phone in

hacer lo mínimo, cumplir por cumplir

Hacer un trabajo con muy poco esfuerzo o interés.

En inglés sencillo: 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?

Cómo se usa: 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.)

Sinónimos: go through the motions, coast

Expresiones frecuentes: phone something in, just phone in

llamar al programa

Llamar a un programa de radio o televisión para preguntar algo o dar tu opinión.

En inglés sencillo: 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?

Cómo se usa: phone in to something (Listeners can phone in to the show with questions.); phone in with something (Several viewers phoned in with comments.)

Sinónimos: call in

Expresiones frecuentes: phone in live, phone in today

comunicar por teléfono

Comunicar algo por teléfono cuando se espera que vayas a decirlo en persona.

En inglés sencillo: 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.

Cómo se usa: phone in something (He phoned in his resignation instead of speaking to the manager in person.)

Expresiones frecuentes: phone in apologies, phone in resignations

actuar con timidez

Actuar con demasiada cautela o timidez cuando hace falta ser valiente.

En inglés sencillo: 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.

Cómo se usa: phone it in (With a chance to challenge the mayor, she phoned it in and avoided every difficult question.)

Sinónimos: hold back

Expresiones frecuentes: phone something in, just phone in