What Does โCall around sthโ Mean?
โCall around sthโ means to make several phone calls to different people or places to find information, prices, or availability about something.
Introduction
The phrase โcall around sthโ is often used when someone wants to check multiple options by phone before making a decision. This can involve calling different shops, offices, or contacts to gather information about a product, service, or event. Understanding the โcall around sth meaningโ helps learners use it confidently in everyday situations, especially when planning or comparing choices. It is a practical phrasal verb in both personal and professional contexts.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: call around something
- Type: transitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to phone several places or people to get information
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โCall aroundโ is a separable phrasal verb, meaning you can place the object (something) between โcallโ and โaround,โ or after the whole phrase.
- Call around something
- Call something around
However, in everyday usage, it is more common to say โcall around somethingโ rather than separating the verb and particle.
How to Use โCall around sthโ?
You use โcall aroundโ when you want to describe the action of contacting several people or places by phone to gather information. It is often followed by a noun that represents what you are inquiring about, such as a product, service, or event.
Example: โI need to call around the stores to find the best price.โ
It can also be used in questions or negatives:
- Have you called around the hotels yet?
- I havenโt called around the suppliers this week.
Examples
- I called around the car dealerships to find a good deal.
- She called around the restaurants to book a table for her party.
- We should call around the local shops before buying the new computer.
- They called around the repair services to see who could fix the air conditioner fastest.
- Call around the travel agencies to compare holiday packages.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: I call around for the prices.
Correct: I call around the shops for the prices. - Incorrect: She called around to the stores.
Correct: She called around the stores. - Incorrect: We call around about the event.
Correct: We called around the event venues.
Differences / Synonyms
Call around vs. ring around: Both mean to phone several places, but โcall aroundโ is more common in American English, while โring aroundโ is often used in British English.
Call around vs. check around: โCheck aroundโ can mean looking or asking around in person or by phone, while โcall aroundโ specifically means making phone calls.
Common Collocations
- Call around the shops
- Call around the suppliers
- Call around the restaurants
- Call around the offices
- Call around the hotels
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of call around sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: I want to buy a new phone, but Iโm not sure where to get the best price.
Ben: Why donโt you call around the stores first? You might find a good deal.
Anna: Thatโs a good idea. Iโll call around the shops this afternoon and compare prices.
Practice
Fill in the blank with the correct phrase:
Before buying a new car, I need to _______ the dealerships to find the best offer.
- a) call around
- b) call up
- c) call off
Answer: a) call around
FAQs
- What does โcall around sthโ mean? It means to phone several places or people to get information about something.
- Is โcall aroundโ formal or informal? It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
- Can I say โcall around for somethingโ? Usually, you say โcall around something,โ not โcall around for.โ
- Is โcall aroundโ separable? Yes, but it is more common to keep the object after the whole phrase.
- What are synonyms of โcall aroundโ? Synonyms include โring aroundโ and โcheck around,โ depending on the context.
