call down
Britishverb
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Invoke, as from heaven; for example, He called down the wrath of God . [Early 1800s]
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call someone down . Scold or reprimand, as in The conductor called her down for playing out of tune . [Mid-1800s] For a synonym, see dress down , def. 1.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But those usually had relatively evident functions: to call down the favor of a god, or to assert a noble pedigree, or to show off a new wife.
From New York Times • Mar. 1, 2023
Among Griffis’ many memorable revelations about the Land of the Rising Sun is a proverb about the perils of revenge: “If you call down a curse on anyone, look out for two graves.”
From Washington Times • Jan. 24, 2023
They have also refused to call down their protest until the government addressed their concerns.
From BBC • Jan. 19, 2023
But I’m less certain on when it becomes our individual duty to call down that hand ourselves.
From Washington Post • Nov. 10, 2022
“In the meantime, call down to the blood bank. I need two units of O neg and keep two units ahead.”
From "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
