make a phone call — call
collocationB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
to use a phone to talk to someone or contact someone by telephone.
Say it like a native
Textbook I need to conduct a telephone call to the office.
Native I need to make a quick call to the office.
Natives 'make a call'; 'conduct a telephone call' is stiff and bureaucratic.
Pattern: make a phone call (to someone)
In use
- I need to make a phone call before the meeting starts.communication
- If I forget something important, I usually make a phone call to my parents to ask for advice.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ I have to do a phone call first.
✓ I have to make a phone call first.
You MAKE a call, not 'do' one.
Common collocations
make a phone call— make, a quick call, a few calls, give me a call
Don't confuse it
Compare with 'take a call,' which means to answer a phone call, not to start one.