🛎️ At Your Beck and Call: Servitude & Signals Explained 🔔
Definition
At your beck and call: Required to tend to someone’s wishes; totally under someone’s control. The obsolete noun beck, which survives only in this cliché, meant a mute signal or gesture of command, such as a nod of the head or a pointing of the finger; the verbal form, to beckon, still exists, as does call, for a vocal summons.
Synonyms
- Attentive
- Subservient
- On standby
- Readily available
- At your service
Antonyms
- Independent
- Autonomous
- Free-spirited
- Unfettered
Humor-Filled Quotes
- “I’m not at your beck and call, I’m at my snack and stroll.” — Anonymous
- “At your beck and call? More like ‘at your peck-and-gall’ after that last tantrum.” — Mischievous Mabel
Similar Expressions
- At your fingertips
- At your disposal
- On the ball
- Ready and willing
- At your convenience
Proverbs & See Also
- “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.” — Muhammad Ali
- “Where there is a service, there is a smile.” — Traditional Proverb
Literature, Books, & Movies
- Book: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll — Alice finding herself at the beck and call of the whimsical inhabitants.
- Song: “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen — The entire notion of waiting on someone’s beck and call.
- Movie: The Devil Wears Prada — The portrayal of an assistant’s life at the beck and call of a demanding boss.
### What is the meaning of "at your beck and call"?
- [x] Required to tend to someone’s wishes
- [ ] Eternally waiting outside a friend’s window
- [ ] Building an arsenal of vocal commands
- [ ] Dancing to an invisible tune
> **Explanation:** "At your beck and call" means being ready and available to do whatever someone asks.
### Which phrase is synonymous with "at your beck and call"?
- [ ] In a pickle
- [x] At your fingertips
- [ ] Raining cats and dogs
- [ ] Crying wolf
> **Explanation:** "At your fingertips" is a similar expression indicating availability and readiness.
### True or False: The word "beck" is commonly used in modern English.
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** "Beck" is an obsolete term that only survives in this cliché.
### Which form of "beck" still exists in modern English?
- [ ] Becken
- [ ] Backen
- [x] Beckon
- [ ] Bek
> **Explanation:** The verb "to beckon," meaning to gesture or signal someone, is still used today.
Final Words
May you navigate the world with a light heart, knowing your worth exceeds mere summoning. Serving willingly is noble, but let yourself also bask in the freedom of your own calling.
Literary Lexie
