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intend to do 15 call someone's bluff to tell someone who claims to be or know something, or who is threatening to do something, to prove his/her claims or to do what he/she threatens to do: When he threatened to dismiss me I called his bluff. 16 call someone to the colors AmE lit to ask someone to serve in the armed forces, especially during a war 17 call someone to order to order someone to obey the rules of a formal meeting: The chairman called the hecklers to order/called the meeting to order: 18 call something into question to raise doubts about something: I'm afraid that this incident calls into question his suitability for the job. 19 call the tune/shots infml to be in a position to give orders, decide what will happen etc 20 call to mind to remember: I'm sure I know that man, although I can't call to mind where I've met him. → see also SO-CALLED 21 don't call us, we'll call you a phrase used humorously to someone after they have just given a poor performance of acting or singing (from the phrase that is believed to be used by a DIRECTOR at the end of an unsuccessful AUDITION)
call back phr v 1 [I] BrE to pay another visit: The salesman will call back later. 2 [I;T(= call sbdy. back)] to return a telephone call: Will you call me back later? → see also CALL; see TELEPHONE (USAGE)
call by phr v [I] infml BrE to visit when passing: I'll call by at the shop on my way home.
call sbdy./sthg. ⇔ down phr v [T] 1 [(on)] to ask for something to come down (as if) from heaven; INVOKE: The priest called down God's anger on the people. 2 AmE infml to speak to angrily; REPRIMAND: He called me down for the way I spoke to the teacher.
call for sbdy./sthg. phr v [T] 1 to demand: to call for the waiter/the bill | The opposition have called for an immediate inquiry into the behaviour of the police. 2 to need or deserve: That remark was not called for. (=was nasty or unfair) | This sort of work calls for a lot of patience. | You're getting married? This calls for a celebration! → see also UNCALLED-FOR 3 BrE to go and get (someone) from their house, office etc; collect: I'll call for you at 9 o'clock.
call sthg. ⇔ forth phr v [T] fml to cause (especially a quality) to appear to be used; EVOKE
call sbdy/sthg. ⇔ in phr v [T] 1 to ask to come to help: Call the doctor in. 2 to request the return of: The makers have called in some cars with dangerous faults. | to call in a loan (=ask for it to be repaid)
call sthg. ⇔ off phr v [T] 1 to cause (a planned event) not to take place: The football match was called off because of the snow. 2 to order (an activity) to be stopped: After three days of searching, the police chief called off the hunt for the escaped prisoner. 3 to order to keep away: Call off your dog -- it's attacking me!
call on/upon sbdy./sthg. phr v [T] 1 to pay a short visit to: We can call on Mary tomorrow. 2 [+obj+to-v] fml to ask (someone) to do something, especially formally: The congress has called on the President to answer these charges. | I now call on the best man to make a speech. 3 to need to use: to call on all one's strength
call sbdy. ⇔ out phr v [T] 1 to officially order (especially a group) to come together in order to provide help: The Government had to call out the army to restore order. 2 especially BrE to order to go on STRIKE: The miners' leader called out his men.
call up phr v 1 [I;T(= call sbdy. ⇔ up)] especially AmE to telephone: I'll call you up this evening. 2 [T(call sbdy. ⇔ up)] to order (someone) to join the armed forces; DRAFT: He was called up in 1917. → see also CONSCRIPT 3 [T(call sbdy./sthg. ⇔ up)] to bring back; cause to come back: This song calls up memories of my childhood. | The magician says he can call up the spirits of the dead.
call² n 1 [C] a shout or cry: We heard a call for help. | This bird has a very distinctive call. | Give me a call when you're ready to leave. 2 [C(for)] a request or command for someone to do something or go somewhere: The minister waited for a call to the palace. | Most of the staff ignored the union's strike call and went to work. | The finance minister has rejected calls from businessmen for lower interest rates. | [+to-v] There have been calls for the government to release the detainees. | (fig.) He felt the call of the sea. (=its attraction) 3 [C] an attempt to speak to someone by telephone: I have a call for you from London. | I have a few calls to make. | Ask her to
return my call when she gets home, please. 4 [C(on)] a short visit, especially of an official or professional kind: The doctor is out on a call. | The President is making/paying a call on the King. 5 [C;U(for, on)] a demand or need: We don't stock men's hats – there isn't much call for them nowadays. | She has so many calls on her time that it is almost impossible to see her. [+to-v] You have no call to say that! 6 [C] BrE (in card games) a BID or a player's turn to bid: Whose call is it? 7 [C] (in sports and games) the decision of an UMPIRE or REFEREE 8 [C] an act of waking someone: He asked the hotel clerk for a seven o'clock call. 9 [C] an instrument used by hunters, which makes a sound like the cry of a bird or animal in order to attract it: a duck call 10 [C] the right to buy a certain quantity of something, e.g. shares, at a fixed price within a given time → compare PUT 11 on call not working but ready to work if needed: The nurse is on call tonight. 12 within call near enough to hear a call → see also CALL OF NATURE, CURTAIN CALL, PORT OF CALL 13 a wake-up call AmE an event that makes people finally realize that a situation is very bad or dangerous, and that they must do something to change it, stop it, get away from it etc: The Oregon game was our wake-up call. We knew we'd never get to the playoffs if we kept losing like that. | Serving as a wake-up call to the nation, the committee delivered a report on education which showed how low students' science and math scores were.
Cal·la·ghan, James /'kæləhən, -hæn/ (1912-2005) a British politician in the Labour Party who was PRIME MINISTER from 1976 to 1979. He RESIGNED from his job as party leader in 1980 and RETIRED from the House of Commons in 1987. His official title is Lord Callaghan of Cardiff.
Cal·la·net·ics /ˌkælə'netiks/ trademark a type of physical exercises intended to develop healthy and strong bodies without developing big muscles
Cal·las, Ma·ri·a /'kæləs, ma'ri:ə/ (1923-77) a US OPERA singer whose parents were Greek. She was known for her powerful voice and for being able to act as well as sing. She is regarded as one of the greatest opera singers of the 20th century.
'call box also phone booth, phone box, telephone booth, telephone box n BrE a small hut or enclosure containing a public telephone → see TELEPHONE (USAGE)
'call ,centre BrE || -ter AmE — n an office where a large number of workers use telephones to answer or make calls to customers. Many call centres telephone people in order to try to persuade them to buy a product or service from a company. Some call centres answer questions from customers, for example if they are having problems with computer HARDWARE or SOFTWARE. Call centres use computer technology to help companies to deal with telephone calls in a more EFFICIENT way than if they had a lot of smaller offices instead.
CULTURAL NOTE
Some companies telephone people in their own homes and try to sell them something. This is known as TELEMARKETING in the UK and the US, and is also referred to in the UK as COLD CALLING. Many people become annoyed when they receive this kind of phone call. Certain types of company are especially known for using this method of selling, for example those trying to persuade people to buy insurance, new windows, or MOBILE PHONES in the UK, or those trying to persuade people to change their telephone service in the US. The US government has started the National Do Not Call Registry, a list that people can put their name on so that TELEMARKETERS are not allowed to call them at home. Some British and American companies have moved their call centres to India because it costs less to employ Indian workers than workers in the UK or the US.
call·er /'kɔ:lər/ n 1 a person who makes a short visit: John's a regular caller here. 2 a person making a telephone call, especially as addressed by the OPERATOR: I'm sorry, caller, the number's engaged. | An anonymous caller warned the police about the bomb on the train. 3 a person who calls out numbers in a game (such as BINGO) 4 AmE a person who calls out the steps for a SQUARE DANCE
caller di'splay BrE || ,caller I'D AmE — n [C,U] a specia