone something in, just phone in

appeler l'émission

Téléphoner à une émission de radio ou de télévision pour poser une question ou donner son avis.

En anglais simple : To call a radio or television show to ask a question or share your opinion.

• You can phone in with a question.
• A listener phoned in to complain about the traffic.
• Will you phone in during the live debate?

Comment l'utiliser : phone in to something (Listeners can phone in to the show with questions.); phone in with something (Several viewers phoned in with comments.)

Synonymes : call in

Expressions courantes : phone in live, phone in today

annoncer par téléphone

Transmettre un message par téléphone alors qu’on vous attend pour en parler en personne.

En anglais simple : To give a message by telephone when people expect you to come and speak to them in person.

• She phoned in her apology instead of visiting.
• He phoned in his resignation, which upset his manager.
• Please come yourself; don't just phone in.

Comment l'utiliser : phone in something (He phoned in his resignation instead of speaking to the manager in person.)

Expressions courantes : phone in apologies, phone in resignations

agir timidement

Agir avec trop de prudence ou de timidité alors qu’il faudrait oser.

En anglais simple : To act too carefully or timidly when you need to be bold.

• We need a bold response; don't phone it in.
• He phoned in his speech, afraid to challenge anyone.
• The debate needed courage, but both candidates phoned it in.

Comment l'utiliser : phone it in (With a chance to challenge the mayor, she phoned it in and avoided every difficult question.)

Synonymes : hold back

Expressions courantes : phone something in, just phone in