phone

*on the telephone and *on the phone

Fig. speaking on the telephone. (*Typically: be ~; get ~.) She's on the phone but won't be long. Please take a seat while I'm on the phone. Get on the phone and call him back immediately!

See also: telephone

get on(to) the (tele)phone and get on(to) the (telephone) extension

to pick up a telephone receiver to talk to someone or make a telephone call. I'll get onto the extension and talk with Fred. I'll get on the phone and call Fran right away.

See also: get

Hold the phone. 

1. and Hold the wire(, please).; Hold, please.; Hold the line(, please).; Hold the phone(, please).; Please hold. Fig. Please wait on the telephone and do not hang up. (A phrase in use before telephone "hold" circuitry was in wide use.) Bill: Hold the wire, please. (Turning to Tom) Tom, the phone's for you. Tom: Be right there. Rachel: Do you wish to speak to Mr. Jones or Mr. Franklin? Henry: Jones. Rachel: Thank you. Hold the line, please. Sue: Good afternoon, Acme Motors, hold please. Bill (hanging up): That makes me so mad!

2. Fig. Wait just a minute.; Don't rush into something. Hold the phone! Let's think about it a little longer. Hold the phone. I just had another idea.

See also: hold

phone someone up

to call someone on the telephone. I don't know what he will do. I will phone him up and ask him. Phone up your brother and ask his advice.

See also: up

phone something in (to someone or something)

to transmit information to a central person or central point by telephone. I will phone this order in to the plant right away. I will phone in the order to my secretary right now. Don't worry. I'll phone it in.

phone in (to someone or something)

to call in by telephone to a central person or central point. I will phone in to my secretary and report the change in schedule. I have to phone in and report the changes.

Who's on the phone? and Who's on the line?

Who is on the telephone line now?; Who just called on the telephone? (The caller may still be waiting.) Bill was on the telephone, and Mary walked by. "Who's on the phone?" asked Mary, hoping the call was for her. Tom asked, "Who's on the line?" Mary covered the receiver and said, "None of your business!"