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Glite Dictionary
call-in

call-in

8 3.7
A part of a radio or TV show when people phone to give their views
  • noun
  • /ˈkɔːlˌɪn/
translation icon : programa de llamadas
  • Listeners can join the discussion by making a call-in to the radio show during the live broadcast.
  • call-in show
  • call-in program
  • call-in radio

I won't watch his two hour call in show.

Examples

  • The call-in show was heating up: Nixon was either a criminal or a saint.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • Here's a public example from a call-in radio program that shows exactly what I'm talking about.

    Blog text (14)

  • One call in and let us know what you think about that.

  • Here we go our first ever call in all right, how do I do this?

  • Let's get a call in to Sarah.

    Citizen Ruth (1996)

  • It's time for, you call, we talk, our community call in segment of the show.

    Sylvio (2017)

  • The call-in question of the day is who will be the new King?

    Six-String Samurai (1998)

  • Pontypool, my Pontypool, we interrupt our call-in segment to bring you breaking news out of our area this morning.

    Pontypool (2009)

  • The Atheist Experience is a weekly live call-in television show sponsored by the Atheist Community of Austin.

    Blog text (2)

  • Except in the cases of talk radio or television call-in programs, most of the bonds that are experienced as a result of watching television or listening to the radio are one-sided, with no possibility for interaction.

    Academic text (2001)

Synonyms

phone-in
vscall-in
  • Literature
1 3.8

A radio or TV show where people call in to speak and ask questions

is the situation of an individual telephoning during a live broadcast to join discussion

Surface Forms

call-in singular
call-ins plural

Morphology

call-in = call in (semi-transparent) = call + in

The noun is clearly based on the phrasal verb 'call in', but its specific use for a broadcast format or participation segment is somewhat specialized.

Etymology

Call-in comes from call meaning 'to phone someone' and in meaning 'to join'. It is when listeners 'phone in' during a live radio or TV show to take part, so a call-in is the part of a programme where people call to give their views.