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Glite Dictionary
to sit in for

to sit in for

30 4.2
To take someone's place for a short time and do their job
  • phrasal verb
  • /sɪt ɪn fɔr/
: sustituir a
  • I'm Bob Swerski sitting in for my brother Phil...
  • sit in for David
  • sit in for someone tonight
  • sit in for Lynn

George Carlin, the comedian, was sitting in for him, and they're both dead now.

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Examples

Synonyms

to act
vsto sit in for
331 1.0

Have an effect or work in a certain way

focuses more on taking over specific duties for a period
to act as
vsto sit in for
223 2.6

Serve in the role of a person or thing

is narrower, stressing temporary performance of another's duties
to cover
vsto sit in for
168 3.1

To take someone's place and do their work for a short time

highlights stepping into the duties for a time rather than replacing permanently
to substitute
vsto sit in for
118 2.4

To use one thing or person in place of another

focuses specifically on filling a person's duties temporarily rather than any replacement
to fill in
vsto sit in for
108 3.3

Do someone else's job for a short time

is about covering duties briefly rather than full or permanent replacement
to stand in
vsto sit in for
45 3.5

To take someone else's place for a short time

emphasizes performing the other's duties for a short period
to stand in for
vsto sit in for
26 3.2

To take someone's place for a short time

is about taking another's duties temporarily rather than permanent replacement
to sub
vsto sit in for
  • Informal
8 5.8

To take someone's place for a short time

keeps attention on doing the other's duties for a limited time
to spell
vsto sit in for
1 6.3

Take someone's place for a short time at work

refers more to relief shift work rather than fully doing another's role

Antonyms

to step down
157 3.3

Give up an important job so someone else can take over

to vacate
59 4.5

Leave a place or job so it is free for someone else

How Temporary

to fill in
108 3.3
to sit in for
30 4.2
to take over
417 3.1

Surface Forms

sit in for infinitive
sitting in for present participle
sits in for third person singular
sat in for past
sat in for past participle

Morphology

sit + in + for

The parts 'sit' (be present), 'in' (attend or be situated), and 'for' (on behalf of) together give a clear compositional cue that someone is present in another person's place, so a B1 learner who knows the words can often infer 'take the place of someone temporarily'. However, this is a phrasal-prepositional usage whose specific substitutive duty (performing someone's role) requires a small pragmatic leap, so the sense is not fully literal.

Etymology

Sit in for comes from the simple picture of someone sitting in another person's chair for them while they are away. That's why it means 'to take the place of someone temporarily'.