Meaning
The phrasal verb cover for means:
- To take over someone’s duties or responsibilities temporarily, usually at work.
- To protect or excuse someone, often by hiding the truth or giving a false explanation.
Grammar and Usage
- cover for + person → to take their place or protect them.
- Part of speech: phrasal verb.
- Object: requires a person after "for" (transitive with object).
Examples of structures:
- "cover for someone at work" (take their responsibilities)
- "cover for someone’s mistake" (protect or excuse them)
Common Phrases
- cover for a colleague
- cover for a friend
- cover for someone’s absence
- cover for someone’s mistake
Collocations
- verb + cover for: help, ask, refuse to
- noun + cover for: excuse, reason, lie
- cover for + noun: colleague, boss, friend, mistake, absence
Examples
- Can you cover for me while I’m on vacation?
- She always covers for her colleague when he arrives late.
- He tried to cover for his brother’s mistake, but the truth came out.
- I’ll cover for you at the meeting if you can’t make it.
- The manager asked her to cover for John while he was away.
- Don’t cover for him—he needs to take responsibility.
- She covered for her friend by telling the teacher she was sick.
Synonyms or Related
- stand in for
- substitute for
- defend
- protect
- excuse
Antonym
- expose
- reveal
- betray
- report on