Essential English Telephone Expressions

Vocabulary flashcards covering key practical English telephone expressions for starting calls, stating business, transferring, troubleshooting signal issues, buying time, scheduling, and concluding calls.

May I ask who's calling?

A formal and polite expression used to inquire about the caller's identity.

Tied up

A phrase used as an alternative to 'busy' to indicate that someone is currently occupied.

Am I speaking to Sarah Robinson?

A polite and formal phrase used to confirm if you are talking to a specific person on the phone.

Speaking

A concise phrase used to answer when someone calls and asks to speak directly with you.

Is this a good time?

A formal phrase used to check if the caller has reached the recipient at a convenient moment to talk.

Could you just email me the details?

A polite request asking the caller to send information via email rather than discussing it on the phone.

I'm calling about…

A standard phrase used to state the reason or topic of a phone call (e.g., 'I'm calling about tomorrow's meeting').

May I ask what this is about?

A polite and formal way to ask for the purpose of a phone call.

Let me put you through

An expression used to inform the caller that their call is being connected or transferred to another person.

Could you hold for a second?

A polite, formal request asking the caller to wait briefly on the line.

He's on another call

An explanation that the requested person is currently speaking on another telephone line.

Speakerphone

A phone mode allowing audio to be heard publicly, referenced in the courtesy phrase 'Just so you know, you're on speakerphone.'

You're breaking up

A phrase used when the caller's audio becomes intermittent or unintelligible due to poor signal strength.

I have a bad signal

An expression used to communicate that poor cellular reception is disrupting the phone conversation.

We got disconnected

An expression used when a telephone call drops unexpectedly.

Buffer expressions

Phrases used to buy time during a call to gather thoughts, write information, or check schedules (e.g., 'Just a second', 'I'll look into it').

Let me check my calendar and get back to you

A buffer phrase used when scheduling to buy time before confirming availability.

Does Tuesday work for you?

A practical question used to suggest a specific day when proposing a meeting schedule.

Something came up

A phrase used to explain that an unexpected event occurred when requesting to reschedule an appointment.

I'll let you go

A polite phrase used to wrap up a phone call by showing consideration for the listener's time.

Touch base

An expression meaning to contact or briefly check in with someone (e.g., 'I'll touch base with you next week').

Have a good one

A natural, friendly closing expression used to wish someone a good day at the end of a phone call.