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Glite Dictionary
🔌 To connect power 🤝 To get involved
to plug in

to plug in

12 3.2
To join a group, activity, or system to take part and get information
  • phrasal verb
  • /plʌɡ ɪn/
translation icon : conectarse a
  • The PS3 requires you to use either a Bluetooth headset or plug in a USB headset directly into the console.
  • get plugged in
  • let people plug in
  • plug in to recharge

So I'm just going to plug in my curling wand here.

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Examples

  • Make sure to plug in your laptop before the meeting starts.

  • Put the turkey in before going to bed, plug in the heater element, close the lid, and go to bed.

    Blog text (27)

  • So you can plug in up to four.

  • OK, it feels like I can maybe plug it in and start it up.

  • Basic owners should plug in an external hard drive before starting to download some of the larger games.

    Blog text (17)

  • I'll be there on the eighth to plug you in.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • You can plug in your phone via Bluetooth or just plug it in via USB.

  • She forgot to plug in her phone last night, so it died in the morning.

  • Don't forget to plug in the modem to access the internet.

Synonyms

to plug into
vsto plug in
30 3.0

To connect a device to a power socket to get electricity

includes joining or becoming involved in an activity or organization
to jack in
vsto plug in
  • Jargon
2 8.1

To connect to a computer system or network by logging on

applies more widely to joining or becoming involved with systems or groups

Antonyms

to withdraw
466 2.8

To stop taking part in a place or activity

to disconnect
161 3.5

To separate something so it is no longer joined, for example remove a cable or turn off power

How Involved

to lead
∞ 1.0
to plug in
12 3.2
to take part
169 1.4
to observe
619 2.4
to sit out
11 3.3

Surface Forms

plug in infinitive
plugged in past
plugged in past participle
plugging in present participle
plugs in third person singular

Morphology

plug + in

The core meaning 'to connect an electrical device to a power source' is directly and transparently derived from 'plug' (to connect by inserting a plug) plus the spatial/into sense of 'in', so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer it. The extended sense 'to become involved or connected' is a natural metaphorical extension of 'connect' and is likewise inferable from the constituents and common cross-linguistic patterns.

Etymology

Plug in also comes from old phone switchboards, where operators pushed a plug in to join two lines, and that picture of joining wires made the phrase mean 'to connect' or 'to become part of a system', which is why we use it for 'getting involved with' an activity or group.