roll in
B2Informal
Definition
Meaning
To arrive or appear in large quantities or amounts; to arrive casually or without ceremony.
To start earning a large and steady amount of money; to begin to arrive in a steady, often overwhelming, stream.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often used to describe the arrival of money, profits, or other things perceived as abundant (e.g., offers, complaints). Also used literally to describe something moving on wheels to a place. Primarily a phrasal verb.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The literal sense (e.g., rolling a barrel into a shed) is equally common in both. The idiomatic sense is also identical.
Connotations
Both variants have a neutral-to-positive connotation when referring to profits ('money is rolling in'), but can have a negative connotation when referring to undesirable things ('complaints are rolling in').
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Something] rolls in.[Subject] rolls in [something].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “When the money rolls in, you roll out the red carpet.”
- “Let the good times roll in.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe high revenue or demand, e.g., 'Orders are rolling in after the successful ad campaign.'
Academic
Rare. Might be used in economic or sociological texts describing trends.
Everyday
Common for describing abundance, e.g., 'The birthday cards just keep rolling in!'
Technical
Not typically used in technical contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The donations began to roll in after the television appeal.
- Just roll the trolley in here, please.
- After the scandal, the complaints started rolling in thick and fast.
American English
- The cash started rolling in once the product went viral.
- We'll roll the equipment in right before the show.
- Applications are rolling in from all over the country.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The ball rolled in through the open door.
- After winning the lottery, the money began to roll in.
- Please roll the wheelchair in carefully.
- Offers for the house are rolling in, so we should get a good price.
- Once the website launched, the traffic started rolling in.
- Despite the economic downturn, profits continue to roll in from their overseas markets.
- The negative press coverage resulted in a wave of criticism rolling in from all directions.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a bakery with delicious rolls (bread) constantly arriving ('rolling in') through the door, representing an abundance of something good.
Conceptual Metaphor
ABUNDANCE IS A WAVE/ROLLING OBJECT
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'roll out' (развертывать).
- The Russian verb 'катиться' is only for the literal sense.
- Avoid direct translation for the idiomatic sense; use 'поступать в большом количестве'.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'roll in' with 'roll out' (to introduce).
- Using it in overly formal contexts.
- Incorrect tense: 'The money is rolled in' (should be 'The money is rolling in').
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common meaning of 'roll in' in a business context?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but rarely. The object usually follows (e.g., 'roll in the barrels'). In the idiomatic sense (money rolls in), it is intransitive and inseparable.
Yes, informally, to mean 'arrive casually or in a group.' E.g., 'He finally rolled in at midnight.' or 'The team rolled in just before the meeting started.'
They are very close synonyms. 'Flood in' suggests a faster, more sudden, and overwhelming arrival, while 'roll in' can imply a steadier, continuous, and sometimes more leisurely pace.
It's an accepted, though slightly literary, construction. More common phrasing is 'rolling in money/it' (e.g., 'Since the deal, they've been rolling in it.').