Line is busy meaning in English
Learn how to use Line is busy correctly with Gymglish.
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Definition
the line is busy: the telephone number is occupied, engaged
I couldn't get through to you because your line was busy all day. Every time I called, it seemed you were speaking to someone else.
Examples
- "I tried to call your office, but the line's been busy all day."
Exercise 1
Complete the sentences with the appropriate telephone terms.
You have received a call which is for somebody else and not for you: "Sorry, you've got the number. There's no-one here by that name."
The phone line or the signal is not clear or good quality: "Can you speak up please? We've got a line."
You can't connect, the number you called is occupied or engaged: "The line is , she must be on the phone at the moment."
You have received a call which is for somebody else and not for you: "Sorry, you've got the number. There's no-one here by that name."
The phone line or the signal is not clear or good quality: "Can you speak up please? We've got a line."
You can't connect, the number you called is occupied or engaged: "The line is , she must be on the phone at the moment."
Complete the sentences with the appropriate telephone terms.
You have received a call which is for somebody else and not for you: "Sorry, you've got the wrong 1 number. There's no-one here by that name."
The phone line or the signal is not clear or good quality: "Can you speak up please? We've got a bad 2 line."
You can't connect, the number you called is occupied or engaged: "The line is busy 3, she must be on the phone at the moment."
You have received a call which is for somebody else and not for you: "Sorry, you've got the wrong 1 number. There's no-one here by that name."
The phone line or the signal is not clear or good quality: "Can you speak up please? We've got a bad 2 line."
You can't connect, the number you called is occupied or engaged: "The line is busy 3, she must be on the phone at the moment."
1 wrong: This is the correct answer. To "have (or dial) the wrong number" is to make a mistake with the phone number that you wanted. In the dialogue, Philip receives a phone call and says to the caller "Sorry, you've got the wrong number" when he realises that the caller didn't want to speak to him.
1 bad: This is incorrect. Don't confuse "wrong" with "bad"! Bad usually means "evil", "poor quality" or "incompetent" but not "incorrect".
1 busy: This is incorrect. "Busy" shares a similar meaning with "engaged" or "occupied".
2 bad: This is the correct answer. A "bad line" is a phone call of poor quality, when you cannot hear someone properly at the other end of the line. In this context, "bad" shares a similar meaning with defective, "not working properly" or poor quality. Example: The TV has a really bad reception.
2 busy: This is incorrect. "Busy" shares a similar meaning with "engaged" or "occupied".
2 wrong: This is incorrect. Don't confuse "wrong" with "bad". "Wrong" means "incorrect" or "not wanted" but not "of poor quality".
3 busy: This is the correct answer. When a telephone line is "busy" or "engaged" it is already occupied , i.e. it is being used by someone else. Example: I'm afraid the line is busy, would you like to leave a message or call back another time?
3 wrong: This is incorrect. "Wrong" is not the best term to use here.
3 bad: This is incorrect. "Bad" is not the best term to use here.
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