callback

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callback

1. A return phone call. (In each of these usages, the term can be spelled "call-back.") I finally got a callback from the doctor's office with my test results this morning. This is an automated call-back service letting you know that your pizza is on its way. What does it take to get a call-back from my own daughter, huh? I must have left you 10 messages!

2. An instruction to return to work, as after a layoff or suspension. Union officials are trying to secure a call-back for every factory worker affected by the layoff. The callback could see up to 2,000 government workers returning to work despite the government shutdown. I doubt that guy is going to get a callback—his involvement in the scandalous incident just makes him a liability to the company.

3. A recall made by a manufacturer of a defective product. If that part does in fact cause engines to overheat, then we're going to have to do a massive callback. I hear the company took a major financial hit when they had to do a callback of so much of their inventory. Unfortunately, we had to do a callback on that model of blender due to electrical issues.

4. A follow-up audition or interview, as when pursuing an acting role or applying for a job. After months of fruitless auditions, I finally got a callback! I'm so excited that I don't even care that it's for an ointment commercial! I just got a call-back from the recruiter—she wants me to come in for a second interview! Welcome to Hollywood, kid. Good luck ever getting a callback.

5. A reference to a past scene or plot development, as in a TV show. The Gilmore Girls revival was full of callbacks to the original series. Oh wow, I didn't even realize that was a callback to the first movie in the trilogy! A: "Why do those two always say that line to each other?" B: "It's a callback to when they first met."

6. In comedy, a joke that references an element used in a joke told earlier in the routine. The callback that I've been using at the end of my set is really killing. The comedy show loves to feature call-backs to jokes in previous sketches. No, you have to say this line in the beginning so you can make a callback to it later in your stand-up routine.

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References in periodicals archive ?

"I saw a lot of callbacks with cement backer board," Sherman said.

When faster is also better. (Special Advertising Section)

As in recent years, the frequency and severity of customer callbacks has been controlled quite well by the builders in 2001.

Labor Shortage Lessens

Nine out of 10 builders rely primarily on subcontractors to follow up on their customer callbacks, the same proportion reported in the last few years.

Labor Shortages Slow Callback Response

About nine-tenths of builders rely on their subcontractors to follow up on some or all of their customer callbacks, the same proportion reported last year.

Quality vs. the labor shortage

The average response time for callbacks has reached nine days, compared with eight in 1997 and six in 1996; in fact, it now takes more than three weeks to respond to 12% of the customer callbacks.

Scarce labor hurts service

Reasons for callbacks vary little by size of builder, although large-volume builders (those building more than 100 units per year) have more problems with lawns and yard grading.

Minimize callbacks to boost margins

degree from a selective public university did not generate more callbacks, on average, than a degree from a non-selective public school.

The value of postsecondary credentials in the labor market

MICHELLE TRAME LANZI: Another reason I have enjoyed working with Wild Swan for so many years--we have ALWAYS approached our callbacks with group games, improvs and fun!

on Facebook

The pair will assist with "callbacks" - in which the best auditionees are whittled down to a final 40 - before working with the successful applicants during intensive training sessions.

MEL C GETS NEW WEST END ROLE; Ex-Spice Girl to work with Lloyd Webber

The researchers found that attractive men used to get more callbacks from their employers compared to the men with no picture and to plain-looking men.

Are good-looking people likelier to get jobs?

Most decisions about callbacks are made in the first fifteen to thirty seconds, so it is critical to start with polished material.

Jonathan Flom, Get the Callback. The Art of Auditioning for Musical Theatre

In particular, Ore noted that most of the increase in employment was due to the hiring of temps and "callbacks," or bringing back laid-off workers.