tuck in
B2Informal, but common in everyday and familial contexts.
Definition
Meaning
to push the edges of something, such as a piece of clothing or a sheet, into a particular place or position so that it is tidy, secure, or hidden.
To eat food heartily and with enjoyment; to make someone, especially a child, comfortable in bed by arranging the bedclothes around them; to put or store something in a safe, compact, or concealed place.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a phrasal verb, its meaning is highly dependent on context and object. The 'tidying/arranging' sense and the 'eating' sense are both common but distinct.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both 'tidying' and 'eating' senses are used in both varieties. The 'eating' sense is slightly more informal and possibly more frequent in UK English.
Connotations
In the 'eating' sense, it conveys enthusiasm, informality, and sometimes indulgence. In the 'tidying' sense, it conveys care, neatness, and security.
Frequency
Very common in both varieties, especially in domestic and informal contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
transitive, separable (tuck something in)intransitive, imperative (Tuck in! meaning 'Start eating!')Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Tuck in! (an invitation to start eating)”
- “tuck into (something) (to eat something eagerly)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly in informal contexts like 'tuck in your shirt for the presentation'.
Academic
Rare, except perhaps in descriptive texts (e.g., 'The glacier tucks in the valley').
Everyday
Very common: parenting (bedtime), clothing, meals.
Technical
In sewing or upholstery ('tuck in the fabric').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Your shirt's hanging out, you need to tuck it in.
- The roast is on the table, everyone tuck in!
- She tucked the children in and read them a story.
American English
- Make sure to tuck in your shirt for the interview.
- The food's getting cold, guys, tuck in!
- I'll just tuck in this blanket so you don't get cold.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Please tuck in your shirt.
- Mum, will you tuck me in?
- He tucked the map into his pocket.
- The meal looked great, so we all tucked in.
- The cottage was tucked in among the pine trees.
- She tucked her hair in under her helmet.
- The policy tucks in several exceptions that favour existing stakeholders.
- He tucked in his chin, preparing for the impact.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a mother TUCKING a child INto bed, making them cozy and secure.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAINMENT IS SECURITY / EATING IS AGGRESSION (e.g., 'tuck into a steak').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'притыкаться' (to lean against). The 'eating' sense has no direct single-word equivalent; it's 'есть с аппетитом'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'tuck on' instead of 'tuck in'.
- Using the imperative 'Tuck in!' to mean 'come in' instead of 'start eating'.
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'The kids tucked into the pizza', what does 'tucked into' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in its transitive sense. You can say 'tuck your shirt in' or 'tuck in your shirt'.
No, it is informal. 'Please, help yourself' or 'Please, begin' would be more appropriate in formal settings.
'Tuck in' can be transitive (tuck something in) or an intransitive imperative (Tuck in!). 'Tuck into' is always transitive and requires an object, specifically for eating (tuck into a meal).
Not directly. Related nouns are 'tuck' (e.g., a surgical tuck, a tuck shop) but they are not derived from the phrasal verb.