TELEPHONES

ANSWERING THE TELEPHONE

645 Answering the telephone — residential

Hello.

Smith residence.

Hello, Smith residence.

Yo! (informal)

Yeah! (informal)

Yes.

John Jones.

Hello, this is John Jones (speaking).

John Jones, may I help you?

John.

John, may I help you?

646 Answering the telephone — business

City Hall. What department please?

Smith Company.

Smith Company, may I help you?

Smithco, how may I direct your call?

647 Asking whom a telephone caller wants to talk to

Who do you want to talk to?

Who do you want to speak with?

Who do you wish to speak to?

Whom do you wish to speak to?

With whom do you wish to speak? (formal)

648 Screening someone’s telephone calls

May I tell her who’s calling?

May I ask who is calling?

Whom may I say is calling? (formal)

Who shall I say is calling?

Whom shall I say is calling? (formal)

Who’s calling?

Is she expecting your call?

649 Connecting or transferring a telephone caller

Do you wish me to page Mrs. Robins?

I will see if she’s in the building.

Let me page her.

Let me connect you with that department.

650 Putting a telephone caller on hold

He is on another line. Will you hold?

Would you care to hold? (formal)

Would you like to hold?

Just a moment, please.

Please hold.

Hold, please.

Hold the line. (informal)

Can you hold?

651 Interrupting a telephone call with other business

Just a moment, I have another call.

Hang on a moment.

to hang on = to wait

Hang on a sec(ond).

652 Taking a call off hold

For whom are you holding? (formal)

Whom are you holding for? (formal)

Who are you holding for?

Who’s on the line?

Are you being helped?

Have you been helped?

May I help you?

Can I help you?

653 Offering to take a message from a telephone caller

He’s not in; would you like to call back?

She is not available. Can I take a message?

She is away from her desk. Can I take a message?

May I take a message? (formal)

Could I take a message?

Could I have someone call you?

654 Offering to help a telephone caller

Is there anyone else who could help you?

I would be happy to try to answer your question.

Would you care to talk to her secretary?

Could I help you?

655 Bringing a telephone call to an end

I have to get back to work before the boss sees me.

I have to get back to my work. I will call again later.

There’s someone on the other line. I must say good-bye now.

I really have to go now.

I’ll have to take your number and call you back.

Can I call you back? Something has come up.

Can we continue this later? My other line is ringing.

The doorbell is ringing. I’ll call you back.

TELEPHONE SERVICE

656 Requesting a telephone number from directory assistance

I’d like the number for Dr. Pat Smith on Main Street.

I need the number for Dr. Pat Smith on Main Street.

Can you give me the number for Dr. Pat Smith on Main Street?

What is the area code for Los Angeles?

I need the area code for Los Angeles.

657 Requests to a telephone operator

I can’t get through to this number. Would you dial it for me?

Could you help me place a call?

I’d like to make a collect call.

I’d like this billed to my home number.

I’d like to place a person-to-person call.

Can you put me through to Chicago?

Could you dial it for me, please?

658 Making emergency calls

I want to report a fire.

I want to report a robbery in progress.

There is a house on fire at 406 Maple Street.

There’s been an accident and we need an ambulance.

This is an emergency.

I need the police.

Please connect me with the police.

Get me the police and hurry.

659 Making complaints about unwanted telephone calls

I’ve been getting prank calls.

prank = joke

I’ve been getting crank calls.

crank = bothersome; harassing

I’ve been getting harassing calls.

I’ve been getting obscene phone calls.

660 Describing problems with a pay telephone

This telephone may be out of order.

I’m trying to use my calling card, but I’m not getting through.

The phone ate my money. (jocular)

This phone won’t take any more money.

661 Requesting telephone service or installation

I’d like to order service.

I’d like to order a second line.

I’d like to get call waiting.

I’d like to get touch-tone dialing.

I need new phone jacks installed.

I’m moving and I need a new number.

I’d like a private listing.

I’d like an unlisted number.

I need to speak with someone about my bill.

662 Expressions used by a telephone directory assistance operator

What city, please?

City, please?

Name, please?

Hold for the number, please.

Business or residence?

Is this a business or residence?

I’m sorry, you have the wrong area code.

I’m sorry, that’s an unlisted number.

I’m sorry, that number is nonpublished.

I’m sorry, at the customer’s request, that number is not published.

I’m sorry, I don’t have a listing under that name.

I’m not showing a listing.

There is no listing under that spelling.

Are you sure of the spelling?

How is that spelled?

On what street?

Do you have an address?

663 Expressions used by a telephone repair service operator

It sounds like a problem with our lines.

It sounds like a problem in your house wiring.

There is a charge if the problem is with the wiring inside your house.

I can have a repair person come out tomorrow.

Let me connect you with my supervisor.

664 Expressions used by a telephone company sales representative

Would you care for any other services?

Would you be interested in call waiting?

When would you like the phone number changed?

665 Recorded telephone service messages

The number you have dialed, 555-1234, has been changed. The new number is 555-1235. Please make a note of it.

The number you have dialed, 555-1234, has been disconnected.

The number you have dialed, 555-1234, is not in service.

No further information is available on 555-1234.

555-1234 has been temporarily disconnected.

555-1234 is temporarily out of service.

555-1234 is being checked for trouble.

All circuits are busy now.

Please try again later.

That number is busy, please try again later.

When making a call outside of your area code, please dial 1.

The area code of the number you have dialed has been changed to 555.

Your call cannot be completed as dialed. Please check the number and try again.

SHOPPING ON THE TELEPHONE

666 Asking about store hours over the telephone

What time do you open?

When do you open?

When are you open?

What are your hours?

When do you close today?

How late are you open (today)?

Are you open on weekends?

Are you open on Saturday?

Are you open after five?

667 Asking about the location of some place

Where are you located?

What are the (nearest) cross streets?

Where is your store?

What’s your nearest location?

Do you have any locations in the suburbs?

What mall are you in?

How do I get there?

668 Asking how to place a merchandise order over the telephone

Do you have a catalog?

I’d like to place an order.

Can I fax my order in?

Can I fax my order to you?

669 Asking about payment for goods ordered over the telephone

Do you accept credit cards?

Which credit cards do you take?

Do you take credit?

Do you take checks?

Do you accept checks?

TELEPHONE SOLICITATION

670 When you are interrupted by a telephone solicitor

I’m sorry, but I’m not interested.

I don’t have time to talk right now.

I can’t talk right now.

You caught me in the middle of dinner.

How did you get my name?

No, thank you.

We do not accept telephone solicitations.

671 Requesting additional information from a telephone solicitor

Can you send me some information in writing?

Can you send me some literature?

Can you send me a catalog?

Can you send me a brochure?

672 Refusing to do business with a telephone solicitor

I’m sorry, I don’t give out my credit card number over the phone.

I’m sorry, but I don’t place orders over the phone.

I never do business with telephone solicitors.

Please take me off your list!