Telephoning can be one of the most challenging things you have to do in a foreign language, maybe the person speaks very quickly, with a difficult accent, and to make matters worse, uses colloquial phrases which you may not understand.
I’ve put together 10 quite colloquial phrases which you may hear on the phone and if you feel adventurous*, you may want use when you are telephoning, too.
*Be careful when you use these phrases, DON’T use them in a more formal call. So let’s jump into the phrases:
“I’ll pop you through to Mike, then.”
“Can I just run the account no. by you again?”
“You don’t happen to have his mobile number, do you?”
“Bear with me a sec, and I’ll just fetch her.”
“Can you just jot down this ref. no, please?”
“Have you got something to write with handy?”
“Do me a favour and double-check the date, would/will you?”
“He’s tied up in a meeting at the mo(ment).”
“I’ve been trying to get hold of him on his landline number all morning.”
“Tell her to give me a call/ring/bell* when she gets back in.”
*more colloquial
Challenging (herausfordernd), to make matters worse (und erschwerend kommt noch hinzu), colloquial (umgangsprachlich), adventurous (abenteuerlich), to pop sb through (verbinden), to run sth by sb (wiederholen), to happen to (do) (zufällig), to bear with sb (geduldig sein), to fetch sb/sth (jdn/etw. holen), to jot sth down (etw kurz notieren), to have sth handy (etw griffbereit haben), to double-check (nochmals prüfen), to be tied up (beschäftigt sein), to get hold of sb (jdn. erreichen), landline (number) (Festnetz)
This post was checked by Grammarly
Grammarly Premium* ($11.66 a month) or Grammarly business ($12.50 a member / a month) can provide you with the peace of mind that all your important English documents/mails are correct. *This is an affiliate link, so if you buy the book through this link, I will receive a small commission and no extra cost to you. Thanx 4 your support!
Save time & effort.
Why always search your business English phrases when they’re (nearly*) all in one PDF book? The Workplace English Toolkit aka WET. Save your time and energy, grab a copy for just €19.99. All updates are free.
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„It has become my companion in the office. I use it practically every day.“ Thomas P
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*If the phrase you are looking for isn’t in, mail me at dave@teatime-titbits.de and I will do my best to help you.
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And don‘t forget the classics:
I’m afraid, Mr XY is at lunch…. Yes, he is still at lunch….. (and he‘ll never return ;-))
I‘m sorry, we can‘t fix a date at the moment, Mr XY is too busy. What about 2023?
Yep, that sounds about right. The perfect fob off.