away from (one's) desk

(redirected from away from her desk)

away from (one's) desk

Not at one's desk at a particular time. This phrase is typically said in an office environment on another person's behalf (as by a receptionist or assistant). I'm sorry, Mr. Medina is away from his desk right now. Can I take a message?
See also: away, desk

*away from one's desk

Fig. not available for a telephone conversation; not available to be seen or spoken to. (Sometimes said by the person who answers a telephone in an office. It means that the person whom the caller wants is not immediately available due to personal or business reasons. *Typically: be ~; Step ~.) I'm sorry, but Ann is away from her desk just now. Can you come back later? Tom has stepped away from his desk, but if you leave your number, he will call you right back.
See also: away, desk
References in periodicals archive ?
CCTV cameras revealed the man had taken it from her purse while she was away from her desk.
Man caught on camera stealing Dh5,000 from colleague in Dubai
They pulled a woman member of staff away from her desk on a wheeled chair and reached under the desk to snatch a case containing cash.
Woman tackles raiders
Vicky Whitlock works as a retail administrator for Myton Hospices and stepped away from her desk to run 45.6 miles in a bid to raise funds for the cause.
VICKY TAKES TRUE TEST OF ENDURANCE
Just a couple of days after returning to her job, she faced dozens of questions from us shareholders at last week's AGM as though she had never been away from her desk.
Letter: YourShout - Newbon attack was no ambush
Blues managing director Brady is to undergo surgery on Monday which is expected to keep her away from her desk at St Andrews for a month.
Football: IN BRIEF - Brady facing brain surgery
After a spell away from her desk colleague Pat told her she was a winner and she picked up the phone straight away to call the Chronicle.
Biggest and the best
She admits that now and then, if a studio stands empty, she slips away from her desk and indulges in a bit of improvisation.
Driving force at the 92nd Street Y: Joan Finkelstein approaches her tenth anniversary as director of the Harkness Dance Center, and the Y has cause to celebrate
She became "impossible to discipline" and was frequently away from her desk, the Inverness hearing was told.
Flirting claims hit GP surgery
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