mail-in, n. (and a.) orig. U.S.
(ˈmeɪlɪn)
[f. vbl. phr. to mail in (mail v.4).]
The act of sending something in by post; usu. attrib. or as adj., esp. designating ballots, surveys, etc., in which results are collected by post. Hence also concr., an item intended to be sent in by post.
| [1959 Amer. Speech XXXIV. 151 Mail in, a promise to mail in cash for tickets.] 1963 Sunday Times 17 Nov. 11/1 A premium..can be anything given away or sold cheap to persuade people..to buy..a product... The self-liquidator, the on-pack offer, the dealer-loader, the free mail-in, and the personality promotion. 1975 Business Week 3 Feb. 21/2 The manufacturers are..worked up over another..proposal: a ban on matchbook mail-in coupons for home-study courses. 1979 Tucson (Arizona) Citizen 20 Sept. 9a/1 Mail-in ballots from traditionally conservative voters reversed the standings in Sweden's general election. 1984 Gainesville (Florida) Sun 28 Mar. 7a/2 (Advt.), 7.49 sale price -1.00 mail-in rebate. 1988 Grocer 22 Oct. 127/1 All three styles..will carry a collarette offering a free mail-in. The offer is a rose bush, available in red or white. |