Taking a Phone Message

Is (a person's name) there?

- a way to ask if someone is free or available, usually on the phone * I asked, "Is Helene there?" and her mom replied, "No, she went to the store."

Do you know when (someone) will be back?

- a way to ask when someone will be returning * Five minutes after Jack got on the plane, Sasha turned to me and asked, "Do you know when he'll be back?"

tell you what

- a way to suggest or offer an answer to a problem * I was thinking that the sweater cost too much when the salesperson said, "I'll tell you what. I'll give you an extra 20 percent off the price."

to give it out

- to let other people have something or to know some information that you have * He knew the answer to the hardest question on the test and didn't want to give it out to the rest of the class.

to have had enough

- to lose patience; to no longer be willing to tolerate something * She had had enough of his careless spending of their family savings.

to hang up

- to put down the telephone's receiver to end a conversation * She told her boyfriend that she had to hang up when she saw her boss come in to the store.

to take the phone off the hook

- to remove the part of the phone that you talk and listen with (the receiver), from the main part of the phone so that no one will be able to call * He didn't feel like talking to anyone that night so he took the phone off the hook.

answering service

a company that answers calls and takes messages for people * She decided to use an answering service so that she wouldn't miss any important calls while traveling on business.

Why don't (someone)...

a phrase used to give a suggestion or a solution to a problem * Her car wouldn't start so I said, "Why don't we take my car instead?"

Could I speak to...?

a way to ask if someone is free or available to talk, usually used on the phone * I called the store and asked if I could speak to the manager, but they told me that he just left the building for lunch.

Is this (a person's name)?

a way to ask if someone you're talking to is the person you believe they are; a way to ask for the person you want to speak to on the phone * Janis wasn't sure if he called the right number so he asked, "Is this Bob?"

Can I take a message?

an offer to pass on information from one person to another * Julia wasn't home and her sister asked me, "Can I take a message?"

receiver

the part of the phone that you put your ear and mouth against to listen and talk to the other person * She picked up the receiver but there was no one on the other end

to leave a message

to leave information for someone * The battery on Jean-Paul's phone ran out before he got a chance to leave a message for Kevin.

to get a hold of

to reach; to make contact with * I'm trying to get a hold of Mimi before she goes on vacation Friday, but she's been in and out of meetings all week.

I'd better...

what someone says when they feel responsible for doing something or think that taking an action is the right thing to do * I'd better clean the house tonight since people are coming over for the party tomorrow.

ask him to call me back

what you say when you want someone to call you back, instead of you calling them again * Please ask Monica to call me back, since I have no idea when she'll get home from her trip.