rang someone up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rang someone up" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone made a phone call to another person. Example: "I rang my friend up to see if she wanted to join us for dinner."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I rang someone up to talk about it.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

I picked up the phone and rang someone called Robert.

Vice

(That is, how people in third-world countries and other developing markets regularly ring someone and hang up as a type of communication).

TechCrunch

She was pinned to her desk by the centripetal force of employees running in from the front of the store to tell her we need more copies of the new Stephen King, more! and then running out again to ring someone up.

The New York Times

But the examples given by dating experts range from wishing someone happy birthday on Facebook, which plainly isn't a problem, to taking off your wedding ring before chatting someone up in a bar, which plainly is.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

After a few rings, someone picked up, and Barry could hear heavy machinery grinding in the background.

The New York Times - Magazine

After several rings someone picks up.

Huffington Post

"Someone rang him up and I think it came as a nice surprise," Dr. Sykes said.

The New York Times - Science

I think it gets a bit difficult because in a country town … one of our nurses had four children here and they went to the local high school so their children know a lot of people in town and I think it would be a bit awkward if you had to ring up someone and said, "Look you know…" And medico-legally I mean confidentiality I always sort of worryabout.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Someone set someone up".

The New Yorker

One guy chopped someone up".

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rang someone up" in informal contexts or when aiming for a colloquial tone. In more formal settings, consider alternatives like "called someone" or "phoned someone".

Common error

Avoid using "rang someone up" in business reports or academic papers. Opt for more professional alternatives to maintain a formal tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rang someone up" functions as a verb phrase. It's used to describe the action of making a phone call to a specific person. Ludwig indicates that this is a usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "rang someone up" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe making a phone call. Ludwig indicates that the phrase is usable in written English, especially in informal contexts. While it's prevalent in news and media, and general conversations, it may not be suitable for formal or business writing. Consider alternatives such as "called someone" or "phoned someone" in more formal settings to maintain an appropriate tone. While the phrase is widely understood, be mindful of your audience and the context when choosing to use it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

called someone

More common and direct alternative to indicate making a phone call.

phoned someone

A more formal synonym for calling someone.

gave someone a call

Emphasizes the action of calling as a gesture.

reached out to someone by phone

A more descriptive and formal way to say calling someone.

contacted someone by telephone

Highly formal and emphasizes the use of a telephone.

dialed someone's number

Focuses on the action of dialing a phone number.

made a phone call to someone

A more verbose and descriptive way to say calling.

got in touch with someone by phone

Indicates establishing contact, not just initiating a call.

telephoned someone

A slightly archaic but still understandable alternative.

placed a call to someone

Formal and emphasizes the initiation of the call.

FAQs

What does "rang someone up" mean?

The phrase "rang someone up" means to make a phone call to someone. It's a colloquial way of saying you called someone.

What can I say instead of "rang someone up"?

You can use alternatives like "called someone", "phoned someone", or "gave someone a call" depending on the context.

Is "rang someone up" formal or informal?

"Rang someone up" is generally considered informal. For formal situations, use alternatives like "contacted someone" or "telephoned someone".

How do I use "rang someone up" in a sentence?

You can use it like this: "I rang my friend up to see if she wanted to go to the movies".