Call the Police: Meaning and Usage Guide

Meaning 1：call the police (call the police)

call the police 🔊

/kɔːl ðə pəˈliːs/

phr.

To phone the emergency number to ask the police for help because something bad or dangerous is happening.

Person calling the police on mobile phone with police car approaching

call the police 🔊

➕

/kɔːl ðə pəˈliːs/

phr.

To contact the police by telephone, typically in an emergency situation to report a crime, accident, or danger.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

'Call' (to summon) + 'police' (law enforcement agency). Forms a common imperative phrase.

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine a ringing phone and flashing police lights — that urgent sound means you need to 'call the police' immediately.

📖 Example

If you see someone faint in the supermarket, the first thing you should do is to call the police. 🔊 If you see someone faint in the supermarket, the first thing you should do is to call the police.

🔗 Collocations

call the police immediately – to phone the police without any delay

call the police for help – to contact the police to request assistance

call the police on 911 – to dial the emergency number 911 to reach the police

🔄 Synonyms

contact the authorities (phr.) – To get in touch with official law enforcement or government bodies.

dial 911 (phr.) – To call the emergency telephone number in the US and Canada for police, fire, or ambulance.

summon law enforcement (phr.) – To formally request the presence of police officers.

🚫 Antonyms

ignore the situation (phr.) – To deliberately not take action when witnessing a problem.

handle it yourself (phr.) – To deal with an issue personally instead of seeking official help.

📖 Cultural Story

The phrase became standard after the establishment of emergency phone numbers (999 in the UK, 911 in the US) in the mid-20th century. It is a direct, urgent request for help.