Business English Podcast · Phone & Video Calls · Episode 12

The Call That Will "Eventually" Happen—But Not Perhaps Today

Two colleagues keep missing each other — they finally pin down a time. With a backup plan and the false friend "eventually".

B2 · Dialogue · 4 Min. · free

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Editorially reviewed by James Simmonds – English teacher since 2004Published 22 September 2026

The Call That Will Eventually Happen

SceneJonas and Elena have been missing each other on the phone for a week. Now the call is finally being scheduled — with a main plan, a backup plan and a calendar invite that sticks.

0:00 / 4 Min.

Tip: listen to the episode twice before you start the test. · Worksheet (PDF)

✓ To the comprehension test

Jonas — Key account managerElena — Project lead, partner company

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Transcript

The full transcript opens after the comprehension test — so you train real listening instead of reading along.

German support

ElenaElena Fischer, good afternoon. Sorry, I was just in another meeting — you've caught me between two appointments, as usual.

JonasHi Elena, it's Jonas. No problem. I'm actually calling about the call — the one we keep missing. This is the third time this week, so shall we fix a time once and for all?Es geht um das Telefonat, das wir ständig verpassen.

ElenaYes, please! But just so you know: my Thursday is completely full — back-to-back meetings from nine until six — so it will eventually happen on Friday at the earliest.Donnerstag ist komplett voll – Termine ohne Pause von neun bis sechs.

JonasCareful with that word. Do you mean it will possibly happen on Friday, or that it will finally happen on Friday? In English, 'eventually' means 'after a long time, in the end' — it doesn't mean 'perhaps'.„eventually“ = schließlich/am Ende, nicht „eventuell“.

ElenaAh, that's the German 'eventuell' tripping me up again. What I mean is: possibly Friday — it depends on my workshop.

JonasRight — 'possibly', 'perhaps' or 'maybe' are your words for 'eventuell'. Keep 'eventually' for things that are certain, just not yet. So Friday isn't guaranteed — honestly, how likely is it?

ElenaI'd say eighty per cent. The workshop usually finishes by three, and once I've wrapped things up there, I could call you straight after — say three fifteen.

JonasThat works. Then let's do this properly: the main plan is Friday at three fifteen. And what's our backup plan if the workshop runs late?

ElenaIf it runs late, I'll send you a quick message by four o'clock at the latest, and we simply move the call to Monday morning instead — same agenda, same preparation.

JonasMonday morning is fine — any time between nine and eleven suits me. Should we put both options in the calendar, so that it actually happens this time?

ElenaYes — send me an invite for Friday at three fifteen, with Monday morning as the alternative. I'll accept it right away, I promise.

JonasDone. You see, with a calendar invite and a backup plan, the famous call will eventually — sorry, finally — be behind us.Hier ist „eventually“ korrekt: schließlich, nach all dem Hin und Her.

Elena'Finally' is exactly the word. Thanks for your patience this week, Jonas. Speak on Friday — hopefully, definitely this time.

Key phrases

once and for all

now and for the last time; definitively

Let's solve this scheduling problem once and for all.

back-to-back meetings

meetings that follow each other with no break in between

I can't talk now — I have back-to-back meetings all afternoon.

eventually

in the end, after a long time — NOT "perhaps"

After weeks of delays, the report was eventually finished.

to trip someone up

to cause someone to make a mistake

The irregular verb forms always trip me up in interviews.

backup plan

an alternative plan if the first one fails

If the flight is cancelled, what's our backup plan?

to run late

to be later than planned

The meeting is running late, so we'll start the call at half past.

calendar invite

a meeting invitation sent to your digital calendar

I'll send you a calendar invite so we don't forget the call.

to wrap something up

to finish or complete something

Let's wrap up the discussion and agree on next steps.

Language notes

In this episode two colleagues finally schedule a call they have been missing for days: main plan, backup plan, calendar invite. You learn why "eventually" does not mean "eventuell" and how to express probabilities politely in English (level B2).

"Eventually" is not "eventuell"

The trap: "Das Meeting findet eventuell am Freitag statt" is not "The meeting will eventually happen on Friday". "Eventually" means "in the end" — something that will definitely happen, just later: "We eventually signed the contract." For "eventuell" use "possibly", "perhaps" or "maybe". Confuse the two and you sound certain about a date that is actually only a maybe.

Scheduling culture: main plan, plan B, calendar invite

In English-speaking business life, an appointment only counts once it is in the calendar — the invite is the real commitment, not the spoken "let's talk Friday". Vague intentions ("sometime next week") quickly read as unreliable. Jonas and Elena show the professional standard: one clear main plan, one concrete backup plan and an invite that pins down both options.

Expressing probabilities politely

Between "yes" and "no" lies a whole toolkit: "It's a maybe" (roughly fifty-fifty), "I'd say eighty per cent" (a concrete estimate), "not guaranteed" (a polite warning), "at the latest" (a firm upper limit). These gradations make you predictable in English without pinning yourself down — more valuable than any yes or no.

Keep practising: Learn business English online — with real teachers from Simmonds, since 2004.

Frequently asked questions

What language level is this episode for?

Level B2 (CEFR). The dialogue uses natural business English around scheduling and probabilities; the vocabulary list explains all eight key phrases bilingually.

What is the difference between "eventually" and "eventuell"?

"Eventually" means "in the end / at some point for sure" — something certain that happens later: "The call will eventually happen." German "eventuell" translates as "possibly", "perhaps" or "maybe": "The call will possibly happen on Friday."

How do I schedule an appointment with a plan B in English?

State the main plan first ("the main plan is Friday at three fifteen"), then the backup plan ("if it runs late, we move the call to Monday morning") and secure everything with a calendar invite ("I'll send you an invite").

Where can I practise scheduling conversations in English live?

In the online business English courses from Simmonds Language Services: live lessons with real teachers on Zoom, for companies and individuals across Germany. Book a free consultation at englisch-lehrer.com/online — we will find the right course format for your goals.

Are the voices real?

Episodes are produced with high-quality AI voices (Hume) and editorially reviewed by our trainer team — the same method as our interactive lessons.

Want to practise these phrases in a real conversation?

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