Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 294
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Incursion Taxiway
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Human Factors
After landing at LGA; we received numerous taxi instructions and we thought we heard the Ground Controller tell us to to: 'Taxi B in.' At the time we were taxiing on B. As we approached A; I noticed there was an opposite direction Regional aircraft that was stopped on Taxiway A near the intersection of Taxiway M. As we began our turn into A; the Ground Controller told us to hold position and told us that he had not cleared us in; only to 'taxi via B.' We apologized and he told us to turn left back onto B. I had already shut down Number 2 engine and was not able to make the hard left turn that would have been required to get back onto B. I informed the Controller that we would have to restart the Number 2 engine to make the turn. (It should be noted that there was plenty of room for us to continue taxiing into the ramp as the opposite direction RJ was well clear of our inbound taxi route to the ramp).The Ground Controller then told us to turn right on A; right on K; right on B then right on A. Essentially; a 'penalty lap' for misunderstanding his original taxi instructions. Radio and traffic congestion along with slightly non-standard radio phraseology all contributed to this situation. (It would have been more clear for the Ground Controller to issue a clearance like 'Taxi via B...hold short of A or Taxi via B; right turn on A into the ramp.' I understand that due to the high volume of traffic; the Ground Controllers often truncate their phrases; but unfortunately that can sometimes lead to misunderstanding.
Air Carrier Captain reported communication problem with not understanding ATC non-standard phraseology.