catcall

USAGE SUMMARY

"catcall" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a loud, often sexual comment made to someone in public, typically directed at women. Example: "He was embarrassed by the catcall he received while walking down the street." Alternative expressions include "hollering" and "wolf-whistling."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

And while usually I welcome anytime I can stop traffic and even love a good catcall – and will respectfully deliver one back to a man– this time, it wasn't particularly flattering "Boys shouldn't wear short-shorts!

The Guardian - Opinion

And a loud catcall goes to those hotels named and shamed on the associated list of worst Wi-Fi connections.

The Economist

Beyond the challenge of litigating stray comments, it is hard to see how the law could reasonably determine what is and what is not an appropriate come-on.Some critics of a ban suggest that the line between a compliment and a catcall is too fuzzy.

The Economist

Mauricio Macri, Buenos Aires's mayor (and probable candidate in this year's presidential election), said not long ago that "secretly, all women like it when you catcall them".Most emphatically disagree.

The Economist

There's a moment in Desperate Housewives this week when the bosom of Edie Britt, the fortysomething divorcee played by Nicollette Sheridan, to whom the adjective "desperate" almost certainly applies, provokes a vulgar catcall from a local handyman.

Independent

His catcall was challenged by other Twitter users, one of whom responded "@Ryanair how is it appropriate for an airline CEO to be a sexist pig?" And thus Ryanair became the second high profile company in a week to host a Q&A on Twitter that quickly became a PR disaster.

Independent

From the back of the house, someone shouted "Whooo!" — a catcall, or a catcall in scare quotes.

The New Yorker

It's the same feeling she gets when she passes Mexican families on the street, speaking rapid slang-filled Spanish, or when Puerto Rican construction workers catcall her with words she doesn't recognize, as if they were speaking to her from a parallel universe, one she should understand but just doesn't.

The New Yorker

"My official age is 'over twenty-one.' " A student asked the women how they feel about catcalling — "I feel bad, no one will catcall me," Hooks said — and another inquired what Cox does for fun.

The New Yorker

("Never seen a woman before?" to a Roadside Romeo's catcall).

The New York Times

She can deflect whistles and comments with humor and even respond with a catcall of her own.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about "catcall", be specific about the context and impact. Avoid generalizations and focus on the concrete details of the situation.

Common error

Don't downplay the impact of "catcall". Recognize that it constitutes harassment and can contribute to a hostile environment.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "catcall" is that of a noun, referring to a shout or whistle, often of a sexual nature, made at someone. It can also function as a verb, meaning to make such an exclamation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "catcall" is widely used and understood as a form of street harassment, encompassing unwanted shouts, whistles, or comments, often of a sexual nature. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in English. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it serves to describe and critique instances of public harassment. While grammatically sound and frequently used, it's crucial to approach the term with sensitivity, recognizing the negative impact it represents. Alternatives such as "street harassment" or "verbal harassment" can be considered depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

street harassment

Refers to the broader concept of unwanted attention in public, of which "catcall" is a specific type.

verbal harassment

Focuses on the spoken aspect of the unwanted attention, similar to "catcall".

unwanted advances

Highlights the unwelcome nature of the attention, a key element of "catcall".

lewd remarks

Emphasizes the offensive and inappropriate nature of the comments.

sexist jeers

Draws attention to the sexist motivation behind the action.

offensive whistling

Specifies the whistling form of the harassment.

inappropriate comments

General term for unsuitable or unacceptable remarks.

public heckling

Emphasizes the public nature and disruptive intent.

disrespectful remarks

Highlights the lack of respect conveyed in the action.

offensive come-ons

Highlights the unwanted sexual aspect of the interaction.

FAQs

How to use "catcall" in a sentence?

You can use "catcall" to describe a shout or whistle of a sexual nature directed towards someone in public. For example, "She experienced a rude catcall while walking down the street."

What are some alternatives to using the word "catcall"?

You can use alternatives like "street harassment", "verbal harassment", or "unwanted advances" to describe similar situations.

Is "catcall" considered offensive?

Yes, "catcall" is generally considered offensive as it constitutes a form of street harassment and objectification.

What is the difference between a compliment and a "catcall"?

A compliment is usually respectful and given without expectation, while a "catcall" is often lewd, unwanted, and intended to assert power or control.