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 Veteran Member 5,200 I'm on your internets, degrading your language with my ignorance and apathy

	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 11,773 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 24,235 "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