step in1
1Become involved in a difficult situation, especially in order to help: palace officials asked the government to step in...
- It really is time that city hall stepped in to try and salvage the situation!
- By Saturday of last week local African Caribbean churches had stepped in to try to calm the situation down.
- A while ago I was involved in an incident where I stepped in to help someone who was being spat at by a racist.
Synonyms
intervene, intercede, become/get involved, act, take action, take measures, take a hand;
mediate, arbitrate, intermediate
1.1Act as a substitute for someone: Lucy stepped in at very short notice to take Joan’s place...
- Neither bothered to turn up and the business editor stepped in to do an admirable job as a late substitute.
- Blindside flanker Jim Nicholson is out through injury, so natural replacement Duncan Phillips steps in.
See parent entry: step
step-in2
/ˈstɛpɪn
/adjective [attributive]
Denoting a garment or pair of shoes that is put on by being stepped into and has no need for fastenings: a step-in sports bra step-in shoes...
- First came her feet in elegant high heeled black step-in sandals.
- The old, slotted cleats and soft leather cycling shoes allowed feet quite a bit of movement, but the newer step-in cleats and more rigid shoes with a heel counter locked feet in one position.
noun (step-ins)
1A pair of step-in shoes; slip-ons.I finally settled on my navy-blue knitted top and well-worn denims paired with my serviceable step-ins.
2 dated, chiefly North American A pair of women’s briefs: pink rayon step-ins combination all-in-one silk vests and step-ins