Active vocabulary Unit 13. Telephoning
Make sure you know the vocabulary of telephoning. Find the Russian equivalents of the following idiomatic expressions in BOLD TYPE.
to ring someone; to ring someone up; to give someone a ring (all BrE only).
Ring me when you arrive, will you? I’II give you a ring around lunchtime.
to give someone a buzz (informal). I’m sorry, I have to dash now, but give me a buzz later, will you?
to phone someone; to phone someone up; (BrE). to make a call to someone; (BrE and AmE).
I tried to phone you at the office, but you weren’t there.
make a call (to a place), to call someone; call someone up (mainly AmE), to give someone a call;( AmE).
I want to make a call to the States, please. I’ve been trying to call her all day. She just isn't at home.
You make a call from a public telephone or 'coin-box or 'telephone kiosk/box/booth (BrE) or from a pay phone (AmE).
You telephone someone on his/her private line/business line, you make a private/business call.
If you reverse charges/make a reverse 'charge call (BrE) the cost of the call is charged to the person you telephone.
In AmE usage you call collect or make a collect call.
If you make a long distance 'personal call (AmE person-to-person call) with the operator's help, you wish to speak to a specific person only and no other person. There is no charge for the call if the person named is not there.
In the AmE you can make a long distance station-to-'station call, i.e. you will speak to any person who answers the phone.
a 'party line; a 'shared line a telephone line which is shared by two or more people (who have their own telephones).
a hot line a direct line between heads of governments,
In BrE long distance calls are also called 'trunk calls. A trunk call is made by an operator who works at a switchboard, with charges according to distance.
to reverse charges; to make a reversed charge call to charge the cost of the call to the person you telephone.
When you telephone someone you get through, i.e. get a connection.
If it is an operator-assisted call, the operator may say 'you're through' (BrE), i.e. ‘You are connected'. In AmE usage this means you are finished, the time you paid for is up'.
If you do not get "through it may be because the line is engaged (AmE the number is busy), i.e. someone is already speaking on that number.
The operator may put you through (AmE connect you).
You may be cut off, i.e. the line is interrupted and the connection is lost.
The telephone may be out of order, i.e. it is not working because of a technical/mechanical fault. You may have a poor/bad line, i.e. you cannot hear clearly because of interference (crackling, buzzing etc) on the line.
You may have a crossed line, i.e. you can hear other people having a conversation, talking in the background.
The line may go dead, i.e. the connection may be lost.
If you have no time to speak when the telephone rings, you may not take the call.
To take a/the call means to speak to the person who is on the line/phone.
If you cannot speak to the caller immediately the caller must hold the line, hold (AmE) or hold on i.e. wait. The call may be put on hold.
When you end a call you hang up or you ring off (BrE only), i.e. you replace the receiver.
If you have no time to take the call, and wish to call someone again later, you can ring (someone) 'back (BrE only), get 'back to someone (mainly AmE), or phone/call (someone) back.
If you are expecting another important call and wish to keep the line free you have to clear the line or get the caller off the line.
In an organisation with many telephones, the 'switchboard operator will give you the number you wish to speak to.
He will put you 'through to the extension or will connect you with it.
The expression be on the phone has different meanings:
(1) to have a (private) telephone: Are the Jacksons on the phone yet? You can't ring Dorothy became she isn’t on the phone.
(2) There's Mr X on the phone for you, means 'Mr X is waiting on the telephone to speak to you'
(3) to be speaking on the telephone. I'll take a message for her. I’m afraid she's on the phone at the moment.