call on

Xiaoyong Huang said:

"At one point, a CNN reporter suggested the president could call on women reporters". President Trump has been criticised (AmE criticized) for disrespecting [STRIKE]for[/STRIKE] women. At one press conference, he only called on male reporters. What does the phrasal verb 'call on' mean in [STRIKE]the [/STRIKE]this context? Does it mean to allow reporters to ask questions? (I've looked [STRIKE]into[/STRIKE] in my dictionary but can't find a [STRIKE]satisfied[/STRIKE] satisfactory answer)

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Charlie Bernstein said:

Yes, you read it correctly.

The phrase has very specific meanings.

- Give permission to speak:

To keep order in a classroom, press conference, or meeting, we take turns speaking by raising our hands and waiting for permission to speak. The person leading the discussion calls on people to give them permission.

If the person leading the conversation doesn't call on you, you can't speak. So women are angry because they're not being called on.

- Visit:

Call on can also mean visit:

- I called on my aunt to see if she was well.

- Please call on me when you're in town.

Note that terms such as called upon, call up, call for, and call out do not mean the same thing as call on.

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