Thought I would start this one up.

I am beta reading for a UK writer and they used an unusal phrase in the following sentence.

They are currently on vacation, er I mean holiday, and unreachable.

What does 'drill' mean?

James

Maybe the author meant 'trill'? I wouldn't describe a phone ringing as a drilling sound - it's nothing like that!


Wendy

Not unless you have a particularly foul ring on your mobile, anyway. And there are some pretty grim things around at the moment, I can tell you.

Chris

Unless, and this is a bit of a long shot given the small piece of context you've given us, they do mean the sound of the phone is like a drill. You know, like when it wakes you up at 2am, and it turns out to be a wrong number...

I should probably return the favour with some Americanism I don't get, but I can't think of any right now...

Helga

This is a phone on a military base...

I've given them the benefit of a doubt and suggested the following...

James