Phone tag Meaning in English
expression
ˈfoʊn/ /ˈtæɡ
FOHN-tag
fˈəʊn/ /tˈæɡ
FOHN-tag
Definición
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.
Uso & Matices
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 teléfonoPortuguese (BR): telefone sem fim - jogo do telefone (figurado)Portuguese (PT): jogo do telefone (figurado) - desencontro telefónicoChinese (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 করাRussian: телефонные догонялкиJapanese: 電話の追いかけっこVietnamese: trò đuổi bắt qua điện thoạiKorean: 전화 태그Turkish: telefon tagı - telefonda yakalamacaUrdu: فون ٹیگ - بار بار فون کرنا اور کال نہ مل پاناIndonesian: main telepon-teleponan - kejar-kejaran telepon
Oraciones de Ejemplo
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