English : Excuse Me
Can I say Excuse me to mean Please wait, When I get a telephone call and the person wants to speak to my mother or father?
By Mrs. Teresa, London, UK – 22nd May 2007.
There are several expressions that one could use when asking the person at the other end of the telephone to wait.
Some of them are:
• Please hold on
• Could you please hold on?
• Hold on, please
• Hang on a minute
• Just a minute
• He/she will be with you in a minute.
You do not say, Excuse me to the caller.
You could however use the expression with the person being called - in this case, your father or mother. You could say Excuse me, father. There's a call for you. You are using the expression excuse me to draw the attention of your parent.
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