pack in phrasal verb (
see also pack)
1. pack something ↔ in (
also pack something into something) to do a lot in a limited period of time, or fit a lot of information, ideas etc into a limited space:
We packed a lot of sightseeing into two weeks. In an essay of 2,000 words, you can pack a lot in.2. pack somebody ↔ in informal if a film, play etc packs people in, it attracts large numbers to come and see it:
Any film starring Tom Cruise always packs them in.3. pack something ↔ in British English informal to stop doing a job or activity that you are not enjoying:
After one year, I packed in university. Sometimes I feel like packing it all in and going off travelling.4. pack it in British English spoken used to tell someone to stop doing something that is annoying you
5. British English informal if a machine packs in, it stops working because there is something wrong with it
Synonym : pack up:
Halfway to the airport, the engine packed in. [TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲
stop to not do something any longer:
I wish she would stop talking. He waited for them to stop.quit especially American English informal to stop doing something:
She needs to quit complaining about her life. It’s too late for him to quit now.give something up to stop doing something, especially something that you have been doing for a long time:
It’s so hard to give up smoking. She wants to give up her job. I’ve given up trying to tell my son to clean his room.pack something in informal to stop doing something, especially because you feel tired or annoyed:
Sometimes I feel like packing in my job and starting again somewhere else. Pack it in, will you! (=used when telling someone to stop doing something, because they are annoying you)pull out of something to stop taking part in something that you have agreed to take part in:
The unions have pulled out of the negotiations. The US decided to pull out of the competition.cease formal to stop doing something:
The company has decided to cease production of its film cameras. The US government ceased talks with North Korea.pause to stop speaking or doing something for a short time before starting again:
He paused for a moment to consider the question. ‘I think it’s going to rain,’ she said, pausing to look up at the sky.have/take a break to stop working, studying, or driving for a short time in order to rest:
Okay, everyone. Take a ten-minute break. If you’re feeling tired, you should have a break.break to stop working, studying etc in order to rest or eat something – used about a group of people who are doing something together:
After a couple of hours the committee broke for lunch.come to an end to stop – used about something that has continued for a long time:
The war finally came to an end in 1918.wear off to gradually stop – used about a pain, a feeling, or the effects of something:
The pain will soon wear off. The excitement was beginning to wear off. The anaesthetic took a long time to wear off.peter out to gradually stop happening or existing:
The campaign petered out after only a few weeks.come to a halt especially written to move more slowly and then stop – used about a vehicle:
The train slowly came to a halt just outside the station. The plane came to a halt less than twenty yards away from the limousines.pull over to move to the side of the road and stop – used about a vehicle or its driver:
The bus pulled over to the side of the road, with smoke coming out of its engine. The police officer was waving at him to pull over.pull up to stop close to something – used about a vehicle or its driver:
The taxi pulled up outside her house. He pulled up next to our car.come to a standstill to go slower and then stop moving completely:
The road was blocked by an accident, and the traffic quickly came to a standstill. [TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲