a friendly call

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a friendly call" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a phone call that is intended to be pleasant or informal, often made to check in on someone or catch up. Example: "I just wanted to make a friendly call to see how you've been doing lately."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

In February, when Prior reached out to him, it was a friendly call.

The New York Times - Sports

Paying a friendly call on Mike at his office, Margaret finds no work but at least wangles an invitation to visit Mike's home in an affluent suburb.

The New York Times

UNTIL the change of government this autumn, it would have been unimaginable: a Polish prime minister paying a friendly call on the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, and speaking to her not only in her own language, but even using the intimate Du form.

The Economist

I knew my grandma would never let me call a long-distance stranger, so I left out the part about Sarah encouraging me to give Earth Force's CEO, Lisa Bardwell, a friendly call.

Huffington Post

A friendly call on the phone might suffice.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"Prince and Madonna End Feuddes-Long Feud," Rolling Stone trumpets, reporting that Prince gave Madonna a "friendly call-out by name" during the show.

Huffington Post

Vocalizations include an affiliative (friendly) call krik, and a louder call resembling a crow's caw.

Wikipedia

The Trump White House did not deny that the president had a "very friendly" call with Duterte on April 29.

Vice

Another technique is the friendly call to an executive who happens to be a long-lost acquaintance.

The New York Times

This is not a friendly port call.

The Guardian

Despite those fears, military tensions eased a bit last month, when a Chinese warship made a friendly port call to Japan.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a friendly call" when you want to emphasize the positive and informal nature of a phone conversation, visit, or interaction. It suggests goodwill and a lack of serious or formal intent.

Common error

Avoid using "a friendly call" in contexts that require formal or professional language. For example, do not describe a business negotiation as "a friendly call"; instead, opt for terms like "productive discussion" or "business meeting".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a friendly call" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where "friendly" modifies the noun "call". It describes the nature of the call as being amiable and informal. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a friendly call" is a noun phrase that describes an amiable and informal interaction, typically a phone conversation. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically correct and usable, though relatively rare in occurrence. Its primary function is to convey goodwill and maintain relationships in a casual context. While the phrase is most frequently found in news and media, its informal tone makes it less suitable for formal business or academic settings. Alternatives such as "a pleasant call" or "a casual call" can provide similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a pleasant call

Replaces 'friendly' with 'pleasant', suggesting a call that is enjoyable and agreeable.

a cordial call

Uses 'cordial' to emphasize the warmth and sincerity of the call.

a warm call

Substitutes 'friendly' with 'warm' to highlight the affectionate nature of the conversation.

a casual call

Indicates the call is informal and relaxed.

a check-in call

Focuses on the purpose of the call being to inquire about someone's well-being.

an informal chat

Replaces 'call' with 'chat', emphasizing the relaxed and conversational aspect.

a social call

Suggests the call is for maintaining social connections rather than for specific business.

a neighborly call

Implies a call made out of kindness and goodwill, like a friendly gesture from a neighbor.

a good-natured call

Highlights the positive and amiable spirit of the call.

a get-together call

This alternative implies the call is oriented for planning a meeting/appointment

FAQs

How can I use "a friendly call" in a sentence?

You can use "a friendly call" to describe an informal phone conversation aimed at catching up or checking in on someone. For example, "I made "a friendly call" to my grandmother to see how she was doing."

What's a good alternative to "a friendly call"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "a friendly call" include "a pleasant call", "a casual call", or "a social call".

Is "a friendly call" appropriate for business communication?

While "a friendly call" can describe a call that is warm and personable, it might not be suitable for formal business contexts. In those situations, consider using terms like "a professional discussion" or "a business inquiry" instead.

How does "a friendly call" differ from "a formal meeting"?

"A friendly call" implies a casual and informal conversation, often for social or personal reasons. In contrast, "a formal meeting" suggests a structured and official discussion, usually for business or organizational purposes.