Meaning: To not try very hard or try one’s best.

Examples:

I could tell the teacher was phoning it in today and didn’t seem to be as enthusiastic as usual.

She’s usually a good actor but in this movie she phones it in.

You know how it is: sometimes you try your very best and sometimes you just phone it in.

Pop Quiz:

What’s the opposite of phone it in?

A.  To put your nose to the grindstone.

B.  To go the extra mile.

C.  To go through the motions.

To see the correct answers, click on “Continue reading”:

The correct answer is A & B – both of them mean to try extra hard. To go through the motions, on the other hand, means to phone it in. If you don’t know what any of these phrases mean, study more of our past Idioms of the Week.