calling card

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calling card

A detective examines a white calling card left on a polished wooden desk.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A distinguishing characteristic or behavior: A unique feature, signature method, or typical action that identifies a particular person, group, or phenomenon.
    • A printed or written greeting left to indicate a visit: A small card, often bearing one's name, left at someone's home or office to show that one has visited.
    • A card used to pay for telephone calls: A prepaid card or charge card used to make telephone calls, often from public phones, instead of using cash.
Usage Examples
  • As a distinguishing characteristic:
    • The elaborate signature was the artist's calling card.
    • Meticulous planning is his calling card in every project.
  • As a card left after a visit:
    • In the 19th century, gentlemen left their calling cards after a social visit.
    • She dropped off her calling card at the office while he was away.
  • As a telephone payment card:
    • He bought an international calling card to phone home from abroad.
    • The payphone requires either coins or a calling card.
Advanced Usage
  • Metaphorical use for a signature style: Often used to describe an artist's or creator's recognizable hallmark.
    • The director's use of long, continuous shots became his cinematic calling card.
  • In criminal or intelligence contexts: Can refer to a modus operandi or a signature left at a scene.
    • The specific type of knot used was the killer's calling card.
Variants and Related Words
  • Business card: A card bearing professional contact details, often exchanged in business contexts. (Note: While related, a "business card" is for contact information, whereas a "calling card" traditionally announced a visit).
  • Phone card: A more modern and common synonym for the telephone payment meaning of "calling card."
Synonyms
  • Hallmark: A distinctive feature, especially of excellence (for the characteristic meaning).
  • Visiting card: A direct synonym for the card left after a visit.
  • Telephone card: A synonym for the payment card used for phone calls.
Related Phrases
  • Leave one's calling card: To leave behind evidence of one's presence or involvement, literally or figuratively.
    • The graffiti artist left his calling card on the wall.
  • A calling card to the world: Something that serves as an introduction or representation of oneself to a wider audience.
    • Her breakthrough novel was her calling card to the literary world.
calling card

A detective examines a white calling card left on a polished wooden desk.

Noun
  1. a distinguishing characteristic or behavior
    • bombs are a terrorist's calling cards
  2. a printed or written greeting that is left to indicate that you have visited
  3. a card that is used instead of cash to make telephone calls

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