call collect

English

Verb

call collect (third-person singular simple present calls collect, present participle calling collect, simple past and past participle called collect)

1. (US, intransitive) To make a telephone call in which the cost of the call is paid by the person receiving the call.

   In the days of payphones, if you had no coins, you could call collect and hope that the callee would accept the charges.

2. (US, transitive) To call (someone) in this way.

   Call me what you want — just don’t call me collect.

   Please call me to let me know you’re safe — you’re welcome to call me collect.

Synonyms

• reverse the charge (Britain, Ireland)

Related terms

• collect call (noun)

Translations

to make a phone call paid by the person receiving the call

• Finnish: soittaa vastapuhelu
• French: appeler en PCV
• Polish: dzwonić na koszt rozmówcy impf

See also

• prank (method for limited but free communication)

 

Anagrams

• collect call