call something down on someone—invoke some sort of punishment from the heavens onto a person: The prophet called down a plague on the people. call something down to someone—shout smth. to a person who is on a lower level: The worker was alarmed and called a warning down to the people below.
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between Call someone to attention and Call someone’s attention
call someone to attention—make a person assume the formal military stance of attention: The sergeant called the platoon to attention. call someone’s attention—bring smth. to a person’s notice: He called our attention to the old and faded picture on the wall.
Difference between Call someone on the carpet and Roll out the red carpet for someone
call someone on the carpet—call a person before an authority for censure or reprimand: Less than two hours after sending the e-mail, she was called on the carpet and instructed to send a disclaimer. roll out the red carpet for someone—accord ceremonial courtesy to a person of rank: The whole town knows what kind of […]
Difference between Call someone down and Call someone up
call someone down—reprimand a person severely: He was called down again because of being late. call someone up— 1. telephone smb.: Maybe one day I’ll call you up and we can go see a movie. 2. summon a person for military service: If war breaks out, we shall be called up at once.
Difference between Call one’s shots and Call the shots
call one’s shots— 1. tell in advance the result of a game, etc.: Nothing ever happens as John says it will. He is very poor at calling his shots. 2. announce what one is about to do; reveal one’s plans, etc. beforehand: You can hardly expect so adroit a politician to call his shots. call […]
Difference between Call of nature and Call of the wild
call of nature— 1. the urge to go and explore new (undeveloped) regions: I felt the call of nature most strongly and began, like the citizens in Hardy’s poem, to “dream of the south and west.” 2. (euph.) is used of a need to go to the toilet: He would suggest dropping in at the […]
Difference between Call of duty and Duty call
call of duty—smth. that a person is required to do by one’s moral or social obligations: It was cruel of me to ask him to recount the events of the fateful day but it was the call of duty. Cf.: (above and) beyond the call of duty—doing much more than should normally be expected of […]
Difference between Call names and Name names
call names—subject a person to angry or violent attack in words: He replied to my innocent jokes by calling names. name names—mention people (involved in some reprehensible activity) by name: Valachi has named names and drawn a master plan of the Syndicate (which the underworld refers to as Cosa Nostra). Note: The expression does not […]
Difference between Call in one’s chips and Cash in one’s chips
call in one’s chips—use one’s influence or social connections (to gain an advantage, etc.): That point needs making, before Mr. Clinton’s friends in the labor unions try to call in their chips. cash in one’s chips— 1. sell smth. in order to raise money: Many mutual fund investors picked up the phone yesterday, but decided […]
Difference between Call in on someone and Call on someone
call in on someone—pay a short visit (to a friend, etc.): We would call in on Patrick on the way to your mother’s. call on someone— 1. visit a person for business or official reasons: A doctor called on her and found she had come down with pneumonia. 2. appeal to a person for smth.: […]
Difference between Call girl and Call-button girl
call girl—a prostitute who makes appointments by phone: Police found the names of the call girls in classified ads and phone books. call-button girl—(sl.) a prostitute frequenting hotels: Prostitutes, “call-button girls” as they call themselves, roam from airport to airport, operating from the airport hotels.
Difference between Call boy and Call man
call boy— 1. a man who calls up actors in a theater for duty: Indignant denials were interrupted by the call-boy knocking on the door and calling for Second Act beginners. 2. a messenger on a steamer, in a hotel, etc.: He obtained summer work as a part-time messenger—a job referred to at that time […]