call your friend

USAGE SUMMARY

'call your friend' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to suggest to someone that they contact someone else by telephone. For example, "Why don't you call your friend to see if they can help you with your project?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

You call your friend on the other side of town and he's hearing it too".

The New York Times

My advice is this: Call your friend and say: "Look, I know you think this is funny, but I don't.

The New York Times - Magazine

It's very hard to meet a genuine person who you can call your friend in this league".

The Guardian - Sport

If you feel comfortable doing so, call your friend before the outing and ask about the tipping policies at the club.

The New York Times

If you like what you hear, maybe you can call your friend there and say: 'Hey, I heard this guy Warner the other night.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Call your friend Jerry back and tell him he has Mr. Steinbrenner's permission to use the Yankees uniform but on one condition: He changes the name of the Costanza character.

The New York Times

"Fine, you little fucker, how about I call your friend Bobby and tell him I can't go on the boat tomorrow because you kicked me out of the house?

The New Yorker

"I ran into Saul on the street — that's how you run into Saul, he's always on the street — and he said, 'You need to call your friend Carole,' " Rabbi Levitt remembered.

The New York Times

" 'Why don't you call your friend Emil Jones and tell him how good he is.' " Mr. Mikva obliged, and in 1998, Mr. Obama passed one of his signature achievements in the Illinois Senate: sweeping legislation that banned most gifts from lobbyists and the personal use of campaign money by state lawmakers.

The New York Times

Instead of logging off to call your friend on a phone, we believe that Net users will use MediaRing's ValueFone service to call their friend's phone".

Forbes

While making Yuilop-to-non-Yuilop calls costs energy, receiving calls earns energy so if you take it in turns to call your friend your energy level will remain the same.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When advising someone to "call your friend", be specific about the reason. Providing context helps ensure the call is productive and well-received.

Common error

Avoid using "call your friend" when a different method of communication (text, email) might be more appropriate or convenient for the situation. Consider the urgency and your friend's preferences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "call your friend" functions primarily as an imperative, instructing someone to make a phone call to their friend. This usage is consistent across various contexts, as shown by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Wiki

41%

News & Media

37%

Science

22%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "call your friend" is a common and grammatically sound imperative, used to advise someone to contact a friend via telephone. As Ludwig highlights, this phrase enjoys widespread usage across diverse contexts, particularly in news, media, and wiki content. While generally neutral to informal, it's important to consider the specific situation and potential need for a more formal alternative. When advising someone to "call your friend", specificity and consideration for their communication preferences are key to ensure the call's effectiveness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

phone your pal

Replaces "friend" with "pal", offering a slightly more informal tone.

give your friend a ring

Uses the idiom "give a ring" to mean call, adding a colloquial touch.

reach out to your friend

Suggests contacting your friend, but not necessarily via phone; could be any communication method.

contact your friend

A more general term for getting in touch with your friend, without specifying how.

get in touch with your friend

Similar to "contact your friend", but slightly more conversational.

drop your friend a line

An idiomatic way to suggest writing a short message or email, rather than calling.

speak to your friend

Suggests having a conversation with your friend, but doesn't specify the medium.

have a chat with your friend

Implies a casual conversation, not necessarily by phone.

connect with your friend

Broader term for establishing a connection, which could be online or in person.

touch base with your friend

Suggests a brief communication to check in or update each other.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "call your friend"?

You can use alternatives like "phone your pal", "give your friend a ring", or "reach out to your friend" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to tell someone to "call your friend"?

It's appropriate when direct verbal communication is needed, such as for urgent matters, complex discussions, or when a personal touch is preferred over text or email.

Is "call your friend" formal or informal?

"Call your friend" is generally considered informal and suitable for casual conversations. In professional settings, more formal alternatives like "contact your colleague" might be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "call your friend" and "contact your friend"?

"Call your friend" specifically refers to making a phone call, while "contact your friend" is a broader term that includes any form of communication, such as phone, email, or messaging.