retrieve the phone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "retrieve the phone" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when instructing someone to go and get a phone, typically in a context where the phone is not currently in their possession. Example: "Could you please retrieve the phone from the other room? I need to make a call."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Mr. Keyes later returned to retrieve the phone and tidy up.

The New York Times

Spin doctor Bob Roberts is looking at his watch, begging me to retrieve the phone: they have work to do.

The Guardian

Mr. Guttman, however, said that the offer to retrieve the phone was accompanied by a threat of physical injury.

The New York Times

A 19-year-old woman whose cellphone dropped onto the tracks in a Queens subway station was killed yesterday when she climbed down from the platform to retrieve the phone and was crushed by an oncoming train.

The New York Times

The article said reporters working for the newspaper had contacted a private investigator, a former New York police officer, and offered to pay him to retrieve the phone numbers of 9/11 victims and get details of the calls they had made and received in the days leading up to the attacks.

The New York Times

Or another example could be "d 411 Starbucks 14202" to retrieve the phone number of the closest Starbucks to zip code 14202.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

The man told him that he had retrieved the phone from his dead son's pocket.

The New York Times

Another protester quickly retrieved the phone, ran over and apologized to Ms. Allison and helped her stand.

The New York Times

Panicking, I retrieved the phone by saying, "You don't want to see all of those".

The New York Times

But the dancer was amazed when a dolphin named Cacique "retrieved" the phone and handed it back to her friend.

Independent

Retrieving the phone from Nanni, he photographed himself in front of the Curva Sud, just about managing to squeeze his duck pout into the frame.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When instructing someone to "retrieve the phone", be specific about its location to avoid confusion. For example, "retrieve the phone from the kitchen counter".

Common error

Avoid using "retrieve" in contexts where a simpler word like "get" or "grab" would suffice. Overusing "retrieve" can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or stilted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "retrieve the phone" functions primarily as a directive or request. It instructs someone to go and get the phone. This is supported by Ludwig and the examples provided where it's often used in imperative sentences.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "retrieve the phone" is a grammatically sound phrase used to instruct or request someone to get a phone. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and suitable for written English. While not overly common, it finds usage in various contexts, from news reports to instructional wikis. Although alternatives like "get the phone" exist, the slight formality of "retrieve" lends it a touch of neutrality suitable for diverse situations. Remember to provide specific location details when using the phrase and avoid overuse in informal settings to maintain clarity and naturalness in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

get the phone back

Focuses on the return of the phone to its owner.

recover the phone

Implies regaining possession of the phone, often after it was lost or stolen.

fetch the phone

Suggests a simple act of going to get the phone.

go get the phone

A more informal way of saying to retrieve it.

pick up the phone

Emphasizes the action of physically taking the phone.

grab the phone

Indicates a quick or sudden action of taking the phone.

find the phone

Focuses on locating the phone, which may be a prerequisite to retrieving it.

locate the phone

Emphasis on finding the position of the phone.

reclaim the phone

Suggests the phone was taken or lost and is now being taken back.

reacquire the phone

Focuses on getting it back after losing possession.

FAQs

What does "retrieve the phone" mean?

The phrase "retrieve the phone" means to go and get the phone, typically from a place where it is not immediately accessible.

What can I say instead of "retrieve the phone"?

You can use alternatives like "get the phone", "fetch the phone", or "grab the phone" depending on the context.

How to use "retrieve the phone" in a sentence?

Here's an example: "Could you please retrieve the phone from the living room? I need to make a call."

Is "retrieve the phone" formal or informal?

"Retrieve the phone" is relatively neutral in tone. However, using "get the phone" would be considered more informal, while "recover the phone" might imply that the phone was lost or stolen.