How do you use "On call" in a sentence?

I'm on call tonight—can't drink. She got called in at 3am—was on call. The on-call doctor is handling it.

On call

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Meaning: Available to work if needed; not actively working but must respond if summoned.

随时待命；不在上班但需要时必须响应。

Disponible para trabajar si se necesita; no está trabajando pero debe responder si le llaman.

必要なときにすぐ働ける状態。勤務中ではないが、呼ばれたら対応しなければならない。

필요할 때 즉시 출근할 수 있는 대기 상태. 근무 중은 아니지만 호출되면 응해야 함.

Doctors and nurses who are 'on call' aren't at the hospital but must come in if needed. It's a state of constant readiness—you can't drink alcohol, must stay nearby, and have your phone on at all times. On-call shifts are exhausting because you never fully relax. The term has spread to other professions.

'On call'的医生和护士不在医院，但需要时必须赶到。这是一种持续待命的状态——不能喝酒，必须待在附近，手机必须一直开着。值班班次令人疲惫，因为你永远无法完全放松。这个用语已扩展到其他职业。

Los médicos y enfermeros 'de guardia' no están en el hospital, pero deben acudir si es necesario. Es un estado de alerta constante: no puedes beber alcohol, debes estar cerca y tener el móvil encendido en todo momento. Las guardias son agotadoras porque nunca te relajas del todo. El término se ha extendido a otras profesiones.

「On call」の医師や看護師は病院にいないが、必要であれば駆けつけなければならない。常に待機状態で、飲酒できず、近くにいなければならず、常に電話をオンにしておく必要がある。完全にリラックスできないので疲れる。この用語は他の職業にも広がった。

당직(on call) 중인 의사와 간호사는 병원에 있지 않지만, 필요하면 출근해야 한다. 항상 대기 상태여야 하므로 음주도 안 되고, 가까이 있어야 하며, 전화를 항상 켜 놓아야 한다. 완전히 쉴 수 없기 때문에 당직 근무는 매우 피곤하다. 이 용어는 다른 직종으로도 확산되었다.

Examples

I'm on call tonight—can't drink.
我今晚值班——不能喝酒
Estoy de guardia esta noche, no puedo beber
「今夜は当直だからお酒は飲めない」
오늘 밤 당직이라 술 못 마셔
She got called in at 3am—was on call.
她凌晨3点被叫去了——当时在值班
La llamaron a las 3 de la madrugada, estaba de guardia
「彼女は当直で朝3時に呼び出された」
그녀는 당직이었는데 새벽 3시에 호출됐어
The on-call doctor is handling it.
值班医生在处理
El médico de guardia se está encargando
「当直の医師が対応している」
당직 의사가 처리하고 있어

Pronunciation

/ɒn kɔːl/

Usage Guide

Context: medicine, work schedules, availability

Tone: professional, practical

✓ Do Say

On call
值班、待命
De guardia
当直・待機中
당직이다
On-call shift
值班班次
Turno de guardia
当直シフト
당직 근무
Got called in
被叫去上班
Le llamaron para ir a trabajar
呼び出された
호출되어 출근했다

Common Mistakes

Different from being 'at work'—on call means available, not actively working
Now used in many professions beyond medicine

Origin & History

From the pre-mobile phone era when doctors were literally called by telephone. Being 'on call' meant someone could call your home number and expect you to come to the hospital. The term persists even as technology has changed how the call happens.

Etymology: From being available to be called to work

First recorded: Medical usage early 20th century

Cultural Context

Era: Early 20th century onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Medical dramas

Regional notes: Universal medical term.

Variations

On callOn-call