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What is the actual meaning and purpose of saying "I'm in a call"

Ex: if a person pinged me when am talking with someone over phone at the same time then what would be the simple and correct way to say that "am talking with someone over phone.."

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I'd have thought 'on a call' rather than 'in a call' was more usual. – Barrie England Jun 26 '12 at 7:06
Perhaps: "On a call" in England, "in a call" in the US? – GEdgar Jun 26 '12 at 19:12
@BarrieEngland I agree; being “in” a call just doesn’t sound right to me. – tchrist Feb 20 at 1:33

3 Answers

up vote 3 down vote accepted

Idiomatically in British English:

I'm on the phone.

Other possibilites:

I'm in the middle of a call

I'm on another line

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It’s the same in North America. – tchrist Feb 20 at 1:34
up vote 0 down vote

I am on a call would be a better option

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up vote 2 down vote

In a US office environment, "I'm in a call" would be short for "I'm in a conference call." A conference call is set up as a location or meeting place, hence people say they are "in a call," rather than "on a call."

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