on the telephone
idiom
1
: using a telephone to talk to someone
He came to the door while I was on the telephone.
2
British
: connected to a telephone system
the percentage of households on the telephone
Examples of on the telephone in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Bidding is available in person, online, on the telephone, or via a commission pre-bid.
—
Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2024
Become a Subscriber Read: Talk to people on the telephone
Despite the boom in bespoke monologues, many people would still prefer a call or a text.
—Jacob Sweet, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2024
In the shots, the young couple were captured snuggling on a couch, hanging out and enjoying drinks at the home’s bar, relaxing in an armchair and chatting on the telephone.
—Degen Pener, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Dec. 2023
An Indian American engineer says he was fired last year from his long-time job with a Huntsville missile defense contractor after he was heard speaking Hindi on the telephone.
—Roy S. Johnson | Rjohnson@al.com, al, 31 July 2023
In Fodor’s, a mongoose voiced by Neil Gaiman calls him on the telephone.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 19 July 2023
In the immediate aftermath, when photos surfaced showing a distraught Baldwin on the telephone and hunched over outside the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, many offered support.
—Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2021
There was an almost indescribable aura with both him and the music, a regal perch that shines through Instagram photos and brief conversations on the telephone.
—Marcus J. Moore, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2022
And Ridley no doubt heard what Whan had to say Wednesday, if the two have not already discussed the issue on the telephone.
—New York Times, 15 June 2022
Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2024
Become a Subscriber Read: Talk to people on the telephone
Despite the boom in bespoke monologues, many people would still prefer a call or a text.
—Jacob Sweet, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2024
In the shots, the young couple were captured snuggling on a couch, hanging out and enjoying drinks at the home’s bar, relaxing in an armchair and chatting on the telephone.
—Degen Pener, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Dec. 2023
An Indian American engineer says he was fired last year from his long-time job with a Huntsville missile defense contractor after he was heard speaking Hindi on the telephone.
—Roy S. Johnson | Rjohnson@al.com, al, 31 July 2023
In Fodor’s, a mongoose voiced by Neil Gaiman calls him on the telephone.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 19 July 2023
In the immediate aftermath, when photos surfaced showing a distraught Baldwin on the telephone and hunched over outside the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, many offered support.
—Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2021
There was an almost indescribable aura with both him and the music, a regal perch that shines through Instagram photos and brief conversations on the telephone.
—Marcus J. Moore, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2022
And Ridley no doubt heard what Whan had to say Wednesday, if the two have not already discussed the issue on the telephone.
—New York Times, 15 June 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'on the telephone.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near on the telephone
Cite this Entry
“On the telephone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20telephone. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
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