To call for

Posted by Gary on March 23, 2002

In Reply to: To call for posted by TheFallen on March 23, 2002

: This phrase, in common use in the US under the guise of meaning "to forecast" and usually of weather, is unheard of in this context in the UK. It always amuses me when I hear it used because of the connotation of deliberate intent, conjuring up pictures of some TV station's weathermen hard at work in some cave, trying though arcane black arts to magic up a storm. I am always disappointed however, when the camera cuts to the resident weatherman (or girl), showing them to be a perfectly varnished inanely grinning vapid dummy.

: When did this usage occur?

The usage I know of in the UK is 'to visit'. Specifically it is, or was when I was a child, used by children when trying to find friends to come out to play. I.e. "I'm going to call for Bonce to see if he wants to go cadging".

Cadging was a kind of unarmed combat played on bikes - whoever stayed on longest won. Just thought I'd throw that in.