English term
Russian Federation
Doing 9000/6000 w/d as editor/translator
Native in: Russian 
Works in: English to Russian, Russian to English, Russian
margin call
A recent glossary question triggered my curiosity. I seem to recall encountering instances of 'margin call' being used in everyday speech, but I cannot find examples of this usage because of the prevalence of finance-themed ones.
Have any of you seen it? Can you cite an example (or, better still, describe its meaning when used in general speech)?
| 3 +2 | margin call |
Michael Sarni
|
| 4 | time to show more commitment or get out |
Daryo
|
Non-PRO (1): Yvonne Gallagher
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Responses
United Kingdom
Taking good care of each word
Native in: Russian 
, English (Variants: British, US, UK)
Works in: English to Russian, Russian to English, Russian, and 22 more.
margin call
Origin: Hollywood blockbuster "Trading Places" (1983)
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&c...
Meaning: The hour of reckoning has come.
Usage: Mostly economics
Examples
https://www.investing.com/analysis/margin-call-gentlemen!-37...
https://www.reuters.com/article/idUS47817055320160412
https://twitter.com/offtheruntrades/status/12421180926139883...
A meme suggestion:
https://memegenerator.net/instance/75923600/margin-call-marg...
Reverso offers this:
Margin call, gentlemen.
Погасите долг, господа.
Could conceivably be used to mean 'pay up!', as per Reverso example.
| Appreciate the research, Michael, but I don't recall the 'gentlemen' part, so it is unlikely that what I heard was this particular 'meme'. |
| agree |
BdiL
: Sounds convincing.
1 hr
|
| neutral |
philgoddard
: The asker wants a non-financial meaning, and I don't believe there is one.
5 hrs
|
|
There's finance, with its literal meaning of the term. And there's economy - see first two examples.
|
|
| agree |
Charlesp
: Sounds convincing. (non-standard usage)
28 days
|
time to show more commitment or get out
time to put more money in the pot if you want to stay in the game
that's the general idea
or another way of looking at it:
Give more guaranty (of any kind) if you want to stay in the game (otherwise we'll chuck out, as not being worth the risk)
Margin call, gentlemen.
Погасите долг, господа.
Is more a rough approximation. It's not exactly about "repaying what you owe", it's more about "proving that you still can be trusted"
Margin Call
By JAMES CHEN Reviewed by MICHAEL J BOYLE Updated May 27, 2021
What Is a Margin Call?
A margin call occurs when the value of an investor's margin account falls below the broker's required amount. An investor's margin account contains securities bought with borrowed money (typically a combination of the investor's own money and money borrowed from the investor's broker). A margin call refers specifically to a broker's demand that an investor deposit additional money or securities into the account so that it is brought up to the minimum value, known as the maintenance margin.
A margin call is usually an indicator that one or more of the securities held in the margin account has decreased in value. When a margin call occurs, the investor must choose to either deposit more money in the account or sell some of the assets held in their account.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
A margin call occurs when a margin account runs low on funds, usually because of a losing trade.
Margin calls are demands for additional capital or securities to bring a margin account up to the minimum maintenance margin.
Brokers may force traders to sell assets, regardless of the market price, to meet the margin call if the trader doesn't deposit funds.
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/margincall.asp
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Note added at 1 day 9 hrs (2021-06-29 17:17:00 GMT)
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I could make a longish list of terms used outside of the original context that have been given "re-interpreted new meanings" that are distorted beyond recognition compared to the originally intended meaning.
So, this would be the meaning of "margin call" when used outside of the original context ASSUMING that those using this term out of context do know what it really means when used in context.
Which in this case might be true, or might be a very brave assumption, not sure either way.
Discussion
meme, n.
Frequency (in current use): [5 dots out of 8]
2. An image, video, piece of text, etc., typically humorous in nature, that is copied and spread rapidly by internet users, often with slight variations. Also with modifying word, as internet meme, etc.
2000 Guardian 10 Aug. (Online section) 11/3 The best internet memes replicate quickly, gaining authenticity and achieving mythical status as their familiarity grows.
2013 T. Chatfield Netymology xv. 49 Read the 3,000-word Wikipedia article on ‘Rickrolling’ for an example of how a meme can eat itself several times over within the space of five years.
B. "but I don't recall the 'gentlemen' part". Would you be so kind as to share the source of that recollection with us?