pencil (redirected from penciling)

in pencil

written or signed with a pencil. Why did you write your report in pencil? You can't sign a check in pencil!

pencil someone or something in

to write in something with a pencil. (Implies that the writing is not final.) This isn't a firm appointment yet, so I will just pencil it in. I penciled in a tentative answer.

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a pen pusher  (British & Australian) also a pencil pusher (American)

someone who has a boring job in an office He's a frustrated desk-bound pen pusher who dreams of trekking through jungles. (British & Australian)

See also: pen

put lead in your pencil  (British humorous)

to increase a man's sexual ability You should eat a few oysters - that'll put some lead in your pencil. (British humorous)

See also: lead, put

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pencil somebody/something in also pencil in somebody/something

to have a temporary plan to do something with someone The team had penciled in Morton as a key player this season. I penciled you in for lunch next Thursday.

Etymology: based on the idea that a pencil mark can easily be removed or changed