Meaning & use
fill in work
Last updated
Meanings
phraseidiom
to do someone's job or tasks temporarily while they are away.
Grammar: Often followed by 'for someone': I'm filling in work for Sarah this week.
Patterns
- fill in work for someone
- fill in work while someone is away
Could you fill in work for me while I'm on holiday?
She filled in work for her colleague who was sick.
He often fills in work at the front desk when needed.
phraseidiom
to complete a work-related form or document by adding the required information.
Grammar: Often used with 'on' or 'for': fill in work on the form.
Patterns
- fill in work on something
- fill in work for something
Please fill in work on the timesheet before Friday.
I need to fill in work for the project report.
He filled in work on the application form carefully.
Common combinations
- fill in work for someone
- Can you fill in work for me next week?
- fill in work while someone is away
- She filled in work while her manager was away.
- fill in work at a place
- He filled in work at the reception desk.
Synonyms and how they differ
- cover
- More common in American English and often used without 'work': cover for someone.
- substitute
- More formal and general; can be used for any replacement, not just work.
Commonly confused: fill in work or fill out?
fill in work vs fill out
In American English, 'fill out' is used for completing forms; 'fill in' is more British. 'Fill in work' is a specific phrase meaning to do someone's job temporarily.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'fill in work' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The correct answer is B because 'fill in work for someone' means to do their job temporarily. An and D are wrong because 'fill in' meaning complete a form or blank does not take 'work' as an object. C is wrong because 'fill up' is used for tanks, not 'fill in work'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “fill in work”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.