Meanings
phrase
- idiomaticExpresses that the speaker must go and deal with something.
Excuse me, gentlemen, but I'm afraid duty calls.
Translations
Dutch de plicht roept
- de plicht roeptexpresses that the speaker has something they must do
Finnish velvollisuus kutsuu
- velvollisuus kutsuuexpresses that the speaker has something they must do
French le devoir m'appelle
- le devoir m'appelleexpresses that the speaker has something they must do
German die Pflicht ruft
- die Pflicht ruftexpresses that the speaker has something they must do
Polish obowiązki wzywają
- obowiązki wzywająexpresses that the speaker has something they must do
Portuguese o dever me chama
- o dever me chamaexpresses that the speaker has something they must do
Cite this entry
APA
duty calls. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/duty%20calls
MLA
“duty calls.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/duty%20calls. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “duty calls,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/duty%20calls.
Source: duty calls on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.