on the phone
idiom
1
: using a telephone to talk to someone
Can you see who's at the door? I'm on the phone.
I was on the phone with my sister until late last night.
2
British
: connected to a telephone system
How many households aren't on the phone?
Examples of on the phone in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
No one microwaving fish in the kitchen, no loud talkers on the phone next to you, and certainly no awkward conversations about bad breath.
—
Elizabeth Pearson, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
The president talked on the phone with Reps. Keith Self (R-Texas) and Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) to push them to reelect Johnson as Speaker, as the vote was still ongoing.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 3 Apr. 2025
Angel Josiah Rodriguez was found unresponsive in the tub by a family member while his father was allegedly down the hall talking on the phone, Murgo said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 1 Apr. 2025
McDonald’s All-America guard Darryn Peterson spoke with Kansas men’s basketball coach Bill Self on the phone Monday morning.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for on the phone
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Elizabeth Pearson, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
The president talked on the phone with Reps. Keith Self (R-Texas) and Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) to push them to reelect Johnson as Speaker, as the vote was still ongoing.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 3 Apr. 2025
Angel Josiah Rodriguez was found unresponsive in the tub by a family member while his father was allegedly down the hall talking on the phone, Murgo said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 1 Apr. 2025
McDonald’s All-America guard Darryn Peterson spoke with Kansas men’s basketball coach Bill Self on the phone Monday morning.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for on the phone
Cite this Entry
“On the phone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20phone. Accessed 12 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share