calling card

See also: calling-card

English

Alternative forms

Pronunciation
  • Audio (AU)(file)

Noun

calling card (plural calling cards)

  1. A small printed card which identifies the bearer, traditionally presented for introduction when making a social visit to a home or when attending a formal social event or business meeting.
    Synonyms: at-home card, business card, name card, meishi, visiting card
    • 1905, Alice Hegan Rice, chapter 7, in Sandy, page 80:
      If Mrs. Nelson does come here, you be sure to put on your white apron before you open the door; and for pity sake don't forget the card-tray! You ought to know better than to stick out your hand for a lady's calling-card.
  2. (figurative) An attribute, symptom, object, or behavior which is distinctly characteristic of someone or something.
    Synonyms: signature, mark, hallmark
    • 2006 May 14, Anne Midgette, “Summer Stages: Mozart, Yes, But Also Much More”, in New York Times‎, retrieved 26 September 2008:
      Free and slightly funky chamber music is the calling card of this festival.
    • 2020 September 2, “Aleksei Navalny Was Poisoned With Novichok, Germany Says”, in New York Times‎:
      The poisoning also turned Novichok into something of a Russian calling card.
    • 2020 October 3, Sanam Yar, “Lili Reinhart Is Just Being Honest”, in New York Times‎:
      She didn’t set out to make candor her calling card.
  3. (euphemistic) Excrement, especially of a domestic animal.
    • 2005 January 21, Dwight Perry, “Sideline Chatter: Just doo it”, in Seattle Times‎, retrieved 26 September 2008:
      A guide dog left his calling card on the court at Tuesday night's Magic-Pistons game in Orlando.
  4. A phonecard.
    Synonym: telephone card
    • 2003 November 22, Michelle Singletary, “Traveler beware: Free things may cost you money”, in seattlepi.com‎, retrieved 26 September 2008:
      Many experts now advise consumers to use a prepaid calling card to save money on long distance calls while staying in a hotel.
  5. A card advertising the services of a prostitute.
    Synonym: tart card
  6. (World War I– World War II military slang) An explosive dropped from a bomber aeroplane.[1]

Translations
printed card identifying the bearer — see business card

References
  1. Lighter, Jonathan (1972) “The Slang of the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe, 1917-1919: An Historical Glossary”, in American Speech‎, volume 47, number 1/2, page 28
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.