cattle call: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low-to-MediumInformal, especially within performing arts/entertainment; metaphorical use in business/informal contexts.
Quick answer
What does “cattle call” mean?
An open audition for many performers at once, where numerous candidates are seen briefly for a single role or project.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An open audition for many performers at once, where numerous candidates are seen briefly for a single role or project.
Any event where large numbers of people are processed or evaluated quickly and impersonally, such as a mass job interview.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more common in American English due to Hollywood's influence, but widely understood and used in UK entertainment contexts.
Connotations
Both share a negative connotation of dehumanising, assembly-line treatment. The metaphorical extension to general hiring is more established in US business/colloquial use.
Frequency
Higher frequency in US English; in UK English, the related 'open audition' or 'mass audition' may be used descriptively, with 'cattle call' carrying the metaphorical punch.
Grammar
How to Use “cattle call” in a Sentence
hold a cattle call (for [show/project])attend/endure a cattle callfeel like a cattle callVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cattle call” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The director had to cattle-call hundreds of hopefuls for the chorus roles.
- They're cattle-calling for the new musical next week.
American English
- The studio is going to cattle call for background actors tomorrow.
- We cattle-called last month but didn't find the right lead.
adjective
British English
- It had a real cattle-call atmosphere.
- Avoid those cattle-call auditions if you can.
American English
- It was a cattle-call situation, pure chaos.
- He hated the cattle-call process.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphor for first-round interviews with many candidates, often for entry-level roles: 'The graduate scheme interview felt like a cattle call.'
Academic
Rare; might appear in cultural studies, media studies, or sociology analysing labour in creative industries.
Everyday
Understood primarily by those with exposure to performing arts; metaphorical use possible in discussing any crowded, impersonal selection process.
Technical
Standard term in film, television, and theatre production for initial large-scale auditions.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cattle call”
- Using 'cattle call' to refer to a callback or second audition (it is specifically the initial, large-scale event).
- Misspelling as 'cattle-call' (though hyphenated form is sometimes seen, solid form is standard).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is intentionally derogatory and critical, highlighting the dehumanising nature of the process. Using it implies the organiser treats people like livestock. Use with caution outside of informal/critical contexts.
Yes, metaphorically. It's used for any process where large numbers of applicants or candidates are processed quickly and impersonally, e.g., mass job fairs, university admissions interviews for popular courses, or even dating events.
They can refer to the same event. However, 'open call' is the neutral, official term. 'Cattle call' is the critical, informal slang that comments on the impersonal and crowded nature of that open call.
Yes, though less common. 'To cattle-call' (often hyphenated) means to conduct such a mass audition or selection process. (e.g., 'They cattle-called for the lead role.')
An open audition for many performers at once, where numerous candidates are seen briefly for a single role or project.
Cattle call is usually informal, especially within performing arts/entertainment; metaphorical use in business/informal contexts. in register.
Cattle call: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkæt.əl ˌkɔːl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkæt̬.əl ˌkɑːl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It was a complete cattle call.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine hundreds of cows (cattle) being herded through a gate for inspection. Now imagine hundreds of actors waiting in a line, being 'herded' into an audition room for a 30-second look. That's a cattle call.
Conceptual Metaphor
PEOPLE ARE CATTLE / SELECTION PROCESSES ARE HERDING OPERATIONS.
Practice
Quiz
In which scenario would the term 'cattle call' be LEAST appropriate?