come in—
1. come to work in a house:
- The charwoman “came in” for half a day on alternate days.
2. (of a train, etc.) arrive at its destination (according to schedule):
- When does your train come in?
3. flow in:
- Don’t stay on the rocks too long; the tide comes in a long way at this point.
4. arrive; be received:
- News is just coming in of an air-crash over the Atlantic.
5. join a business as a partner:
- My father started the insurance firm, and I came in when I was 18.
6. become seasonable or available:
- When do strawberries come in?
7. become fashionable:
- I expect long skirts will come in again soon.
8. take position in a competition:
- He led most of the way but suddenly lost his strength and came in last.
9. be elected; come into power:
- The socialists came in at the last election.
10. be received as income:
- He doesn’t work; but he has at least a thousand a year coming in from investments.
11. (of a discussion, etc.) contribute a commentary:
- I should like to come in here, as I happen to know the situation well.
12. happen; appear:
- This is where the mistakes usually come in.
go in—
1. fit inside smth.:
- That space is too small, the bookcase won’t go in.
2. (of the sun or moon) disappear behind clouds:
- At this time of the year, when the sun goes in, it is suddenly much colder.
3. arrive at one’s place of employment (to start work):
- What time do you have to go in tomorrow?
4. (of troops) start an attack:
- The soldiers were ordered to go in and seize the enemy position.
5. (UK coll.) be understood (also: sink in):
- I keep trying to understand how the system works, but it doesn’t seem to go in.