Take a message meaning in English
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Definition
to take a message: to write down, to make note of or to pass on a message, a communication, a notice, a memo
May (or "can") I take a message?: Would you like to leave a message? Would you like me to communicate anything to them? Is there anything that you would like me to pass on?
Examples
- "Mr Delavigne is... dead... at the moment. Can I take a message?"
- "He won't be back until Friday. Can I take a message?"
- "He isn't available. May I take a message?"
Exercise 1
Answer the phone! Complete the common telephone phrases using terms from the dialogue.
Use the rude phrases on the left to help you find the polite phrases on the right!
Use the rude phrases on the left to help you find the polite phrases on the right!
| Rude | Polite |
| Yep? | Good morning, this is MegaCorp, Fred Farmer . (1 word) |
| Who the hell are you? | May I ask who is please? (1 word) |
| Wait a minute mate, I'll check. | Please the line, I'll see if he's available (1 word) |
| Liam's is at the pub right now. | I'm sorry, Liam is in a meeting at the (1 word) |
| What's your message, loser? | Can I a message? (1 word) |
| I'll give him the message. Now get lost! | I'll the message. Can I help you with anything else? (1 phrasal verb) |
Answer the phone! Complete the common telephone phrases using terms from the dialogue.
Use the rude phrases on the left to help you find the polite phrases on the right!
Use the rude phrases on the left to help you find the polite phrases on the right!
| Rude | Polite |
| Yep? | Good morning, this is MegaCorp, Fred Farmer [not done] speaking 1. (1 word) |
| Who the hell are you? | May I ask who is [not done] calling 2 please? (1 word) |
| Wait a minute mate, I'll check. | Please [not done] hold 3 the line, I'll see if he's available (1 word) |
| Liam's is at the pub right now. | I'm sorry, Liam is in a meeting at the [not done] moment 4 (1 word) |
| What's your message, loser? | Can I [not done] take 5 a message? (1 word) |
| I'll give him the message. Now get lost! | I'll [not done] pass on 6 the message. Can I help you with anything else? (1 phrasal verb) |
1 speaking: "Speaking" is the right answer here. We often say "(Bruno Delavigne) speaking" when we answer the phone, in order to introduce ourselves to the caller. This is a polite construction that's very useful in a business context!
2 calling: The verb "to call" is a very common synonym of "to phone". Example: "I'm busy right now. Can you CALL me again in half an hour?". In the conversation, Brian asks, "Who's calling please?".
3 hold: "Hold the line" is a common request to a caller to wait, either for the call to be transferred or for the party to come to the phone.
4 moment: "At the moment" means "now" or "currently", and it is the best choice here to express a temporary absence. It is a polite construction. Example: "I'm away on business at the moment but you can contact my assistant"
5 take: "Can I take a message" is the best and most common way to suggest that the caller leave a message for you to pass on when the person they want to speak to becomes available. We can also say "Would you like to leave a message?".
6 pass on: "To pass on (a message)" is to communicate, to transmit, or to give somebody (a message). At the end of the dialogue, Brian says to Mr. Floss, "I'll pass on your message".
Exercise 2
Imagine that Jean has to answer another call.
Complete the dialogue with terms used in the audio. Each word is used once.
regarding | read | speaking | returning | hold | calling | take | back |
Jean: Hello, Jean . How can I help you?.
Mrs Quincy: Hello, this is Marilyn Quincy. I'm to speak to my son, Icarus. I'm his call his dinner plans tonight.
Jean: Please . I'll just check to see if he's available... No, I'm sorry, he's busy with another call at the moment. Can I a message?
Mrs Quincy: Yes. Please note this: "ICARUS QUINCY! The only woman you are allowed to eat dinner with is me!".
Jean: Can I that to you?
Mrs Quincy: No, I'm sure you noted my message correctly. What are your dinner plans for tonight?
Complete the dialogue with terms used in the audio. Each word is used once.
regarding | read | speaking | returning | hold | calling | take | back |
Jean: Hello, Jean . How can I help you?.
Mrs Quincy: Hello, this is Marilyn Quincy. I'm to speak to my son, Icarus. I'm his call his dinner plans tonight.
Jean: Please . I'll just check to see if he's available... No, I'm sorry, he's busy with another call at the moment. Can I a message?
Mrs Quincy: Yes. Please note this: "ICARUS QUINCY! The only woman you are allowed to eat dinner with is me!".
Jean: Can I that to you?
Mrs Quincy: No, I'm sure you noted my message correctly. What are your dinner plans for tonight?
Imagine that Jean has to answer another call.
Complete the dialogue with terms used in the audio. Each word is used once.
regarding | read | speaking | returning | hold | calling | take | back |
Jean: Hello, Jean speaking 1. How can I help you?.
Mrs Quincy: Hello, this is Marilyn Quincy. I'm calling 2 to speak to my son, Icarus. I'm returning 3 his call regarding 4 his dinner plans tonight.
Jean: Please hold 5. I'll just check to see if he's available... No, I'm sorry, he's busy with another call at the moment. Can I take 6 a message?
Mrs Quincy: Yes. Please note this: "ICARUS QUINCY! The only woman you are allowed to eat dinner with is me!".
Jean: Can I read 7 that back 8 to you?
Mrs Quincy: No, I'm sure you noted my message correctly. What are your dinner plans for tonight?
Complete the dialogue with terms used in the audio. Each word is used once.
regarding | read | speaking | returning | hold | calling | take | back |
Jean: Hello, Jean speaking 1. How can I help you?.
Mrs Quincy: Hello, this is Marilyn Quincy. I'm calling 2 to speak to my son, Icarus. I'm returning 3 his call regarding 4 his dinner plans tonight.
Jean: Please hold 5. I'll just check to see if he's available... No, I'm sorry, he's busy with another call at the moment. Can I take 6 a message?
Mrs Quincy: Yes. Please note this: "ICARUS QUINCY! The only woman you are allowed to eat dinner with is me!".
Jean: Can I read 7 that back 8 to you?
Mrs Quincy: No, I'm sure you noted my message correctly. What are your dinner plans for tonight?
1 speaking: This is an appropriate way to answer the telephone in a professional setting. "(Jean Marron) speaking" is a common expression used to identify oneself when using the telephone. A less formal alternative is "(Jean) here".
2 calling: The verb "to call" is a very common synonym of "to phone". Example: "I'm busy right now. Can you CALL me again in half an hour?". In the conversation, Brenda says "I'm calling for Bruno Delavigne".
3 returning: "To return a call" is to telephone somebody after they have telephoned you. In the dialogue, Brenda is returning Bruno's call, which means that Bruno has already attempted to contact Brenda.
4 regarding: "Regarding" is a professional way of saying "about". In the dialogue, Brenda says, "I'm returning (Bruno's) call regarding (a meeting next week)". Note: this is a useful formula to learn to be able to return someone's call and state the reason for needing to speak with them.
5 hold: "Please hold (the line)" is a common request for a caller to wait, either for the call to be transferred or for the party come to the phone.
6 take: "Can I take a message" is the best and most common way to suggest that the caller leave a message for you to pass on when the person they want to speak to becomes available. We can also say "Would you like to leave a message?".
7 read: "Can I read that back to you?" is a nice way to check that you have noted a message correctly.
8 back: In the dialogue, Jean says "Can I read that back to you?" to ask permission to repeat Brenda's message to verify that he noted it correctly.
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