cold call

plural cold calls · alternative cold-call

1. A sales call either by telephone or personal presence, made without a referral or without preparing the recipient of the call.

   I got a cold call in the middle of dinner from someone trying to sell roofing and siding because they're allegedly working in my area this week.

2. card gamesA call of a bet and one or more raises made by a player who has not already contributed to the pot in the current betting round, usually with further action from the original bettor or raiser yet to come.

present singular third person cold calls · participle present cold calling · participle past cold called · past cold called · alternative cold-call

1. intransitiveTo call someone without preparation or referral.
2. card gamesTo make a cold call.