whip in: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low-mediumPrimarily formal or technical; parliamentary context is formal; equestrian/ranching context is more technical.
Quick answer
What does “whip in” mean?
To quickly gather or assemble a group of people or animals together, often with urgency.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To quickly gather or assemble a group of people or animals together, often with urgency.
In parliamentary contexts (British), it refers to ensuring party members attend and vote according to party instructions. More generally, it means to bring under control, to urge or encourage to act in unison.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, the parliamentary sense is dominant and widely understood. In American English, the literal/ranching sense is slightly more likely, though still not common. The parliamentary term exists in US politics but is less culturally salient.
Connotations
British usage strongly connotes party discipline and parliamentary procedure. In both varieties, the literal sense can imply urgency and forceful gathering.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but higher in UK political reporting.
Grammar
How to Use “whip in” in a Sentence
[Subject] whips in [Object (group)][Subject] whips [Object] in (for a meeting/vote)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “whip in” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The Chief Whip must whip in rebellious backbenchers for the crucial vote.
- The huntsman expertly whipped in the stray hounds.
American English
- The ranch hands worked to whip in the cattle before the storm.
- The campaign manager tried to whip in donors for the last-minute fundraiser.
adjective
British English
- The whipping-in operation was successful.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; could be used metaphorically: 'The CEO whipped in the executives for an emergency briefing.'
Academic
Very rare in general academia; appears in political science texts discussing parliamentary systems.
Everyday
Uncommon; might be used in contexts of organizing people quickly.
Technical
Specific to parliamentary procedure (UK) and certain animal husbandry/equestrian contexts.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “whip in”
- Using 'whip in' to mean 'to mix ingredients quickly' (that's 'whip up').
- Using it as a noun (it's a verb phrase). The noun is 'the whip' or 'whipping-in'.
- Incorrect word order: 'He whipped the hounds in' is correct; 'He whipped in the hounds' is also acceptable.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a phrasal verb, written as two words: 'whip in'.
It would sound unusual or overly dramatic. 'Round up' or 'gather' are more neutral choices for business contexts.
In hunting, the person who does this is a 'whipper-in'. In politics, it's simply 'the whip' (e.g., Chief Whip).
'Whip in' means to gather or assemble a group. 'Whip up' means to excite emotions ('whip up anger') or to prepare something quickly ('whip up a meal').
To quickly gather or assemble a group of people or animals together, often with urgency.
Whip in is usually primarily formal or technical; parliamentary context is formal; equestrian/ranching context is more technical. in register.
Whip in: in British English it is pronounced /ˈwɪp ɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈwɪp ɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Whip in the votes.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a shepherd using a whip's sound to quickly herd (whip in) stray sheep back into the fold.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTROL IS PHYSICAL GATHERING; DISCIPLINE IS THE APPLICATION OF FORCE.
Practice
Quiz
In a British political headline, 'PM fails to whip in MPs' most likely means: