fill-in
/'filin/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A person who temporarily substitutes for another: A "fill-in" is someone who performs a role or job when the regular person is absent, often in work, performance, or other scheduled activities.
- A brief summary providing essential information: In informal American English, a "fill-in" can be a concise update or briefing that gives someone the necessary details about a situation.
Usage
- The word "fill-in" is used as a countable noun. It is often hyphenated.
- It is commonly used in professional, casual, and performance-related contexts to describe a temporary replacement.
- In its informational sense, it is typically used in phrases like "give me a fill-in" or "need a quick fill-in."
Examples
- As a substitute person:
- The teacher was sick, so they hired a fill-in for the week.
- I'm just a fill-in for the regular secretary while she's on vacation.
- As a summary or briefing:
- Can you give me a quick fill-in on what happened in the meeting?
- I missed the first half of the lecture; I'll need a fill-in later.
Advanced Usage
- "To fill in for someone" (Phrasal Verb): This is the related verbal action from which the noun is derived. It means to act as a substitute.
- Sarah will fill in for the manager during his absence.
- Contextual Nuance: The term often implies a short-term, temporary, and sometimes less formal arrangement compared to a permanent "replacement" or "substitute."
Variants and Related Words
- Fill-in (adj.): Used attributively to describe something that serves as a temporary substitute.
- She took a fill-in job at the cafe.
- Stand-in (n.): A very close synonym, especially common in performance contexts (e.g., film, theater).
- Substitute (n.): A more general term for a person or thing acting in place of another.
Synonyms
- Substitute: A person or thing that takes the place of another.
- Replacement: Someone or something that replaces another.
- Stand-in: A person who substitutes for an actor in dangerous scenes or during preparation.
- Proxy: A person authorized to act on behalf of another.
- Briefing: A meeting for giving information or instructions (related to the informational sense).
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Fill in (for someone): To temporarily do someone else's job or duties.
- Could you fill in for me at the reception desk tomorrow?
- Fill in (on something): To provide someone with information about something they have missed.
- Please fill me in on the details of the project.
Related Idioms
- Fill someone's shoes: To take over someone's role or responsibilities, often implying a challenging task.
- It's hard to fill in for someone as experienced as her; you really have to fill her shoes.
- Stopgap: A temporary solution or measure. A "fill-in" can be a person serving as a stopgap.
- The new hire is just a stopgap until we find a permanent manager.
Noun
- someone who takes the place of another (as when things get dangerous or difficult)
- the star had a stand-in for dangerous scenes
- we need extra employees for summer fill-ins