duty calls
Expresses that the speaker must go and deal with something.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“I must leave now because duty calls.”
“I would love to stay for another drink, but duty calls and I have to finish my report.”
“Though the evening was pleasant, the officer stood up abruptly, explaining that duty calls and he must return to the station immediately.”
- 01
answer the call of nature
To satisfy a bodily urge to urinate or defecate.
- 02
call a lid
To inform the press that no further news will be released from a governmental body that day.
- 03
call a spade a spade
To put it bluntly, to be outspoken; to speak the truth, to describe things as they really are.
- 04
call an audible
To change plans at the last minute in response to new information.
- 05
call it
To call it a day
- 06
call it a day
To cease an activity.
- 07
call it a night
To go to bed to sleep.
- 08
call it an early night
To go to bed or cease one's activities earlier in the evening than usual.
Last updated August 10, 2026