From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpack in phrasal verb1 pack something ↔ in (also pack something into something)LOT/LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT to do a lot in a limited period of time, or fit a lot of information, ideas etc into a limited space We packed a lot of sightseeing into two weeks. In an essay of 2,000 words, you can pack a lot in.2 ATTRACT pack somebody ↔ in informal if a film, play etc packs people in, it attracts large numbers to come and see it Any film starring Tom Cruise always packs them in.3 STOP DOING something pack something ↔ in British English informal to stop doing a job or activity that you are not enjoying After one year, I packed in university. Sometimes I feel like packing it all in and going off travelling.4 pack it in British English spokenSTOP DOING something used to tell someone to stop doing something that is annoying you5 British English informal if a machine packs in, it stops working because there is something wrong with it SYN pack up Halfway to the airport, the engine packed in. → pack→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
pack it in• As he'd nearly finished his apprenticeship, he was understandably loathe to pack it in.• But I love those little box things with the lacy paper that they pack it in.• The 1970 season brought a less efficient car - a good moment for a driver to pack it in.• How do you decide whether to go ahead with the teacup or pack it in and go home?• I lasted eighteen months before packing it in, and in that time I saw a lot of disappointed people.• Faced with a family mutiny, he decided to pack it in and sell up.• I watch, with pleasure, as the clerk folds it neatly, packs it in tissue, and boxes it.• It is an opportunity to pack it in, to make our leap from smack to medication, from medication to cleanliness.• I'm still frustrated, but I'm not ready to pack it in yet. 