calling card

[ kaw-ling kahrd ]

noun

1. Also called card, visiting card. a small card with the name and often the address of a person or of a couple, for presenting when making a business or social call, for enclosing in gifts, etc.
2. Informal. any mark, sign, trace, characteristic, or the like by which someone or something can be recognized.
3. Also called phone card. a prepaid card or charge card that can be used to make a telephone call at home or away from home.

calling card

noun

1. a small card bearing the name and usually the address of a person, esp for giving to business or social acquaintances Also calledvisiting card

Word History and Origins

Origin of calling card¹

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900

Example Sentences

In spring, the males look like they’re wearing a backward tuxedo, but their song is their calling card, a robotic, R2D2-like mashup which this one sang from atop wind-blown cedars.

From Popular-Science

That improved reliability has become its major calling card today.

From Time

Just about every year or two, a new proposal aims to give us a new international calling card by sending us skyward.

From Voice of San Diego

And if you go through enough of it, this accumulation comes to be your calling card of wisdom.

From The Daily Beast

The calling card of a late-night talk show is supposed to be unpredictability and danger.

From The Daily Beast

This could be the next chapter in the story of a business career that was his calling card, but has become a political liability.

From The Daily Beast

It should come as a surprise to no one that his calling card is reforming entitlements.

From The Daily Beast

If you want to claim Bain Capital as your calling card to the White House, then defend what happened to Bain Capital.

From The Daily Beast

Let's go see the boss, I haven't anything else to do and his calling card intrigues me.

From Project Gutenberg

During such a crisis every message in the game of war diplomacy becomes only a polite calling card that represents armed men.

From Project Gutenberg

The Turk took his military calling-card out of his pocket and sent it over to the German.

From Project Gutenberg

In the first place, an enemy agent would probably not leave a calling card.

From Project Gutenberg

But we can't just sit around waiting for the Earthman to hand us a calling card.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• business card