Learn English – What’s the meaning of “call out”

phrase-meaning

This is a comment made by an internet poster:

He did take the blame for losing his job, yet you feel the need to call him out for blaming others and not taking personal responsibility.

What does call out mean in his comment? I have looked it up in several dictionaries, but couldn't find this phrase listed in them.

Edit:

This is actually a comment made by the poster johnnymorales_ in response to the remark made by the poster tinwoman on this article. The comment section is all the way at the bottom. I excluded the article because I thought it would be too long to read.

Best Answer

OP's context is an example of OED's definition #3 for the phrasal verb to call out (first recorded 1823)...

To challenge to fight (esp. a duel).

It's effectively a figurative extension of usages such as...

"Come outside and say that!" (repeat your insult, and we will fight where it is more convenient)

...but the modern usage doesn't directly refer to fighting with duelling swords or fists. The metaphoric "weapons" which will be used in the "contest" are justifications (facts and logical arguments).

By implication, the person issuing the challenge expects to win, because he doesn't think the other person actually has valid justification for whatever he said, implied, or did. It's important to note that you can just as easily be "called out" over disapproved-of action (or inaction) as a disputed statement...

"If your husband never helps with the housework, you should call him out about it."

That's to say, to call [someone] out over/about X means to demand that they justify X.

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