Word-for-word phrase

Tell me (on the phone)

Tell me

Answering a call: 'Yes, go ahead, what is it?'

'Hello, Rohan? Tell me.'

Yes, go ahead

A warm way to invite the caller to speak.

'Hello, Rohan? Yes, go ahead.'

Remember: Translates a friendly Indian-language phone greeting. Warm to Indian ears; elsewhere 'Tell me' can sound abrupt. Say 'Yes, go ahead' or 'How can I help?' at work.

Short lessonPhrases that don't translateSome Indian English phrases are word-for-word translations. Listeners in India get them at once; international listeners may not.

More like this

Where do you stay?Where do you live?Word-for-word phrase Open the light / close the lightSwitch on the light (and 'close the light' = switch it off).Word-for-word phrase Eating my headPestering me again and again; annoying me.Word-for-word phrase