call collect

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; to place a collect 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.

• reverse the charge (Britain, Ireland)

• collect call (noun)

• collect call