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Difference between Pack them and Pack them in

pack them—(Austral. sl.) be panic-stricken or terrified (originally of diarrhea caused by nervousness):

  • You know something, thought Ron Fisher, you’re no good. You’re packing them.

pack them in—(Theater) attract a capacity audience:

  • Harry James and his band have been helping to pack them in at the Paramount.

Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase pack it in—(sl.)

1. (also: pack in) give up doing smth.:

  • He had long ago “packed it in,” and spent his life sitting by the window dozing.

2. die:

  • That’s where Jack’s mate from Hong Kong packed it in.