【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】 .