B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Incursion Taxiway
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors
While taxiing to the gate at SFO via Taxiway Bravo and under Ramp Control; the Controller issued a clearance 'Hold ON Bravo 4'. The First Officer and I agreed that this may be incorrect. The First Officer queried the Ramp Controller 'Do you to want us to hold short OF Bravo 4 on Bravo or hold ON Bravo 4'. The Controller repeated 'hold ON Bravo 4'. That still didn't make sense; but I figured he has the big picture and wanted us there for some reason. Turning the aircraft left on B4 to hold short of Alpha appeared to create no conflict; so I executed the maneuver. As soon as we were on B4; the Controller said 'don't turn there...stop stop!'. We stated that we had specifically clarified the clearance with him and he said hold ON B4 and it seems that he really meant hold SHORT of B4 on B. The Ramp Controller seemed to have no interest in rectifying that confusion. Subsequently; a 787 passed on Taxiway A. His wingtip cleared us laterally by a good margin. We were cleared to taxi into the alley after that.
B737NG Captain reported miscommunication between himself and SFO Ramp Control.