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Synonyms

pay a call

Idioms  

  1. Also, pay a visit; pay one's respects. Make a short visit, especially as a formal courtesy or for business reasons. For example, Bill asked her to pay a call to his ex-mother-in-law, or Each salesman was told to pay a visit to every new doctor in town, or We went to the wake to pay our respects. Also see call on, def. 2.

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.

Although large groups of visitors are discouraged, nursing homes won’t be allowed to limit the number of loved ones and friends who can pay a call on residents.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 12, 2021

Man Ray invited him to pay a call when he was back in Paris, and so began a friendship that continued until the artist’s death in 1976.

From New York Times • Apr. 13, 2018

Let’s hope they pay a call on him and give him some words of wisdom about leaving you alone. 

From Slate • Sep. 16, 2015

Mr. Rubio is the first of the 10 declared GOP hopefuls to pay a call to the state.

From Washington Times • Jun. 4, 2015

“Good evening, Miss Peace. I’m Nel Greene come to pay a call on you. You remember me, don’t you?”

From "Sula" by Toni Morrison

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.