Meaning of phone tag | Babel Free

Definitions

A situation in which two individuals attempting to contact each other by telephone repeatedly do not get a live person and instead trade messages, such as by voice mail.

idiomatic, uncountable

Examples

“"What frequently results is a game of phone tag. One party tries to reach⟳ another, is unable to, and leaves voice-mail indicating an interest⟳ in finding a time to meet⟳. The other party returns the call⟳, more often than not fails to reach⟳ the original caller, and leaves voice-mail in response."”

“"Avoid⟳ phone tag, which results when two parties go back and forth trying to reach⟳ each other by phone."”

“"To reduce⟳ the time you spend⟳ playing phone tag, ask⟳ what time the client will be in and call⟳ back then."”

CEFR level