# phone tag

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/phone-tag
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A situation in which two individuals attempting to contact each other by telephone repeatedly do not get a live person and instead trade messages, such as by voice mail.

## Examples

- We keep playing phone tag all morning.
- You and your sister always play phone tag on the weekends.
- Stop playing phone tag and just send a text message instead.
- I have been playing phone tag with the doctor's office all day, leaving messages but never catching them in the office.
- My landlord and I played phone tag for a week before we finally discussed the broken heater.
- The recruiter left another message, so now we are back to playing phone tag regarding the job.
- The plumber and I are stuck in a cycle of phone tag, as he calls back while I am in meetings and I return his calls during his lunch break.
- After days of frustrating phone tag, the two lawyers finally connected to discuss the settlement terms before the court deadline.

## Origin

A compound of phone and tag, the latter referring to the children’s game. The term appeared in the late 20th century to describe the state of two parties repeatedly missing one another’s telephonic calls.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.