Episode 135: A mobile mystery

Episode 135: A mobile mystery
Alice:	So how was it?
Khalid:	I can't quite believe I'm saying this but it actually wasn't that bad!
Alice:	Really? That dentist must have been something special. Oh, sorry Khalid, excuse me. Oh it's Paul. Hello darling. Haven't heard from you in ages. What have you been up to?
Woman:	Who am I speaking to?
Alice:	I beg your pardon? Who am I? Who are you, more like it?
Woman:	No, I asked you first.
Alice:	No, you phoned me. So you must know who I am but I don't know who you are. You're calling from Dr Paul Laver's phone. Have you stolen it?
Woman:	If there's any stealing going on, it's you who's doing it.
Alice:	What are you talking about?
Woman:	Home wrecker, husband stealer!
Alice:	Mrs Laver? Lucy?

 

 

language points:

 

 

 

Telephone language

Beginning phone conversations

A: Hello, can I speak to Amanda please?
B: Speaking (= This is Amanda speaking here).

A: Hi, is Andy there?
B: Hang on and I'll get him for you.

A: Good morning, can you put me through to your sales team please?
B: Certainly. Just hold the line please. / I'll just put you on hold for a moment.

A: Is that John?
B: Who's calling please?
A: It's Fiona.

A: Hello Grace here. How can I help you?

When someone is not available

A: Hello, can I speak to Gina?
B: I'm sorry she's not in. Can I take a message?
A: Yes please. Can you tell her that I'll meet her at 7.30 not 8 at the cinema?

A: Can I speak to Andy please?
A: I'm sorry he's not at his desk. Would you like to leave a message?
B: No that's OK, bye then.

Talking to a receptionist or operator

A: Can you put me through to Mark's office?
B: I'm sorry the line's busy. Do you want to hold?
A: No, I'll try again later.

A: Can I have extension 397 please?
B: I'll put you. It's ringing for you now.

Ending a call

A: I'm sorry he's now here right now.
B: OK, I'll call back later. Bye
A: Bye

A: Well thanks for that. Bye then.
B: Bye

Phone verbs

ring / phone / call
Will you ring me tomorrow?
Did anyone phone while I was out?
She called you last night.

make a call
Do you mind if I use your phone to make a call please?

call back
phone someone after they have phoned you
A: I'm sorry, he's not here just now.
B: OK. I'll call back later.

hang up
end a phone call
And then she didn't even say 'goodbye', she just hung up.

hang on
wait on the phone for a short time
A: Martin's busy right now. Do you want to hang on or call back later?
B: I'll wait, thanks.

Vocabulary

a mystery
something that's not clear

home wrecker
someone who has an affair (with a person who is married) and who breaks up a marriage because of it (makes the married person leave his/her partner)

husband stealer
someone who has an affair with a married man and makes him leave his wife