Meaning of ‘Beck and Call’
The customer service representative was always at the clients’ beck and call, ready to assist with any issue.
She felt like she was constantly at her demanding employer’s beck and call.
He expected his staff to be at his beckon call throughout the weekend.
Being at your beckon call means I have no time for myself.
‘To be at someone’s beck and call‘ is an idiomatic expression that describes being immediately available, or ready to be of service for someone or something.
Is it ‘beck and call’ or ‘beckon call’?
- The correct expression is ‘beck and call‘. This is the only correct way to spell the phrase.
- Beckon call is a common misspelling of ‘beck and call’.
Because “beckon call” is so widely mistaken as the correct phrase, and since it sounds more or less the same, it will still make sense if used in conversation. This makes the “beckon call” an eggcorn, when words or phrases are repeatedly altered so that they become used and can be understood in the same contexts as the true phrase.
‘Beckon’ is a recognized word in English. It’s a verb that means to “make a gesture with the hand, arm, or head to encourage someone to come nearer or follow: Miranda beckoned to Adam. It’s similar to gesture, signal, or gesticulate.
For “beck and call,” remember the “and” by thinking of being ready for *both* a beck (gesture) AND a call (sound).
Where did the term ‘beck and call’ come from?
According to Vocabulary.com, “it’s originally a thirteenth-century abbreviation of beckon, and on its own came to mean the sort of nod or gesture you make with your head to bring someone closer to you. And a call is a loud utterance to get someone’s attention”.
“Beck and call”, examples in sentences
| Examples: “beck and call” |
|---|
| I frequently touch base with my manager, but I can’t be at her beck and call 24-7.
He expects his employees to be at his beck and call day and night. She is at the beck and call of the committee. |
Read about other commonly confused words
Worksheet
What is the correct idiomatic expression meaning “being immediately available or ready to be of service”?
According to the blog post, which phrase is a common misspelling or “eggcorn” of the correct idiom?
What does the verb “beckon” mean, as described in the post’s definition?
The post suggests remembering the correct phrase “beck and call” by thinking of being ready for *both* a beck (gesture) ______ a call (sound). Which word completes this memory tip?
Which of the following sentences uses the correct idiom discussed in the blog post?
She felt like she was constantly at her demanding employer’s .
The customer service representative was always at the clients’ , ready to assist with any issue.
He expected his staff to be at his throughout the weekend.
Being at your means I have no time for myself.
I frequently touch base with my manager, but I can’t be at her 24-7.
FAQs
Which is the correct phrase, beck and call or beckon call?
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What is the meaning of the idiom beck and call?
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Is the phrase beckon call ever correct?
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Why is beckon call a common misspelling?
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How do I remember if it’s beck and or beckon?
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Sources
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Wikipedia contributors. “Eggcorn.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 20 Jan. 2025. Web. 5 Feb. 2025.
Yash, D. "Is the Term ‘Beck and Call’ or ‘Beckon Call’?." Grammarflex, Sep 24, 2025, https://grammarflex.com/beck-and-call-phrase/.
