Ending a Telephone Call

Finally, let's look at some expressions which we can use when we want to end a telephone call.

Bringing a Telephone Conversation to an End (Informal)

Hey, I gotta go.  Talk to you later.

I have to get back to work now.  Will talk again later.

I have to pick up my kids now.  Bye.

Hey, I gotta run.  Nice talking to you. 

Hey, I really have to go now.  Bye.

Listen, there's someone at the door.  I'll call you back later.

There's someone on the other line.  I must say good-bye now.

Bringing a Telephone Conversation to an End (More formal)

It's been a pleasure talking to you.  Bye now.

Thank you for calling.  Good-bye.

Can we continue this later?  I have a call on another line.

Could we continue this later?  I have a meeting right now.

Excuse me, can I call you back?  Something urgent has come up.

Excuse me, I'm in the middle of something.  Can I call you back?

Examples:

Dialog 1: (between 2 friends)

Jim:  ... so in the end I spent the weekend watching TV at home.

Joe:  That's too bad!  Hey, listen, I have to get back to work now.  Talk to you later.

Jim:  OK.  Nice talking to you.  Bye now.

Joe:  Bye.

Dialog 2: (between 2 business associates)

Tom:  Tom Jones speaking. 

Liz:    Hi, Tom.  This is Liz.  I need to talk to you about the report you sent me last week.

Tom:  Uh.. Liz.  I'm sorry but I'm in the middle of something.  Can I call you back this afternoon?

Liz:   Sure.  No problem.  Talk to you this afternoon then.  Bye.

Tom:  Bye.

 Dialog 3:  (Tom and Liz are now talking about the report)

Tom:  ... I think we need to look at the calculations again.

Liz:   Right.  Tom, can we continue this later?  I have to go to a meeting in 5 minutes.

Tom: Sure.  How about giving me a call tomorrow morning?  We can then go over the rest of the report.

Liz:  OK.  I'll talk to you again tomorrow morning.  Thanks Tom.  Bye now.

Tom: Bye.