call it out

Meanings

1. 1phrasephrasal verb

   To say openly that something is wrong or unacceptable, especially bad behavior or a false claim.

   Grammar: Takes an object, which usually goes between the verb and 'out': call it out, call the mistake out.

   Patterns

   • call something out
   • call it out as something
   • call someone out for something

   When the manager made a sexist joke, Priya called it out in front of everyone.

   The report calls out the company's failure to check its suppliers.

   If you see bullying in the group chat, you should call it out instead of staying quiet.

2. 2phrasephrasal verb

   To ask someone publicly to explain or defend something they said or did.

   Grammar: Often followed by 'for' plus the action: call someone out for lying.

   Patterns

   • call someone out for something
   • call someone out on something
   • call out someone

   A journalist called the senator out for repeating a claim that had already been disproved.

   My brother called me out on my excuse, and he was right.

   She was called out for arriving late three days in a row.

3. 3phrasephrasal verb

   To shout something loudly, for example to give information or attract attention.

   Grammar: Here the object can come after 'out': call out a warning, call out names.

   Patterns

   • call out something
   • call something out
   • call out to someone

   The guard called out a warning as the gate began to close.

   He called my name out across the crowded hall.

   She called out to us from the other side of the street.

Common combinations

call out bad behavior

Teachers are trained to call out bad behavior quickly.

call someone out for lying

His colleagues called him out for lying about the numbers.

call it out publicly

She decided to call it out publicly rather than send a private email.

be called out on social media

The brand was called out on social media for the misleading ad.

rightly called out

The paper was rightly called out for printing the rumor.

Synonyms and how they differ

point out

Means drawing attention to a fact or detail; it is neutral, while 'call it out' suggests the thing deserves criticism.

condemn

Stronger and more formal; it means saying publicly that something is very wrong, not just naming it.

challenge

Focuses on questioning someone's claim or authority, while 'call it out' focuses on naming the wrong thing itself.

Opposites

Word family

callout noun

A public criticism or a note that draws attention to something, as in 'a callout post'.

call out phrasal verb

The same verb used for shouting, as in 'call out a name'.

Commonly confused: call it out or call off? call it out or shout out?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “call it out”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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