Episode #2 of the course “Common English phrasal verbs: Part 1” by Angela Boothroyd
call back
1. If you call back somebody (or call somebody back) you telephone someone who rang you earlier, or you telephone someone for a second time.
Examples of use:
a) Mr Evans telephoned while you were out: he wants you to call him back.
b) He forgot to book a double room, so he had to call the hotel back.
2. To call back is to return to a place to see somebody again.
Example of use:
Mrs Bottone is in a meeting. Can you call back this afternoon, please?
call off
1. To call off something (or call something off) is to cancel a planned event, or an event that has already started.
Examples of use:
a) They are calling off the tennis match because of the rain.
b) They called off their wedding.
c) Mike is ill so we will have to call the party off.
d) News headline: Spain airport strike called off.
e) The police called off their search for the car thief when they found him hiding in a shed.
f) The Bahrain Grand Prix has been called off.
2. To call off somebody or something (or call somebody or something off) is to give a command to somebody or something (e.g. a dog) to leave someone alone, or to stop attacking someone.
Examples of use:
a) Call off your dog!
b) The General called off his troops.
c) OK, I agree to your demands. You can call your lawyers off
call round
To call round is to visit someone, usually for a short period of time.
British and Australian English.
Examples of use:
a) I think I’ll call round and see if my grandmother needs anything.
b) We called round yesterday, but you were out.
c) Mrs Green’s son calls round after work every day. She looks forward to his visits.
d) Why don’t you call round tomorrow? We can have a cup of tea and a chat.
Recommended book
“Phrasal Verb Fun: Learn phrasal verbs easily, naturally and faster than ever before” by Peter Gray
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