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.
"The ambulance didn't go to the address because the emergency medical advisor, thinking it was an abandoned call, closed the call down," Mrs Jevons said.
From BBC • Jul. 21, 2025
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
For most of his time managing the Dodgers, Dave Roberts rarely had to call down to the bullpen before the ninth inning.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2022
“Are you feeling OK?” one fan shouted as Federer chose not to challenge a close call down, 0-4.
From New York Times • Jul. 7, 2021
The phone was right next to me, and I started to call down and have them send up some breakfast, but I was sort of afraid they might send it up with old Maurice.
From "The Catcher in the Rye" by J. D. Salinger
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.
