# How should I answer my cell phone? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 16, 2001, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-answer-my-cell-phone/76490 "2001-08-16T02:15:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Just\_A\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@Just\_A\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_A_Girl)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2001, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-answer-my-cell-phone/76490/41 "2001-08-17T00:52:33Z")
I had fun with this when I first got my own line a few years back… “County Morgue, you stab 'em, we slab 'em, how may I help you?” “Horses R Us…and what would you like to mount today?” And a simple “sup” always throws people off I think. Just in case you’re of the goofy nature that I am. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47774/32.png) [@Ell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ell)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2001, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-answer-my-cell-phone/76490/42 "2001-08-17T01:26:41Z")
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**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2001, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-answer-my-cell-phone/76490/43 "2001-08-17T02:10:06Z")
“Eeeyello” is always annoying. ---
**Author:** ![mrblue92](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@mrblue92](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrblue92)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2001, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-answer-my-cell-phone/76490/44 "2001-08-17T04:29:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ell \* > \*\*[Seinfeld’s belly button voice]: “Heeeeeeeelllllloooooo!” \*\* Oh! The “Greatest American Hero” song! “Believe it or not, George isn’t at home, Just leave a message at the beep. I must be out, or I’d pick up the phone. Where could I be? Believe it or not, I’m not home!” ---
**Author:** ![evilhanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba8739/32.png) [@evilhanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhanz)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2001, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-answer-my-cell-phone/76490/45 "2001-08-17T04:46:16Z")
I always answer my cell phone with a confident **Yes?**. It let’s them know right away that I’m ready to get down to business, so it had better be important. It also sounds like I was expecting their call. ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2001, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-answer-my-cell-phone/76490/46 "2001-08-17T05:47:53Z")
Depending on what kind of mood I am in it’s usually: “Hi this is Liz” or “This is Liz” Short and to the point…besides you have to pay for those cell phone minutes. You could do a full fledged opera on your home phone but on your cell phone (depending on your airtime) short and sweet is the best to go. ---
**Author:** ![Rock-n-Rolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/22d042/32.png) [@Rock-n-Rolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rock-n-Rolga)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2001, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-answer-my-cell-phone/76490/47 "2001-08-17T06:13:40Z")
In rapidfire California twang voice: “Fuckin’ Lars Ulrich - _ **GO!** _” ---
**Author:** ![Darqangelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecccb3/32.png) [@Darqangelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darqangelle)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2001, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-answer-my-cell-phone/76490/48 "2001-08-17T11:52:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rock-n-Rolga \* > \*\*In rapidfire California twang voice: > “Fuckin’ Lars Ulrich - _ **GO!** _” \*\* _Laughing… A LOT!_ ---
**Author:** ![bafaa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@bafaa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bafaa)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2001, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-answer-my-cell-phone/76490/49 "2001-08-17T16:11:32Z")
Joe’s taxidermy. You snuff em, we stuff em. How may I help you? ---
**Author:** ![Feynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@Feynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feynn)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2001, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-answer-my-cell-phone/76490/50 "2001-08-17T16:51:49Z")
I often answer with a “Whattayawant?” since I was told “What?” was rude. Sometimes I answer with “Milk?” as Lola often calls me whilst I am on my way home. I keep hoping for some hot phone sex but that might be dangerous while I am driving. “Hello” also works in just about every circumstance. ---
**Author:** ![mrblue92](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@mrblue92](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrblue92)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2001, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-answer-my-cell-phone/76490/51 "2001-08-17T17:10:59Z")
“You’ve reached the late Edward Everett Historic Dairy Farm Legal Defense Fund Hotline–where there’s a will, there’s a whey.” ---
**Author:** ![Chef\_Troy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2001, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-answer-my-cell-phone/76490/52 "2001-08-17T18:50:59Z")
I’m fond of saying, “I told you not to call this number - what if my wife hears?” On a related note, here’s the message I’m going to put on my cell phone’s outgoing voicemail message if I ever figure out how to do it: “Hi, you’ve reached [cheffie]. I’m at home right now, but if you leave your name and number I’ll call you as soon as I go out.” ---
**Author:** ![Medea\_s\_Child](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Medea\_s\_Child](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Medea_s_Child)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2001, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-answer-my-cell-phone/76490/53 "2001-08-17T19:08:40Z")
My voicemail message is simple “Hi, I’m not answering my phone, leave me your number…” blah blah. “This is Richard” still sounds good. ---
**Author:** ![Rock-n-Rolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/22d042/32.png) [@Rock-n-Rolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rock-n-Rolga)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2001, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-answer-my-cell-phone/76490/54 "2001-08-18T00:10:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Darqangelle \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Rock-n-Rolga \* > > \*\*In rapidfire California twang voice: > > “Fuckin’ Lars Ulrich - _ **GO!** _” \*\* > > _Laughing… A LOT!_ \*\* Heh, as long as you don’t overuse it, it slays 'em every time. The last time I said it was in line at a fast food place in my small rural hometown. Someone behind me mumbled “Language!” and I was sooo tempted to start running around in little circles while ranting, “Dude! I’m fuckinLarsUlrich of fuckinMetallica, dude! I can say anything I want! Dude, I’m like so rich I bought the rights to every four letter word in six languages!” and then unleash a vehement barrage of foul-mouthed mayhem. But I didn’t. Drat. And I have a friend who says “Ahoy hoy?” in place of “Huh?” and it’s really cute, for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2001, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-answer-my-cell-phone/76490/55 "2001-08-18T02:05:42Z")
Answer with the sound of a car crash. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![YthDecay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/82dd89/32.png) [@YthDecay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YthDecay)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2001, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-answer-my-cell-phone/76490/56 "2001-08-18T04:22:34Z")
Local business names are always nice. Do you have any kind of a mental institution in the area? For example: “Good afternoon, Willowcrest Instituton for the Criminally Insane. How may I direct your call?” Or, like the Heavens to Betsy song “Terrorist,” you could open with: “I’m going to kill you! I’ll gut you and gouge out your eyes!” It’s an excellent icebreaker. 🙂 -Yd ---
**Author:** ![Phouchg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/41988e/32.png) [@Phouchg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phouchg)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2001, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-answer-my-cell-phone/76490/57 "2001-08-18T17:23:39Z")
How about like Cosmo Kramer… “Go!” Phouchg Lovable Rogue [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-answer-my-cell-phone/76490.md?page=2)