The spelling of "are beck and call" refers to being at someone's immediate service. The phrase is spelled with "beck," which is pronounced /bɛk/, and refers to a gesture of summoning or nodding one's head. "Call" is also pronounced /kɔːl/ and refers to the act of calling out to someone for assistance. The expression "are at someone's beck and call" is commonly used to describe being ready and willing to offer help whenever someone needs it.
To be at someone's beck and call is an idiomatic expression that means to be constantly available and ready to assist or obey someone's commands or wishes. This phrase implies a state of being constantly at their service and fulfilling their every demand with immediate response. The term "beck" is derived from the word "beckon," meaning to signal someone with a gesture or a nod, indicating a request for their attention. "Call" refers to summoning or calling upon someone for assistance.
This phrase is often used to describe individuals who are readily accessible and willing to provide help or cater to someone's needs without hesitation. It emphasizes the notion of being readily at another person's disposal, as if waiting in anticipation for their command. People described as being at someone's beck and call are often considered obedient, subservient, or excessively dedicated to the requests and desires of the person they are serving.
The phrase can be used in various contexts, including personal relationships or professional settings where one person is in a position of authority or power over another. It highlights the imbalance of power between individuals, as the person at their beck and call is expected to immediately drop everything and attend to the needs or desires of the other person, without question or delay.