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Konpota Posted 19 years ago
Business & Finance

Phone calls

I am happy if you could help me on this.

At office I need to answer calls in English for my boss who is an English speaker. What kind of expressions should I use if


a) my boss was in bad mood and he said he doesn't want to answer the call?

b) my boss was out for the restroom?

c) my boss said it's a sells call because he doesn't recognize the caller's name?




As I don't have much vocabulary, I think my answer tend to be very direct and I worry if I am being rude to the caller..




Thanks.
  

Top answer

Hi, At office I need to answer calls in English for my boss who is an English speaker. What kind of expressions should I use if a) my boss was in bad mood and he said he doesn't want to answer the call? b) my boss was out for the restroom?

— Clive

  • Hi, At office I need to answer calls in English for my boss who is an English speaker.
  • What kind of expressions should I use if a) my boss was in bad mood and he said he doesn't want to answer the call?
  • b) my boss was out for the restroom?
  • c) my boss said it's a sells call because he doesn't recognize the caller's name?
  • Just say 'I'm sorry, Mr.
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8 Answers
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Hi,

At office I need to answer calls in English for my boss who is an English speaker. What kind of expressions should I use if




a) my boss was in bad mood and he said he doesn't want to answer the call?

b) my boss was out for the restroom?
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Hello Clive,
Waa, it's that easy? I didn't know that... People usually don't ask the reason why my boss is not available if I answer like that?
Thank you, Clive. I can use that from tomorrow morning!
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Most people probably won't ask why he is not available, but you can also say that he's in a meeting, or on another call, or not in the office at the moment.

The main thing is never to say that he doesn't want to take the call.
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Thank you, Tidus. Yes, all I want to do is to answer the call without saying that. But if possible, I want to finish the call without telling a lie..
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Think of it as an 'acceptable' lie. This happens in every office in the world, it's just part of business life.
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It's not a lie to say "He is unavailable." He has not made himself available to the caller.

Very few people will say "Well, then, where is he? What is he doing?" What they are far more likley to say is "What time do you expect him back?" or "What would be a better time to call?"

That's when you have to say "I'm not really sure, but please let me take your message and I'll be sure
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Thank you, everyone. I knew people use the word “available/unavailable” during telephone conversation. But I just didn’t know that phrase is commonly used and it is polite way to answer. When I heard the phrase for the first time, I had an impression that not making oneself to a call is kind of rude. So I didn't use it on my boss's call. But if I think it over, I use same kind of phrase in my l
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Konpota, if your speaking is even half as good as your writing, you are doing JUST FINE!!
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