Definition
A situation in which two individuals attempting to contact each other by telephone repeatedly do not get a live person and instead trade messages, such as by voice mail.
Origins
phone + tag (children's game)
In Context
- ""What frequently results is a game of phone tag. One party tries to reach another, is unable to, and leaves voice-mail indicating an interest in finding a time to meet. The other party returns the call, more often than not fails to reach the original caller, and leaves voice-mail in response.""
- ""Avoid phone tag, which results when two parties go back and forth trying to reach each other by phone.""
- ""To reduce the time you spend playing phone tag, ask what time the client will be in and call back then.""