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Vocabulary practice · Episode 78

Review the useful expressions from the episode

Study the episode’s central expressions with English definitions, nuance and examples, plus reviewed support-language versions where available.

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A short study session

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  1. Choose one expression. Read its definition, nuance and examples.
  2. Make it yours. Write one true sentence from your own life.
  3. Return to the episode. Listen for the expression in its original context.

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Vocabulary from the episode

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Expression 1

Could you repeat that, please?

a polite request to hear something again because you did not hear or understand it the first time

Nuance: Could you repeat that, please? is one of the most essential phrases for phone calls in English — phone audio is often imperfect and the absence of visual cues makes listening harder. Using this phrase confidently signals you are a competent speaker.

If you miss something on the phone, say 'Could you repeat that, please?' — it is natural and polite.

She used 'Could you repeat that, please?' three times on her first English phone call — and that was perfectly fine.

Expression 2

to hold the line

to wait on the telephone without hanging up, usually while someone goes to find information or transfer you

Nuance: Hold the line is essential phone English — you will hear it constantly from call centres, doctor's surgeries, and banks. The phrase comes from military communication (keep the connection open). Knowing how to respond confidently ('Of course', 'Certainly') is just as important as understanding it.

Could you hold the line for a moment while I check our records? — You will hear this on almost every English phone call.

She learned to say 'Of course, I'll hold' without panic — and it changed every phone call she made in English.

Expression 3

to put someone through

to connect a caller to another person or extension — by transferring the call

Nuance: Put someone through is the telephone transfer phrase. When you call a company and are transferred, the phrase used is 'I'll put you through to...' or 'Let me put you through to the right department'. The equivalent response when waiting is 'I'm being put through'. This is a core telephone English phrase — knowing it signals professional telephone competence.

When asked 'I'll put you through' — say 'Thank you' and wait; the silence is normal.

She was told the receptionist would put her through to customer services and was connected within thirty seconds.

Expression 4

to leave a message

to record or communicate information for someone who is unavailable — so they can receive it when they return

Nuance: Leave a message is the voicemail and receptionist phrase. When someone is unavailable on the phone, you are typically asked 'Would you like to leave a message?' The response involves giving your name, number, and reason for calling, clearly and at a moderate pace. For English learners, leaving a clear, well-structured voicemail is a practical skill that requires specific formulaic language.

When leaving a message, state your name, number, and purpose clearly — and speak slower than you think you need to.

She left a message with the receptionist and received a call back within the hour.

Expression 5

to be on hold

to be waiting on a telephone line while the other party deals with something — typically with music or a recorded message playing

Nuance: On hold is the telephone waiting state. Being put on hold is one of the most common telephone experiences and one of the most frustrating. Key phrases: 'You are being placed on hold', 'We will be with you shortly', 'Your call is important to us'. For English learners, the challenge of being on hold is that when the line finally connects, you must be ready to speak clearly and quickly.

Stay focused while on hold — the connection can happen suddenly and you need to be ready.

She was put on hold for twenty minutes and used the time to prepare exactly what she needed to say.

Expression 6

to get cut off

to be suddenly disconnected during a telephone call

Nuance: Get cut off is the call disconnection phrase. In telephone English, being cut off means the call ended unexpectedly — not that the other person hung up deliberately. It is useful to distinguish: 'We got cut off' (technical disconnection) versus 'They hung up on me' (deliberate ending). If you get cut off mid-conversation, standard practice is for the person who placed the original call to call back.

If you get cut off, call back immediately — it signals competence and commitment.

She got cut off in the middle of explaining the problem and had to call back and start again.

Expression 7

to speak up

to talk more loudly or clearly — often because the other person cannot hear well

Nuance: Speak up is the volume request phrase. On the telephone, background noise, poor connections, and differences in accent can all reduce intelligibility. 'Could you speak up?' is a polite, professional way to ask someone to be louder. For English learners, it is important to know both how to make this request ('Could you speak up a little?') and how to respond to it without becoming flustered.

If you cannot hear, say 'Could you speak up a little? I'm having trouble hearing you' — it is polite and professional.

She asked the caller to speak up because the background noise on their end made it impossible to hear.

Expression 8

to call back

to return a telephone call — either because you missed the original call or because you were asked to call again later

Nuance: Call back is the return call phrase. It is used in two directions: 'I'll call you back' (the person you are speaking to will call you again later) and 'Could you call back tomorrow?' (you are asking the caller to try again). Knowing the difference between 'call back' and 'call again' is a small but important telephone competence detail.

If someone says 'I'll call you back' without a time — it is polite to ask 'When can I expect your call?'

She was unable to speak at that moment and asked the caller to call back in twenty minutes.

Expression 9

to spell something out

to say each letter of a word individually — so that the listener can write it down correctly

Nuance: Spell something out (telephone sense) — on the telephone, names and addresses must often be spelled out letter by letter. The NATO phonetic alphabet (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie...) is often used for professional clarity. Standard English telephone spelling uses everyday words ('S for Sierra, or S for sugar'). Being able to spell your name confidently on the phone is a basic but important telephone competence for language learners.

When giving your name on the phone, offer to spell it out before being asked — it prevents errors.

She spelled her surname out letter by letter and used simple words to make each letter clear.

Expression 10

to wrap up a call

to bring a telephone conversation to a conclusion — signalling that you are about to end the call

Nuance: Wrap up a call is the telephone closure phrase. Ending a phone call gracefully in English requires specific phrases: 'Well, I think that covers everything', 'Is there anything else I can help you with?', 'Thanks for calling, I'll let you go'. These phrases signal closure without abruptness. Many non-native speakers end calls too abruptly or struggle to find the exit — knowing these phrases makes the ending as smooth as the beginning.

Wrap up a call with a clear summary of what was agreed — it prevents misunderstandings and sounds professional.

She wrapped up the call by confirming the next steps and thanking the client for their time.

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