make a quick call

USAGE SUMMARY

'make a quick call' is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it when you need to refer to making a phone call that will not take long. For example: "I need to make a quick call before I leave the office."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

"Let me make a quick call".

The Guardian - Sport

Another thing you can't do is make a quick call if you're short of supplies.

The New York Times - Travel

He went to a pay phone outside the pavilion to make a quick call to his mother (this was before the age of cell phones).

The New Yorker

So write a short note, or make a quick call, to the ex: "I'm sorry that I donated your duck by mistake.

The New York Times

The case can fully charge an iPhone in about 12 hours in direct sunlight (enough power to make a quick call takes less time).

The New York Times - Tech

He will take a short break in the coming days, make a quick call on the coaching situation, and then get back to work.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

I made a quick call to headquarters and then said to her, "O.K., sugar.

The New Yorker

Google said the new service would work well for people in a spot with poor cellphone reception or for those making a quick call from their desk.

The New York Times

Last year, when "Game of Thrones" landed on my desk, I skimmed two episodes and made a quick call: we'd have to let this one go.

The New Yorker

Every couple of hours he made a quick call to his wife Giulietta, back home in their apartment on the Via Margutta.

The Guardian

Around 8 40 a.m. on Sept. 11, he made a quick call to his wife to see how their son Robert's introduction to kindergarten was going.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When telling a story, use “make a quick call” to emphasize the immediacy and brevity of the action, suggesting a fast decision or update.

Common error

While acceptable, avoid using "make a quick call" excessively in formal documents. Opt for more professional alternatives like "initiate a brief communication" or "contact briefly" to maintain a formal tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make a quick call" functions as a verb phrase, specifically an idiomatic expression, used to describe the action of initiating a brief telephone conversation. This is confirmed by Ludwig, which provides numerous examples of its usage in context.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Wiki

23%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "make a quick call" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate the action of making a brief telephone call. Ludwig AI validates this, offering many examples from various contexts. While appropriate for many situations, it's important to consider your audience and the level of formality required. More formal alternatives, such as "initiate a brief communication", might be more suitable in professional or academic settings. As a final point, remember that the contexts in which this phrase is generally preferred are in News & Media and Wiki.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make a short phone call

Substitutes "quick" with "short", providing a more descriptive adjective.

place a brief call

Replaces "make" with "place", emphasizing the action of initiating the call.

give a quick ring

Uses a more informal term, "ring", and emphasizes the brevity of the call.

call for a moment

Emphasizes the short duration of the call.

phone briefly

Simplifies the phrase to an adverb and verb, focusing on the action of phoning for a short time.

call briefly

Simplifies the phrase to an adverb and verb, focusing on the action of calling for a short time.

have a brief chat on the phone

Expands the phrase to include the idea of a conversation, but still implies brevity.

reach out quickly by phone

Focuses on the action of reaching out, indicating a fast means of communication.

quickly get in touch by phone

Focuses on the action of quickly getting in touch.

buzz someone quickly

Uses the slang word "buzz", making the phrase very casual.

FAQs

How can I use "make a quick call" in a sentence?

You can use "make a quick call" to indicate a brief phone conversation. For example, "I need to "make a quick call" before the meeting starts."

What's a more formal alternative to "make a quick call"?

In a formal setting, you could say "initiate a brief communication" or "place a short call" instead of ""make a quick call"".

Is it okay to use "make a quick call" in professional emails?

Yes, it is acceptable in many professional contexts, especially when time is a factor. However, consider your audience and the overall tone of the email. You can use alternatives like "place a brief call" or "reach out quickly by phone" for increased formality.

What is the difference between "make a quick call" and "make a phone call"?

"Make a quick call" implies a short, brief conversation, whereas "make a phone call" is a general statement and doesn't specify the duration or purpose of the call.