Phrasal verbs with 'CALL'

CALL AFTER – to name someone (usually a baby) in honor of someone else

How did she even come to an idea to call her baby after a cartoon character? Maybe she got a psychological trauma when she first saw Mufasa’s death?

CALL AROUND (=ROUND) – 1) to pay a visit to someone; 2) to call different people or places to get or give any information

I wanted to call Jim around (1) this morning but he wasn’t at home. It may pay to call around Jim’s friends to get information about his location.

CALL AT – 1) to make a stop during the journey (when speaking about a ship, boat, train or bus); 2) to make a stop for a while on your way to do something.

On the way to my hometown, the train called at (1) a small village and I was able to call at (2) a shop nearby to buy some presents for my relatives.

CALL BACK – 1) to command or request someone or something to return to the previous location or situation; 2) to evoke memories, bring to mind something or someone; 3) to return a call.

We had no choice but to call Mrs. Irres Ponsible back (1) after her layoff because we got a new project. I called her many times but she didn’t pick up. Suddenly I called back (2) the words she told me before leaving. Was there any hope that she would call back (3)?

CALL FOR – 1) to get someone to go somewhere together; 2) to make something suitable or necessary; 3) to demand publicly for something to happen.

This morning I’ll drive to 221B Baker Street to call for (1) Sherlock. We must do whatever it calls for (2) to make judges call for (3) further investigation.

CALL FORTH – to evoke, summon, put something into action.

Sabrina was rather bored, so she decided to call forth a couple of demons and throw a witch party.

CALL IN –1) to call to work and inform them about your location, condition or what you’re doing; 2) to make a call to an organization that provides some services and ask them to come to your place; 3) to ask someone to come to your place; 4) to demand (request) that something must be returned

Before leaving the country, Sarah had to do a few important things: a) to call in (1) sick; b) to call in (2) the cleaning company; c) to call in (3) Bob who could help her with packing; d) to call in (4) 5000 dollars she lent to her friend.

CALL OFF – 1) to request or order to stop attacking someone; 2) to cancel something

Hagrid! Call off (1) this stupid creature or I’ll ask my father to call off (2) all your classes and kick you out of Hogwarts.

CALL ON – 1) to ask someone to come and prove the statement they've made previously; 2) to ask for help or request to perform some other activity; 3) to pay a visit to someone for a short time.

Our professor called on (1) her to make her explain why she thought that calling on (2) the detective to talk to her without any hesitation was a good decision. It might've been better to call on (3) the victims first and ask them about the incident.

CALL OUT – 1) to read or say something loudly, often to attract attention; 2) to challenge someone to do something (often about a duel); 3) (on) to criticize or castigate someone and ask them to explain themselves; 4) to order someone to come.

Lady Ann called out (1) his name. She was furious. It might seem that she was ready to call him out (3) and fight to the death. Everyone knew he did a really bad thing and Ann was the first to call him out (3) on it. As for me, I just hoped that I wouldn’t have to call out (4) the guard.

CALL UP – 1) to evoke memories, bring to mind something or someone; 2) to invite to join a team; 3) to make someone a member of an army

My son is my exact copy. Looking at him makes me remember my youth. It calls up (1) the moment I was called up (2) for the football team in high school, the moment I met his mother in the college, and the moment I was called up (3) for AA battalion.

Test your knowledge of phrasal verbs with 'call' here:

Test 1

Test 2