Questions tagged [telephone]

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26 votes
12 answers
4k views

Verb for "dial a number then immediately hang up" [duplicate]

I don't know about English-speaking countries, but where I'm from there's this act whereby you dial a number then immediately hang up, for the sole purpose of letting whoever you're trying to reach ...
Vun-Hugh Vaw's user avatar
  • 5,391
0 votes
1 answer
3k views

When you call someone, do you say "Is this Mr Smith?" or "Is that Mr Smith?" when that person picks up? [duplicate]

I feel it should be this since am talking to the very same person, but for some reason I see some people saying “Is that XYZ?” What are your thoughts about this bit of phone etiquette?
Jack's user avatar
  • 1
22 votes
10 answers
7k views

If a picture of a screen is a screenshot, what is a video of a screen?

I'm looking for a catchy and nice-sounding word. A really nice sounding phrase would although be better than nothing. I record my computer screen a lot and never really found a nice word to describe ...
Chagai Friedlander's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
140 views

How to ask to repeat a phrase?

If voice during phone conversation become gibberish, how to ask a person to repeat last words? I'm living in Cyprus and all local people when speak English just use 'tell me' for this. It this a ...
George Shuklin's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
57 views

vocabulary related to phone put down or something else

What's the word in English when in a phone conversation, one party suddenly put down the reception without saying goodbye or completing the conversation, just because of a tense conversation? Thank ...
user334036's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
319 views

How would i ask for application process completed succesfully [closed]

We applied to International Revenue Service for obtaining ein for our new established USA based company, filled out and thereafter sent SS-4 form through fax and I need to check out on the phone ...
Burak dalkılıç's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
114 views

Word for the action or result of expressing a telephone number as letters/words

You can use the letters on a standard telephone keypad to encode/decode a number to/from letters, eg 439225563 -> HEY CALL ME Is there a name from either the result "HEY CALL ME" or the action of ...
Bohemian's user avatar
  • 1,576
1 vote
1 answer
172 views

Should I say "These are ...." when I answer a video call with company? [closed]

We usually answer a phone saying "This is ... " to introduce who is answering. But if I have company and want to introduce me and my company, can I say "These are ..." instead of "This is ..." ? Or ...
Mr.Kim's user avatar
  • 19
9 votes
10 answers
6k views

Phrase meaning exceptionally busy phone lines

I'm a professional translator looking for an English equivalent of a phrase that literally means 'the phones were hot' (–which doesn't really cut it in English!) I would actually associate a 'hot line'...
The Advocate's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
859 views

help translating automated call for registration [closed]

I would like to register to Amazon web services and the during the verification's phone call I need to type 4 digit on my phone. But the registration always fails, the truth is that i dont understand ...
Csaba Prog's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
2k views

How was "tin can phone"/"string phone" called before telephone invented?

Or was anything carrying sound to remote already called phone before telephone?
akky's user avatar
  • 180
21 votes
8 answers
1.8m views

How should I tell someone "I called you but you didn't answer"? without being rude or confrontational? [closed]

We try to reach people on their phones but sometimes they don't answer. Later while addressing them an email or while speaking to them if we want to inform them about the call then what is the best ...
Lalit's user avatar
  • 337
3 votes
4 answers
976 views

A word or phrase for phone service working only one-way

I have a monthly phone subscription, and I need to recharge it. Since I have not yet paid for it, the service is only working one-way. Meaning that I can only receive calls, but I cannot make any ...
joker13's user avatar
  • 333
1 vote
4 answers
2k views

Opening-conversation for requesting a service over the phone

As a non English speaker with a non English name, I find myself opening quite a long question before I even get a confirmation about the fact that, the person in the other side can even help me in ...
Mehrad's user avatar
  • 153
0 votes
2 answers
85k views

How to ask politely for the caller's name on a phone call [closed]

In case I've received a call and I don't know the caller I want to politely ask the name of the caller. What should I say in this situation?
Mohammad Chamanpara's user avatar
-1 votes
2 answers
781 views

What one should reply to - "Can I talk to Jeremy?"

Situation I receive a call caller asked me;" Can I talk to Jeremy?" What is correct reply and What should I respond to this situation with. he has gone for lunch. he went for lunch. he is ...
user134145's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
2k views

"Who wants to know" on a phone conversation

Caller: "Hello. Is Jane at home?" Answerer: "Who wants to know?" I think I heard this kind of conversation on a TV show once. Probably it was a comedy show. I guess what the ...
Damn Vegetables's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
7k views

Answering a phone call with "Yes, XX, tell me" [closed]

I have heard a lot of people pick their phone and go "Yes, XX, tell me" (highly used in India). I think the right way should be "Hey, XX, what's up?" or "Hey, XX, what's going on"? But does this work ...
Codename's user avatar
  • 296
2 votes
2 answers
55k views

What do you say when you talk over phone but you can't quite hear what other person says? [closed]

I bought my first phone in my life and I now sometimes get calls from friends and co workers. Sometimes the signal of phone doesn't work well and I can't hear them. What do I say when there is ...
bodacydo's user avatar
  • 1,099
0 votes
1 answer
4k views

"She is speaking" vs. "I am speaking"

Tom: "Hi this is Tom, May I speak with Linda please?" Linda: "Yes, she is speaking" Can Linda say "yes, she is speaking" or does she have to say "yes, I am speaking"?
Kib's user avatar
  • 1
1 vote
3 answers
40k views

"On the other end / side" of the phone line

What's the proper way to reference somebody who're you talking with by a peer-to-peer phone line, usually if you don't know who's there exactly? Russian language, for example, has the idiom (они) на ...
GreyCat's user avatar
  • 387
3 votes
3 answers
17k views

The most natural way of asking for telephone call redirection [closed]

What is the most natural way to ask a hotel receptionist or a secretary to transfer your call to a hotel room or an office? Could you please connect me with room number 321? Could you please transfer ...
ezpresso's user avatar
  • 1,515
8 votes
1 answer
5k views

Why in a phone call we use "this is" instead of "I am"?

Why is the right form Hello, this is yzT from english.stackechange.com. instead of Hello, I’m yzT from english.stackexchange.com. I guess non-natives tend to use the latter due to literal ...
user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
1k views

What do you call words that are typed the same way on a phone keypad?

Words that are pronounced the same are homophones. Words that are spelled the same are homonyms. What do you call words that are typed the same way on a telephone keypad? (you have to watch out for ...
Hugh Allen's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
198 views

How to reply on telephone conversation [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: How to answer to 'Is this John?' on phone? When I get a call from some sales agents/shops and they ask, 'Am I speaking with Akpa?' should I just say 'Yes,' or 'yes, ...
akpa's user avatar
  • 31
-1 votes
4 answers
10k views

Telephone Conversation [closed]

When you call an acquaintance and she is struggling to recognize you what do native speakers say to make sure that she recognized him? Person A: Hey, this is Joseph from the math class. Person B: hmm[...
Noah's user avatar
  • 13.5k
7 votes
8 answers
80k views

How to answer “Is this John?” on phone [closed]

What is the most appropriate answer (American way)? Yes, John speaking. Yes, it is him. Yes, it is he. Yes. Yes, speaking. I need to answer calls when interviewers/hiring managers call.
Nemo's user avatar
  • 189
54 votes
6 answers
745k views

"Call me through/at/on this number"

What is the difference between the following when referring to telephone calls? Please call me on this number. You can reach me on this number. Please call me at this number. You can reach me at ...
user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
17k views

Is "This is from xxx" correct usage?

I placed a phone call and introduced myself this way: "Hi, This is from " and a coworker pointed out that the sentence is grammatically wrong. While I understand that it sounds a bit weird, I'm ...
user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
691 views

Is “checking my résumé” ok?

Is the following sentence correct (when I call a company’s HR department)? Could you please call me back after checking my résumé?
Rauf's user avatar
  • 1,025
24 votes
6 answers
146k views

Cell phone? Cell? Mobile phone? What's the "correct" term?

What's that type of phone called that you don't need a cable for and you can use everywhere in the world (provided there's coverage ;-))? And what differences are there between the regions? USA/UK/...
Jürgen A. Erhard's user avatar
4 votes
4 answers
60k views

"To call" vs. "to ring"

What is the difference between the verbs "call" and "ring" in the meaning of telephoning? For example: I will ring you back shortly. I will call you back shortly.
rem's user avatar
  • 10.2k
5 votes
2 answers
2k views

How should one answer a business phone?

I am still a bit confused how to receive an external phone call at work. Browsing the internet I find: * Hello? (informal) * Thank you for calling Boyz Autobody. Jody speaking. How can I help you? * ...
Alex's user avatar
  • 407