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Meetings & Communicationphrase · /kɔːl ɪt aʊt/

call it out

In simple English

Call it out is widely used in tech meetings, code reviews, and standups to mean identifying and voicing a concern, mistake, or observation that should not be ignored. When you call something out, you are making it visible and explicit rather than letting it pass silently. This is considered healthy team communication because it promotes transparency and prevents problems from escalating. For example, if a junior developer notices a security vulnerability, they would call it out in the code review rather than assuming the senior engineer will catch it. The phrase carries a sense of responsibility and accountability—you are taking initiative to address something that matters.

Understanding how to identify and speak up about problems or issues in tech team meetings and code reviews.

At a glanceCEFR B2
Commonness5/5
Versatility4/5
FormalityCasualFormalNeutral
Spoken ↔ WrittenSpokenWrittenSpoken
Directness ↔ DiplomaticDirectDiplomaticDirect
RegionUS and UK
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Say it like this

✓I want to call it out that the test coverage is below 80%.
✓Can someone call it out if they see a blocker?
✓We should call it out when requirements change mid-sprint.

Real examples

in a standup

"I need to call it out that the database migration is taking longer than expected."

in a code review

"I want to call it out this potential null pointer exception before we merge."

in a team meeting

"Let us call it out that we are missing documentation for the new API endpoint."

Don't say this

Handle with care. Do not confuse with simply speaking up; call it out implies pointing out something problematic, questionable, or noteworthy that needs attention or acknowledgment.

✕We should call it out about the issue.
✓We should call it out that the issue exists.— Use 'that' when adding context or explanation; 'about' is less natural in tech English.
✕He called out it during the meeting.
✓He called it out during the meeting.— The pronoun 'it' must come before 'out' in this phrasal verb.
✕Can you call out it to the team?
✓Can you call it out to the team?— Phrasal verbs require the object pronoun between the verb and particle.

Other forms

verb

call it out

"I will call it out if I spot a critical bug."

noun

call-out

"The call-out of the memory leak saved us from a production incident."

Often used with

call it out earlyEmphasizes identifying issues before they escalate.
call it out publiclyMeans raising the issue in front of others rather than privately.
call it out immediatelyStresses urgency in addressing the concern.
need to call it outIndicates something must be addressed or pointed out.

Similar words

flagSimilar meaning but more formal; 'flag the issue' is also common in tech.
bring it upMore casual; does not always imply a problem.
point outMore neutral; can apply to any observation, not just problems.
raise the issueMore formal and less direct than call it out.

Opposites

ignore itlet it slideoverlook

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Practice

Try it

4 quick exercises

Pick the most natural phrasing

1. Your team found a performance issue before launch. How do you say it?

Complete the sentence

2. In the code review, Sarah decided to _______ the deprecated function that was still in use.

Spot the mistake

3. Which sentence uses 'call it out' correctly?

Rewrite naturally

4. Rewrite this in natural tech English using 'call it out': 'We need to mention that the API latency is higher than our SLA requirement.'

Questions

Quick poll

Have you said "call it out" in a standup this week?

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