phone tag

noun

: telephone tag

Examples of phone tag in a Sentence

“Have you talked to your sister about the party yet?” “No, we've been playing phone tag all week.”
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The exes play phone tag before Mindy informs a melancholy Gabriel that Emily is relocating to Rome. — Samantha Stutsman, Peoplemag, 17 Sep. 2024 During an appearance on The Howard Stern Show on Wednesday, Paul Giamatti was asked about playing a bizarre game of phone tag with the Goddess of Pop. — Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 7 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1984, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of phone tag was in 1984

Rhymes for phone tag

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Browse Nearby Words

phonestheme
phone tag
phone tapping
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Phone tag.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phone%20tag. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

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