Phone Tag

What Does "Phone Tag" Mean?

"Phone tag" is an English idiom. It means "a situation in which two or more people repeatedly try to reach each other by phone but keep missing each other's calls, resulting in a back-and-forth exchange of voicemails or messages."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "phone tag" used in a sentence:

• We've been playing phone tag for days, trying to schedule a meeting.
• Phone tag can be frustrating, especially when important decisions need to be made.
• After several rounds of phone tag, they finally connected and discussed the project.

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Phone Tag" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

A Quick Test

You now know what "phone tag" means, but are you good at English idioms? Let's see! Show Instructions