pay (someone or something) a call
To visit someone or something, especially for a short, polite amount of time. We need to pay Grandma a call sometime soon—this is her first Christmas since Grandpa died, and I'm sure she would appreciate some company. I always like to pay my clients a call when I travel to their cities on business.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
pay a call
Euph. to go to the toilet; to leave to go to the toilet. (See also
pay a call on someone.)
Excuse me. I have to pay a call. Tom left to pay a call. He should be back soon. McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
pay a call
Also,
pay a visit;
pay one's respects. Make a short visit, especially as a formal courtesy or for business reasons. For example,
Bill asked her to pay a call to his ex-mother-in-law, or
Each salesman was told to pay a visit to every new doctor in town, or
We went to the wake to pay our respects. Also see
call on, def. 2.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
pay a call
go to the lavatory. euphemisticFarlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
pay a call
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.