all over the dial
Found on many different television or radio stations. (On older TV and radio sets, different stations were selected by turning a large dial.) Whenever you drive around in this part of the country, you start to hear religious broadcasts all over the dial. There are always cheesy B movies all over the dial around this time of night. It's annoying enough being an insomniac, and then there's only infomercials all over the dial in the middle of the night!
butt-dial
slang
1. verb To call someone accidentally while one's cell phone is in one's pocket, especially the back one. No one was on the line when I answered—I guess they must have butt-dialed me. A: "Mom! Quit butt-dialing me!" B: "Oh, did I call you again? Why does that keep happening?" Amanda, I just butt-dialed Jared from Chem class, and he heard me talking about how cute I think he is! Oh, I'm going to die of embarrassment!
2. noun Such a phone call. It must be a butt-dial—I can hear music faintly in the background, but no one answers when I say hello. A: "Mom, I think I just got another butt-dial from you." B: "Again? Oh dear, how did that happen?" Hello? Hello? Hmm, no one's there—must have been a butt-dial.
dial (one) back
To call one back. I'm sorry, my phone is about to die. Let me go grab my charger, and I'll dial you back in a few minutes, OK? Stu just walked in. Let me see where he stands on this, and I'll dial you back. A: "What happened? You were supposed to dial me back hours ago!" B: "I'm sorry, we had a real crisis to deal with all of a sudden."
dial back
To lessen something, especially in intensity or frequency. I could barely move my arms all week—I guess it's time to dial back the workouts! Their campaign has been airing tons of attack ads against their opponent, but they seem to be dialing those back lately. Whoa, Anthony, dial back the shouting—there's no need for that here.
dial down
To lessen something, especially in intensity or frequency. I could barely move my arms all week—I guess it's time to dial down the workouts! Their campaign has been airing tons of attack ads against their opponent, but they seem to be dialing those down lately. Whoa, Anthony, dial down the shouting—there's no need for that here.
dial in
1. To connect (to someone or some place) by phone or other calling platform. A number of our listeners have been dialing in to tell us their opinions on this matter. Ted couldn't be here in person for the meeting, but he's going to dial in from Chicago. Can you connect me with someone from IT? I've been trying to dial in from my house, but it's not working.
2. To connect someone to a phone call or a call on another calling platform. A noun or pronoun can be used between "dial" and "in." I've been trying to dial in our IT specialist to help with the problem, but he isn't answering his phone. We can start the meeting as soon as we've dialed Karen in. Ted couldn't be here in person for the meeting, so I'm going to dial him in from Chicago.
3. To input a particular number or numbers on a phone or other calling platform. A noun or pronoun can be used between "dial" and "in." You have to remember to dial in the country code for the call to connect. Some guy answered the call. I must have dialed the wrong number in. A: "It's saying the number is no longer in service." B: "Are you sure you dialed it in right?"
4. To relay or transmit information (to someone or some place) with or as with a phone. A noun or pronoun can be used between "dial" and "in." Make sure you dial in the incident immediately, or we could be held legally liable for it. If you have any news tip for us to broadcast on air, don't hesitate to dial it in! Luckily, a bystander dialed in the robbery as it was taking place, and one of our officers at the train station was able to apprehend the thief.
5. To achieve a particular setting or configuration using a dial or similar instrument. A noun or pronoun can be used between "dial" and "in." I know it's time consuming, but you'll get a much better sound if you take a couple minutes to dial in the right guitar tone. I've been trying to dial the signal in, but I'm just getting static. I guess I haven't dialed in the right aperture on my camera if my pictures keep coming out overexposed.
6. To perform a role or duty in a halfhearted, disinterested, and unprofessional manner. A noun or pronoun can be used between "dial" and "in," especially in the form "dial it in." Everyone dials it in on the morning after a staff party, so don't worry if you don't feel able to give this report your all. You can tell the actor is dialing it in—I'm sure he got a good paycheck for the voiceover, but you'd think he could try a little bit harder. You can't dial it in with kids because they can always tell when you're not giving them your full attention.
dial into
1. To connect to someone or some place by phone or other calling platform. A number of our listeners have been dialing into the station to tell us their opinions on this matter. Ted's going to dial into the meeting from Chicago. I've been trying to dial into the call from my house, but it's not working. Can you connect me with someone from IT?
2. To connect someone to a phone call or a call on another calling platform. A noun or pronoun is used between "dial" and "into." I've been trying to dial our IT specialist into the call to help with the problem, but he isn't answering his phone. We can start as soon as we've dialed Karen into the meeting. Ted couldn't be here in person, so I'm going to dial him into the meeting from Chicago.
3. To input a particular number or numbers on a phone or other calling platform. A noun or pronoun can be used between "dial" and "into." You'll need to write the number down and then dial it into your phone. Hey, don't forget to dial 9 into your phone first—that's the only way to make an outgoing call here. A: "It's saying the number is no longer in service." B: "Are you sure you dialed it into your phone right?"
4. To adjust something into a particular position or setting using a rotating mechanism, such as a dial. A noun or pronoun can be used between "dial" and "into." If you want to take the work out of photography, you can dial the camera into "auto" and let it adjust the focus and exposure for you. There are many different knobs that allow you to dial the machine into exactly the right position. Whoa, don't dial the dryer into such a high heat setting, unless you want to shrink your clothes!
dial it back
To lessen the intensity or frequency of something. I could barely move my arms all week. I guess it's time to dial it back a bit in the weight room! Whoa, Anthony—dial it back! No need for all that shouting! Their campaign had been flooding the airwaves with attack ads against their opponent, but they seem to be dialing it back lately.
dial it down
To lessen the intensity or frequency of something. I could barely move my arms all week. I guess it's time to dial it down a bit in the weight room! Whoa, Anthony—dial it down! No need for all that shouting! Their campaign had been flooding the airwaves with attack ads against their opponent, but they seem to be dialing it down lately.
dial the wrong number
To enter the incorrect phone number when trying to call someone on the telephone. A: "Hello, is Thomas there?" B: "I'm sorry, there's no one by that name here." A: "My apologies, I must have dialed the wrong number." Some guy answered the call. I must have dialed the wrong number. A: "It's saying the number is no longer in service." B: "Hmm, maybe you dialed the wrong number."
dial up
1. verb To call someone on the telephone. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "dial" and "up." Well, then dial Joe up and see what he has to say about all this! Billy, if you won't listen to me, I'll have no choice but to dial up your parents. Hey, dial up the pizza place and order a couple of large pies, my treat.
2. noun A method of connecting to the Internet via a telephone line. In this usage, the phrase is usually hyphenated. Remember the terrible sound that dial-up used to make? Yikes. Back in the days of dial-up, no one in the house could be on the phone if someone else was online. We didn't even have dial-up Internet in grade school, so playing The Oregon Trail was the epitome of excitement.
3. adjective Describing a method of connecting to the Internet via a telephone line. In this usage, the phrase is usually hyphenated. Remember how slow dial-up Internet used to be? Yikes. Now that Wi-Fi is the norm, I think I blocked dial-up Internet out of my memory. You kids have no room to complain about Internet quality when you didn't live through the dial-up era.
don't touch that dial
cliché Do not change from this television or radio station. Usually used just before a commercial break. We've got a really interesting guest joining us after the break, so don't touch that dial! Don't touch that dial—there are more cartoons coming your way right after this message from our sponsors. We've got some more music videos cued up for y'all, so don't touch that dial!
don't waste your breath
Don't bother saying or talking about something that is futile or likely to be ignored. A: "So, I was thinking that maybe we could reach a compromise—" B: "Don't waste your breath, Bill. I told you I'm not lending you money, and that's final." A: "I have an idea I'd like to pitch to the boss." B: "Nah, don't waste your breath. He made it clear to me that all new projects are on hold until the economy recovers a bit." Don't waste your breath, you're not changing my mind about this!
have (someone) on speed dial
1. Literally, to have the phone number of a person or company saved to a shortcut or preset button on one's phone, allowing one to call them almost instantly. I've always had my mom and dad on speed dial so that I would never have trouble contacting them. Of course, now I can't remembering their numbers from memory. I have a serious chronic illness, so I have to have my doctors on speed dial, unfortunately. A: "What's their boss's extension?" B: "Use my phone, I have her on speed dial."
2. By extension, to contact someone very frequently. Sometimes used facetiously or sarcastically. Mike's one of the best consultants in the industry. CEOs from companies all over the country have him on speed dial. The corrupt senator has had to call for his attorney so often, he's got him on speed dial at this point. Back when I had a gambling problem, I practically had my bookie on speed dial.
pocket dial
1. verb To inadvertently make a phone call by accidentally sitting or otherwise pressing on one's phone (typically when it is in one's pocket). A: "Do you know why Grandma called me last night?" B: "Oh, I think she just pocket dialed you."
2. noun The act of making such a phone call. I was excited when Jill called me for the first time in months, but she didn't actually want to talk to me—it was just a pocket dial.
rotary dial
The disk on a rotary telephone that is turned to dial a phone number. I hated having to use a rotary dial as a kid—it's so much easier to dial a phone number by pressing buttons.
wrong number
1. An incorrect telephone number. A: "Hello, is this the Thompson residence?" B: "Sorry, wrong number." A: "Hello, FlemCo Customer Support, Tracy speaking. How may I help you?" B: "Oops, I must have the wrong number."
2. A caller who is trying or tried to reached a different telephone number. A: "Who was that on the phone?" B: "I don't know, must have been a wrong number." I figured it was a wrong number because of how late it was, so I didn't bother answering it.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.