unannounced call

[/ˌʌnəˈnaʊnst kɔːl/]
nounpl: unannounced calls
chamada não anunciada
1. A phone call, visit, or contact made without prior notice or warning to the recipient
The manager made an unannounced call to check on the team's progress.
O gerente fez uma chamada não anunciada para verificar o progresso do time.
2. An unexpected visit or contact that arrives without advance notification
The health inspector's unannounced call caught the restaurant unprepared.
A visita não anunciada do inspetor de saúde pegou o restaurante desprevenido.
In Brazilian business culture, unannounced calls are sometimes used as quality control measures or surprise inspections, reflecting a more hierarchical approach to management. In the USA, they are increasingly viewed as intrusive and unprofessional, particularly in corporate settings where scheduled meetings are preferred. The practice varies significantly between sectors—health inspections and audits commonly use unannounced visits, while in customer service and sales, advance notice is typically expected.
NYC Slang
pop-up call; surprise ring
Synonyms / Sinônimos
surprise callunexpected callsudden callimpromptu call
Antonyms / Antônimos
announced callscheduled callprearranged callexpected call

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
chamada não anunciada
Most common and formal usage
General Brazilian
ligação de surpresa
More colloquial alternative
São Paulo
chamada de surpresa
Common informal usage in business contexts
Portugal
chamada inesperada
Preferred Portuguese usage; more emphasis on unexpectedness

Related Words

surprise visitdrop-inunscheduledimpromptunotificationappointment

Related Idioms & Phrases

catch someone off guard
out of the blue
come out of nowhere
drop in unannounced
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