Phrasal verb
call around
Definition
phrasal verb. to phone several different people or places to get information or find something you need.
phrasal verb. to make multiple telephone calls to various individuals or organizations, typically for the purpose of gathering data, comparing prices, or locating a specific item.
Examples
“I'll call around to find the best price for a new car.”
“After my bike was stolen, I had to call around all the local shops to see if anyone had seen it.”
“The administrative assistant spent the entire morning calling around to various vendors to secure a last-minute catering contract for the conference.”
Examples
simple
“I'll call around to find the best price for a new car.”
contextual
“After my bike was stolen, I had to call around all the local shops to see if anyone had seen it.”
complex
“The administrative assistant spent the entire morning calling around to various vendors to secure a last-minute catering contract for the conference.”
Usage
this is an intransitive phrasal verb, though it is often followed by 'to' when indicating a purpose.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'call back' or 'call up'; 'around' suggests a circular or distributive action, reaching out to many points rather than just one.
Pitfall
I called around the plumber.
I called around for a plumber.
you call around 'to' people or 'for' a service; you do not usually 'call around' a single person as a direct object.
Phrasal verb
Particles
around
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
call + around
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/call-around