call out
verb7 senses
1
Idiomatic To specify, especially in detail.
- They call out 304 stainless steel in the drawing, but the part was made from aluminum.
2
Idiomatic To order into service; to summon into service.
- The Governor called out the National Guard.
- The day of a shedmaster has no real beginning and end. He may leave for home when his work at the shed is done, but there is always the far-too-handy telephone to call him out to breakdowns or other emergencies.1960 April 23, A. W. Bennett, “A Shedmaster's Day”, in Railway Magazine, page 272:
1 more example
- Ninety-nine Decision Street Ninety-nine ministers meet To worry, worry, super scurry Call the troops out in a hurry1984, Nena, 99 Red Balloons (lyrics written by Kevin McAlea)
3
To yell out; to vocalize audibly; announce.
- 1971, Carole King, “You’ve Got A Friend”, Tapestry, Ode Records You just call out my name / And you know wherever I am / I'll come running to see you again.
› To challenge (someone).
4
Archaic To challenge (someone) to a duel.
5
Slang To challenge (someone) to a fight.
6
Colloquial, Idiomatic To criticize or denounce (someone); to bring up previously unspoken criticisms about (someone); to point out (someone's) faults.
- He was very insulting. Finally Jack called him out and shut him up.
- She called them out on their lies.
2 more examples
- While former President Obama called out the call-out culture, former first lady Michelle Obama took white conservatives to task.2019 October 30, “Obama calls out call-out culture: "That's not bringing about change"”, in CBS News, archived from the original on 28 Feb 2020:
- He added: "We've always had spin, especially from Government. But this is not spin. This is dishonesty and so it's our rail media's urgent responsibility to call it out because non-specialist journalists across the country will report this and gradually these untruths will be accepted.2022 January 26, Paul Stephen, “Network News: Government's IRP claims condemned as "dishonest"”, in RAIL, number 949, page 7:
7
New Jersey, New York To contact one's workplace and announce that one is unable to attend work. Regionalism short for call out sick; much more commonly: call in sick.
- I had to call out from work. […] I barely ate yesterday. The only thing that stayed in my stomach was soup and crackers.2012, Earliecia J. Ebron, Regress:
- I had to call out from work a few Saturdays to Dj at kid's party because they would normally start somewhere around 4:00 p.m.2015, Brasford Love, My Life: The Journey to Here:
1 more example
- On this particular day, I felt ill, mostly from exhaustion, and had to call out from work. This callout caused a stir and a display of animosity.2015, Pearley Rufus-Lusan, The Baby Boomer Nurse:
- Derived terms
- call-out, callout