Estamos en despacho
 

Is there a double meaning in this expression? A friend is baffled because she has understood it either as

1) in the office i.e. We are in the office now, and you can come and see us

2) in the office but in a meeting, so do not come and see us.

Could it be both? This is the Canary Islands, by the way, so weird expressions are expected.

Thanks

I would say it's #2.

#1 would be "estoy en mi despacho", or "estamos en mi/nuestro despacho" if the subject matches.

"En despacho" can be understood as "having a closed/internal meeting", or if the subject is a court official, "performing procedures not intended for public courtroom".

I agree with Alec.

Spanish DRAE, gives a Nicaraguan definition for "despacho" that may as well be used in the Canary islands (?)

11. m. Nic. Reunión de una autoridad gubernativa con sus colaboradores o subalternos para resolver conjuntamente asuntos determinados.

The sense of "meeting", is the first thing it comes to mind, at any rate.

Do you have some more contextual information?

That may be useful to really establish the exact meaning.

No, my friend was frustrated because she telephoned somebody she needed to see, and got the verbal response "estamos en despacho". So she did not know whether it was OK to go and see them or not.

But thanks both - that's useful

I see.

In that case, I would have said,

No le entiendo muy bien. Entonces, ¿quiere decir que puedo irles a ver ahora o no?

¡Responda a mi pregunta!

¿Sí o no? ¡Leches!

Sorry, I normally try to be polite, but sometimes you need to create some "impingement", make some effect, so they explain you what is the deal.

The "¡Leches!" part is influenced by José María Íñigo radio program section at "No es un día cualquiera", entitled: "Que lo digas en español: ¡leches!", where he pokes some fun at the fact that we (Spaniards) tend to use more and more English in our day to day activities...

Thanks - I'll pass it on! :)

You're welcome, my good friend Perikles! :)