surprise call

[/sərˈpraɪz kɔːl/]
nounpl: surprise calls
chamada surpresa
1. An unexpected telephone call from someone, typically made without prior notice or arrangement
I got a surprise call from my old friend who I hadn't spoken to in years.
Recebi uma chamada surpresa de um amigo antigo com quem não falava há anos.
2. In sports or entertainment, an unexpected appearance or performance by someone not previously announced
The concert featured a surprise call from a famous guest artist.
O show contou com uma participação surpresa de um artista famoso.
3. A sudden, unannounced summons or request for someone's presence
The boss made a surprise call asking everyone to attend an emergency meeting.
O chefe fez uma convocação surpresa pedindo que todos comparecessem a uma reunião de emergência.
In Brazilian culture, surprise calls are often cherished as spontaneous gestures of affection and connection, particularly from family and close friends. In the USA, surprise calls are increasingly rare due to digital communication preferences, making them more notable when they occur. The expression has gained prominence with the rise of social media 'surprise appearances' and celebrity guest spots on entertainment programs.
NYC Slang
random call, pop-up call, out-of-the-blue call
Synonyms / Sinônimos
unexpected callunannounced callrandom callsudden call
Antonyms / Antônimos
scheduled callplanned callexpected callannounced call

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
chamada surpresa
Most common and neutral usage across Brazil
São Paulo
chamada de surpresa
Common urban usage with slight grammatical variation
Rio de Janeiro
ligação surpresa
Alternative using 'ligação' instead of 'chamada'
Portugal
chamada inesperada
European Portuguese preference for 'inesperada' (unexpected)

Related Words

surprise visitsurprise appearanceunannouncedunexpectedspontaneous callimpromptu call

Related Idioms & Phrases

out of the blue
catch someone off guard
call out of nowhere
bolt from the blue
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