Kooyeen  +  349243 Tue, 10 Apr 07 06:06 PM Hi, could you take a look at these? I was on the phone to/with Bin Laden. Can I leave a message to/for Mr. Bin Laden? Moooom! Could you come to/on/... the phone? It's Bin Laden... What are the possible choices and what are the usual one? Thanks Kooyeen Joined on Thu, Dec 22 2005 Italy Senior Member 4,969 Parental Advisory / Explicit Posts

	nona the brit  +  349247 Tue, 10 Apr 07 06:16 PM I was on the phone to/with (both ok. To would mean that you phoned him, not that he had phoned you. With could mean either way round). Can I leave a message for Could you come to the phone nona the brit Joined on Wed, Sep 22 2004 England Veteran Member 11,713 The name says it all.

	Kooyeen  +  349260 Tue, 10 Apr 07 06:45 PM Thank you Nona. Yeah, that sounds good, even though you are British. (kidding ) Kooyeen

	CalifJim  +  349373 Wed, 11 Apr 07 01:52 AM I'd use on the phone with leave a message for come to the phone on the phone to sounds weird to me -- is it a common turn of phrase in BrE? Is is formed by analogy with on the way to? CJ CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,399 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche Analogies

	nona the brit  +  349478 Wed, 11 Apr 07 10:13 AM I think 'to' is more common here than 'with'. It's similar to 'I'm talking to Fred' instead of 'I'm talking with Fred'. nona the brit

	CalifJim  +  349733 Wed, 11 Apr 07 10:35 PM OK.  Got it.  I think I had got hold of the wrong end of the stick there. CJ CalifJim