difference between "make a call" and "place a call"

[kjc0123]

What is the difference between "make a call" and "place a call"?

[Kingaroo]

They can be used interchangeably when talking about a phone call. In the US, you'd be more likely to hear "make a call." You might use "place" if, for example, you are a secretary dialing the phone for your boss -- You are "placing" a call, he is "making" a call.

Also, in the infrequent occasions when someone uses "call" to mean "visit," you could only use "make" never "place." I think this use is pretty much used only by sales people and ministers and maybe people visiting someone who was recently bereaved (making a condolence call).

In sports, you will hear that an umpire or referee "makes a call" when he decides a player has fouled, or the ball is in bounds, etc. Derived from this, you get the colloquial expression that means "you make the decision or judgement" as in:
George W. Bush: righteous soldier or swaggering idiot? You make the call!

[Peter Pedant]

HiKayJay!

No difference really.

I think place a call requires an operator to dial a number for you and make a call doesnt......buthardly anyone uses operators nowadays