What is beck and call?

Beck and Call

The idiom "beck and call" means to be constantly available and obedient to someone's commands or requests. It implies a servile relationship where one person is always ready to do whatever the other person wants, immediately and without question.

  • Meaning: At someone's <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/beck%20and%20call">beck and call</a> means to be completely subservient and ready to obey orders instantly.
  • Origin: The phrase refers to a physical gesture ("beck") used to summon someone. In the past, beckoning was a common way for people of higher social status to call servants or subordinates.
  • Connotation: The phrase carries a negative <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/beck%20and%20call">connotation</a>, suggesting a lack of personal autonomy and a position of inferiority.
  • Usage: It's typically used to describe situations where there's a power imbalance, and one person is expected to cater to the needs and whims of another. For example: "He expects his staff to be at his <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/beck%20and%20call">beck and call</a> 24/7."