felt like calling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "felt like calling" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing a spontaneous desire or inclination to make a phone call. Example: "I felt like calling my friend to catch up after a long time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

I felt like calling my teacher.

The New York Times - Sports

I felt like calling my mother.

The New York Times - Science

There was one wild moment when Mr. Wollcott felt like calling him up and asking him if he could still remember what a reluctant Little Immanuel he was.

The New Yorker

I really felt like calling him and saying, you are a moron, you had good intentions and you really screwed everything up.

The New York Times - Sports

Every time I cursed the lack of a sturdy  table with enough space for my laptop, an  office-style chair and  sufficient light, I felt like calling the designers and saying:  Great look!

The New York Times

There were times in the book when this reader was so alarmed at the first hints of impending lapses in Leonard's behaviour that he felt like calling out his alarm to the other characters.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Now I feel like calling them out, just to give the actors a rest.

The New York Times

He is excited about a book by Isak Dinesen and feels like calling her up.

The New Yorker

When Caradoc kisses Aurora — who of course is attracted to him, as we are to evil — you feel like calling the police.

The New Yorker

"Sometimes," he said, "I feel like calling up David Geffen to ask if I can come over and look at my childhood".

The New York Times - Arts

At the end of the song is a burst of self-aware self-loathing: "Been back a week and I already feel like calling it quits".

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "felt like calling" to express a spontaneous and often emotional desire to contact someone. It's suitable for conveying a sense of impulse or immediate need.

Common error

Avoid using "felt like calling" in formal or professional writing where a more direct and less emotional phrasing is appropriate. Instead, use alternatives such as "intended to call" or "planned to contact".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "felt like calling" functions as a verb phrase expressing a past inclination or desire to perform the action of calling someone. It indicates a feeling or urge experienced in the past, as supported by Ludwig AI's analysis.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "felt like calling" is a grammatically sound and neutrally-to-informally registered expression used to convey a past inclination or desire to contact someone. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While not exceedingly frequent, it commonly appears in News & Media contexts. When using "felt like calling", consider your audience and opt for more formal alternatives like "intended to contact" in professional settings. Be mindful that the correct form is "felt like calling," and avoid incorrect variations. In essence, this phrase captures a spontaneous, often emotionally driven, urge to connect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had the urge to call

Emphasizes a strong impulse or desire to make a phone call.

wanted to phone

A more direct and simple way of expressing the desire to call.

was tempted to call

Suggests a slight hesitation or internal conflict before wanting to call.

had a mind to call

Indicates a consideration or intention to call someone.

considered calling

Highlights the act of thinking about making a phone call.

thought about phoning

Similar to "considered calling" but emphasizes the thought process.

felt inclined to call

A more formal way of expressing a leaning or predisposition to call.

was on the verge of calling

Implies being very close to actually making the call.

had half a mind to call

Suggests a weaker or less serious intention to call.

experienced a prompting to call

Describes an internal suggestion or feeling that encourages calling.

FAQs

How can I use "felt like calling" in a sentence?

You can use "felt like calling" to describe a sudden urge or desire to contact someone. For example, "After hearing the news, I "felt like calling" my sister immediately".

What's a more formal alternative to "felt like calling"?

In formal contexts, you might prefer phrases like "intended to contact", "considered calling", or "planned to reach out" as they sound less impulsive and more deliberate.

Is it correct to say "I feel like to call" instead of "I felt like calling"?

No, "I feel like to call" is not grammatically correct. The correct phrasing is "I "feel like calling"" (present tense) or "I "felt like calling"" (past tense), followed by a gerund (calling).

What does it mean when someone says they "felt like calling"?

It usually means they experienced a strong, often spontaneous, desire or impulse to make a phone call to someone. It suggests an emotional or immediate need to connect with that person.