Translation of "call somebody on it"

Question

Hi,This sentence came into my view:She pretends she's looking for "door open". I should call her on it and tell her offCould you tell me if I can translate "call her on it" as "accuse her of pretending"Also, does the following sentence sound natural from a native speaker's standpoint?She obviously lied to me about what'd happened and I called her on it. She blushed in embarrasment

Philip · Accepted Answer

MrPernicketyHi,

She obviously lied to me about what'd happened , and I called her on it. She blushed in embarrasment

Yes, to accuse, but in the sense of letting the other person know you are aware of a shortcoming.

[He always misuses certain pronouns, and I call him on it every time. That's the only way he'll learn.]

Your closing example is fine, with the exception of a needed comma after 'happened', because of the change of subject.

Patrick Lockerby · Answer

I agree with MrPernickety.

In British English we tend to talk about calling somebody out.
He cheated at cards, so I called him out.

I don't know the origin of the phrase, but these scenarios seem likely:

Someone is standing outside a house and calling something like: "I know what you did. Come on out."

A card cheat is invited to 'step outside': Your a cheat, Billy the Bullet, and I'm calling you out."

Somebody has stage-fright and is hiding in their dressing-room: "Come on out and face the music."

Clive · Answer

Hi,

I have a sneaking feeling that there's a connection with the card game of Poker here.

In poker, to call is basically to match a bet.

eg

Tom and I are playing poker.

Our bets are usually $10 or $20.

Suddenly, Tom bets $1,000.

I think he is just trying to scare me or bully me into giving up.

Instead, I call him by also betting $1,000.

Now compare this to a situation in my office.

Tom and I both have different ideas on how something should be done.

Tom says to me , 'Do it my way or I'll tell the boss'.

I call Tom by refusing to be intimidated.

I say 'OK, go ahead and tell the boss. He'll see that my way is better'.

Best wishes, Clive

Patrick Lockerby · Answer

Maybe the poker connection comes from people like Doc. Holliday.

"I see you, and raise you $1,000. If you think I'm bluffing, go ahead and say so - it's your call."

Note to EFL students: by 'your call', he means 'it's your move', or perhaps 'your right of reply'.

MrPernickety · Answer

Thanks guys !

Translation of "call somebody on it"

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