What Does “Call sb away” Mean?
“Call sb away” means to ask or tell someone to leave their current activity or place, usually to attend to something else.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “call sb away” is commonly used in English to describe situations where someone is asked to leave or stop what they are doing. The “sb” in the phrase stands for “somebody,” meaning it is directed at a person. Understanding the call sb away meaning can help learners communicate more naturally, especially when describing interruptions or urgent requests. This phrase is useful in both casual and formal contexts, making it a versatile expression in everyday English. Whether in work meetings, social settings, or family conversations, knowing how to use “call sb away” will improve your fluency and comprehension.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: call somebody away
- Type: transitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to ask someone to leave or stop what they are doing
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Call sb away” is a separable transitive phrasal verb. This means you can place the object (somebody) between “call” and “away” or after the entire phrase.
- call somebody away
- call away somebody
Example patterns:
- Subject + call + somebody + away
- Subject + call + away + somebody
How to Use “Call sb away”?
You use “call sb away” when someone is asked to leave an activity or place, often because something else requires their attention. It can imply urgency or necessity. The phrase is often used in spoken English and writing to describe interruptions or requests.
For example, a manager might call an employee away from their desk to discuss an urgent matter. Or a parent may call a child away from playtime for dinner.
Examples
- She was called away from the meeting to answer an important phone call.
- The teacher called the student away to talk about their homework.
- He was just about to leave when his boss called him away for a quick chat.
- They called me away from the party because there was an emergency at home.
- Call sb away in a sentence: The nurse was called away to help another patient.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: I called away him from the desk.
Correct: I called him away from the desk. - Incorrect: She calls away to her friend.
Correct: She called her friend away. - Incorrect: They call away the children.
Correct: They called the children away.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include call off, call back, and call out. However, “call sb away” specifically means to ask someone to leave or stop what they are doing, often to attend to something else.
- Call off: to cancel an event or activity. (Different meaning)
- Call back: to return a phone call. (Different meaning)
- Call out: to shout or summon someone. (Related but different)
“Call sb away” focuses on physically or mentally removing someone from their current place or task.
Common Collocations
- Call someone away from work
- Call someone away from a meeting
- Call someone away from a conversation
- Call someone away from the phone
- Call someone away from an event
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of call sb away:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: Why did you leave the party so early?
Ben: My boss called me away for an urgent meeting.
Anna: Oh, I see. That must have been important.
Ben: Yes, I couldn’t say no when they called me away like that.
Practice
Fill in the blank with the correct form of “call sb away”:
- The manager __________ the employee __________ to discuss a problem.
- She was __________ away from her desk by a phone call.
- They __________ the kids __________ from playing because it was time for dinner.
FAQs
- What does “call sb away” mean?
It means to ask someone to leave or stop what they are doing. - Is “call sb away” formal or informal?
It can be used in both formal and informal situations. - Can I use “call sb away” in the past tense?
Yes, for example, “She called him away.” - Is “call sb away” separable?
Yes, you can place the object between “call” and “away” or after the phrase. - What is the difference between “call sb away” and “call off”?
“Call sb away” means to ask someone to leave; “call off” means to cancel something.
