call in sick

Meaning

This expression means to contact your workplace or school to say that you cannot come in because you are ill. Although it contains the word 'call', it also applies to sending an email, text message, or using an internal portal to report an illness.

Examples

• I had a terrible migraine, so I had to call in sick this morning.

  I had a terrible migraine, so I had to call in sick this morning.

• If you still feel unwell tomorrow, you should call in sick.

  If you still feel unwell tomorrow, you should call in sick.

• He called in sick because he caught a bad cold over the weekend.

  He called in sick because he caught a bad cold over the weekend.

• She rarely calls in sick, so she must be really unwell today.

  She rarely calls in sick, so she must be really unwell today.

• I need to call in sick to my boss before the shift starts.

  I need to call in sick to my boss before the shift starts.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I called sick to my office today.

  ✓ I called in sick to my office today.

  The preposition 'in' is an essential part of this phrasal idiom. Leaving it out sounds unnatural to native speakers.

• ✗ He phoned to say he is sick.

  ✓ He called in sick.

  While grammatically correct, 'called in sick' is the standard, highly idiomatic way native speakers express this action in a work context.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I think I'm coming down with the flu; I'll have to ___.

  💡 Inform your boss you are too ill to work.

  Show answer

  call in sick

• Did Sarah ___ today, or is she just late?

  💡 Report absence due to illness.

  Show answer

  call in sick