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Business English vocabulary · Phone and Video Calls

Take a message

Meaning in business english, with examples

phraseCore term

In business english, take a message means: To write down what a caller wants to say to someone who is not available, so that you can pass it on later.

In Turkish: not almak, mesajı not etmek, mesaj almak

How it is used

A standard phrase for receptionists and colleagues: 'She's not at her desk. Can I take a message?' The caller can 'leave a message'. A good message has the caller's name, company, number and reason for calling.

Example sentences

  1. I'm afraid Mr Aksoy is in a meeting. Can I take a message?

  2. Could you take a message and ask him to call me back this afternoon?

Common collocations

  • can I take a message?
  • leave a message
  • pass on a message
  • take a message for someone
  • call backTo phone someone who called you earlier, or to phone someone again later.
  • voicemailA system that records phone messages when the person you call does not answer; also a single recorded message.
  • put throughTo connect a caller to the person or department they want to speak to, usually done by a receptionist or switchboard.
  • hold onTo wait for a short time, especially on the phone while the other person checks something or transfers the call.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Phone and Video Calls

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