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Glite Dictionary
to sit in for

to sit in for

24 4.2
To take someone's place for a short time and do their job
  • phrasal verb
  • /sɪt ɪn fɔr/
translation icon : 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 cover
vsto sit in for
362 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 act
vsto sit in for
279 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
199 2.6

Serve in the role of a person or thing

is narrower, stressing temporary performance of another's duties
to substitute
vsto sit in for
130 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 stand in
vsto sit in for
115 3.5

To take someone else's place for a short time

emphasizes performing the other's duties for a short period
to fill in
vsto sit in for
100 3.3

Do someone else's job for a short time

is about covering duties briefly rather than full or permanent replacement
to spell
vsto sit in for
26 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
to sub
vsto sit in for
  • Informal
19 5.8

To take someone's place for a short time

keeps attention on doing the other's duties for a limited time
to stand in for
vsto sit in for
14 3.2

To take someone's place for a short time

is about taking another's duties temporarily rather than permanent replacement

Antonyms

to step down
148 3.3

Give up an important job so someone else can take over

to vacate
52 4.5

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

How Temporary

to fill in
100 3.3
to sit in for
24 4.2
to take over
862 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'.