to call an audible
4
7.9
- idiom
- Informal
:
cambiar de planes
- When the weather changed unexpectedly, the coach decided to call an audible during the game.
When people pivot or call an audible in football, they're glorified.
- When people pivot or call an audible in football, they're glorified.
Examples
-
In response to the sudden crisis, the team had to call an audible and revise their strategy immediately.
-
I am going to call an audible here.
-
Maybe I'm going to have to call an audible and work from home.
-
I'm calling an audible here, everyone.
-
The manager said we should call an audible and switch our plans due to the new information we received.
Synonyms
98
3.7
To decide what to do in an important situation
7
6.5
Change a plan or attitude to fit new information
1
8.1
Switching leaders or plans during a project that is already happening when it is risky
Antonyms
How Drastic
1
3.3
33
4.4
41
3.7
- Informal
4
7.9
317
2.7
Surface Forms
Morphology
The verb 'call' plus the noun 'an audible' (a football play verbally changed at the line) composes in a way that directly links to the sense 'make a last‑minute play/change', so the idiomatic meaning is a metaphorical extension of the literal sports usage. However, the noun sense of 'audible' is specialised and not predictable from the common adjective 'audible' (‘able to be heard’), so learners without sports-context knowledge will likely not infer the meaning, making the expression only partially transparent.
Etymology
The phrase call an audible comes from American football, where the quarterback shouts a new play called an audible at the last moment when the defense looks different. So it now means 'to change plans quickly'.