Italian Phrase
Come metti qualcuno in attesa?
Meaning
Literally, “How do you put someone on hold?” It is asked when you want to know the steps or method for placing a caller or a person in a waiting state, usually on a phone or in a service setting.
When to use
Use this question when you are learning to operate a phone system, training new staff, or simply curious about the procedure a colleague follows when they need to put a caller on hold.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Comemettiqualcunoinattesa?
Come (How)
Interrogative adverb used to ask about manner or method.
metti (you put)
Second‑person singular present of *mettere*; here it functions as a polite command‑like question.
qualcuno (someone)
Indefinite pronoun referring to an unspecified person.
in attesa (on hold)
Prepositional phrase meaning ‘waiting, on hold’; commonly used in telephone or service contexts.
🗨In Conversation
Come metti qualcuno in attesa?
How do you put someone on hold?
Premi il tasto 1, poi il pulsante “Metti in attesa”.
Press key 1, then the “Put on hold” button.
✕Common Mistakes
Come metti a qualcuno in attesa?
The verb *mettere* does not need the preposition *a* before the object in this construction.
Come metti qualcuno in atteso?
The correct noun phrase is *in attesa*; *atteso* is an adjective meaning ‘expected’ and does not convey the same meaning.
Come mettiamo qualcuno in attesa?
The question is directed to a single person (you), so the verb should be *metti*, not the first‑person plural *mettiamo*.
↔Alternatives
Come fai a mettere qualcuno in attesa?
How do you manage to put someone on hold?
Qual è il modo per mettere in attesa una persona?
What is the way to put a person on hold?
Come si mette in attesa qualcuno?
How does one put someone on hold?
Cultural Tip
In Italy, phone etiquette is quite formal. When you need to put a caller on hold, it is polite to say “Un attimo, per favore” before pressing the hold button. Also, many Italian call centres use the phrase “mettere in attesa” rather than the English “hold”, so mastering this expression helps you sound natural in professional contexts.