The phrasal verb "dot in" is not commonly used, and when it is, it appears primarily in informal contexts. "Dot in" can suggest intermittent or sporadic appearances or interventions in a situation, similar to the spots that might dot a fabric or surface. It may be used metaphorically in narrative or descriptive language to indicate something that appears or happens in a scattered manner across time or space. For example, one might say, "His contributions dot in throughout the project," implying sporadic and possibly unpredicted involvement. Due to its rarity, "dot in" doesn't have a standardized or universally recognized usage in English and is typically tailored to specific conversational or creative contexts. Consequently, it lacks the broader application observed with more conventional phrasal verbs, and users should consider their audience and context when applying it.
B2
UpperIntermediate
1. To place scattered points or marks on a surface, often in a decorative manner or to indicate specific locations.
She dotted in the locations of the hotels on the map for better clarity.
The artist used a black pen to dot in eyes on the faces in the drawing.