be ringing off the hook

be ringing off the hook

Of a telephone, to be ringing constantly or very frequently. Gosh, I'm exhausted—the phone was ringing off the hook all day at work! Ever since we announced the 2-for-1 deal, our phones have been ringing off the hook. The phones are ringing off the hook? Oh boy, the system must have crashed again.

See also: hook, off, ring

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

be ringing off the hook

mainly AMERICAN

If your telephone is ringing off the hook, so many people are trying to call you that it is ringing all the time. His phone started ringing off the hook as banks and financial institutions begged for his help.

See also: hook, off, ring

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012