ring off the hook

ring off the hook

Of a telephone, to be ringing constantly or very frequently. The image is of the phone ringing so frequently that it falls off the cradle or wall attachment. 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.

See also: hook, off, ring

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

ring off the hook

Fig. [for a telephone] to ring incessantly and repeatedly. What a busy day! The telephone has been ringing off the hook all day long. The telephone has been ringing off the hook ever since the ad appeared in the paper.

See also: hook, off, ring

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

ring off the hook

(of a telephone) be constantly ringing due to a large number of incoming calls. North American

See also: hook, off, ring

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

ˌring off the ˈhook

(American English) (of a telephone) ring many times: The phone has been ringing off the hook with offers of help.

See also: hook, off, ring

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

ring off the hook

in. [for a telephone] to ring endlessly or constantly. The phone was ringing off the hook when I came in.

See also: hook, off, ring

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.