Phone tag Meaning in English

expression

US

ˈfoʊn/ /ˈtæɡ

FOHN-tag

UK

fˈəʊn/ /tˈæɡ

FOHN-tag

التعريف

A situation where two people keep calling each other back and forth but never manage to talk directly because they miss each other's calls.

الاستخدام والفروق الدقيقة

Informal, used mainly in North American English. Commonly used in work or daily life when trying to connect with someone and only leaving voicemails or missing calls. Not about playing an actual game; it's a metaphorical use. Often heard in 'We've been playing phone tag.'

• Spanish: juego del teléfono (figurado) - idas y venidas por teléfono
• Portuguese (BR): telefone sem fim - jogo do telefone (figurado)
• Portuguese (PT): jogo do telefone (figurado) - desencontro telefónico
• Chinese (Simplified): 电话接力（打电话来回）
• Chinese (Traditional): 電話接力（打電話來回）
• Hindi: फोन टैग (आगे-पीछे कॉल करना)
• Arabic: لعبة الهاتف (التواصل غير المتزامن عبر الهاتف)
• Bengali: ফোন ট্যাগ - একে অপরের কল মিস করা
• Russian: телефонные догонялки
• Japanese: 電話の追いかけっこ
• Vietnamese: trò đuổi bắt qua điện thoại
• Korean: 전화 태그
• Turkish: telefon tagı - telefonda yakalamaca
• Urdu: فون ٹیگ - بار بار فون کرنا اور کال نہ مل پانا
• Indonesian: main telepon-teleponan - kejar-kejaran telepon

جمل نموذجية

We have been playing phone tag all week.

basic

I left a message after our phone tag continued.

basic

Are we still playing phone tag?

basic

Sorry I missed you again. This phone tag is never-ending!

natural

Let’s stop the phone tag and just meet for coffee.

natural

We keep playing phone tag, so just text me when you’re free.

natural