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Know Your English (Feb2001)

Know your English

When I get a telephone call and the person wants to speak to my mother or father, can I say ``Excuse me'' to mean ``Please wait''?


There are several expressions that one could use when asking the person at the other end of the telephone to wait. Some of these 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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``If feminists are `women' trying to be men, I suppose `men' trying to be women are `hominists'.'' - R. Brooke

Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, February 06, 2001
Posted by Sridevi. V, M.A

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