take the call

USAGE SUMMARY

"take the call" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to answering or responding to a phone call. For example, "Please take the call when it comes in."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

But Betancur did not take the call.

The Washington Post

He refused to take the call.

The New York Times

Willumstad and Beattie stepped outside to take the call.

The New Yorker

Sometimes it's better not to take the call.

The New Yorker

My private secretary got up to take the call.

Independent

Do you think you can take the call?

The New Yorker

Sometimes it's enough just to take the call.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The Fine Gael TD turned away to take the call.

The Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

"I didn't take the calls seriously," he said.

The New York Times

They just take the calls as they come in.

The Guardian

Take the calls from social conservatives in Britain to "recognise marriage" in the tax system.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "take the call" when you want to emphasize the action of accepting or answering a phone call, especially when there might be an option not to answer it.

Common error

Avoid using "take the call" interchangeably with phrases like "make a call" or "return a call". "Take the call" refers to receiving and answering a call, while the others refer to initiating a call.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take the call" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of answering or receiving a phone call. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

2%

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "take the call" is a very common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe the act of answering a phone call. Ludwig AI confirms this, providing numerous examples from news, media, and other reliable sources. It's best used when emphasizing the action of accepting or responding to a call. Related phrases include "answer the phone" and "respond to the call". Remember to avoid confusion with similar expressions like "make a call".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

answer the phone

This alternative is a direct synonym, focusing on the physical action of answering.

answer the telephone

A slightly more formal equivalent to "answer the phone".

pick up the phone

Similar to "answer the phone", but with a slightly more casual tone and emphasizes the action of lifting the receiver.

respond to the call

This is a more formal alternative, emphasizing the act of responding rather than just answering.

accept the call

Highlights the willingness to engage in the phone conversation.

receive the call

This alternative focuses on the act of getting the call, implying acceptance.

get on the line

Implies connecting to the call and beginning the conversation.

handle the call

Focuses on managing the call, implying a professional or business context.

attend to the call

A more formal alternative, suggesting giving attention to the caller's needs.

speak on the phone

Focuses more on the act of conversing during the phone call.

FAQs

How do I use "take the call" in a sentence?

You can use "take the call" to indicate answering a phone call, such as "I had to step outside to take the call" or "Are you able to take the call right now?"

What can I say instead of "take the call"?

You can use alternatives like "answer the phone", "respond to the call", or "pick up the phone" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "take the call" or "make the call"?

"Take the call" and "make the call" have different meanings. "Take the call" means to answer a call, while "make the call" means to initiate or place a call. So, the correct phrase depends on the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "take the call" and "get the call"?

"Take the call" implies answering or accepting a phone call. "Get the call" can mean receiving a call, but it often implies receiving information or a message via the call, not just the act of answering.