to get back to

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gZ2V0IGJhY2sgdG8&hash=c53955aa2e2b74ebba0da9414e671347e9b0d243&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gZ2V0IGJhY2sgdG8&hash=d85016af0e29999efccd13f01881681021063cf2&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to [give] {sb} a ring

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gZ2l2ZSBzb21lYm9keSBhIHJpbmc&hash=0c00700ebdaf12b7011fe39d623d344a910bb979&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gZ2l2ZSBzb21lYm9keSBhIHJpbmc&hash=2b46c8c6dcd0aa41ba536eb14c7865ba809a3fca&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to break up

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gYnJlYWsgdXA&hash=c6396b14adb77952a682c04ceeacb64bc2dec232&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gYnJlYWsgdXA&hash=32df127cd00085f26d749fda6df442ff578ad9dd&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to call back

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gY2FsbCBiYWNr&hash=c011b5bd34b7b24b27b409ca36c3b3d3a307fb69&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gY2FsbCBiYWNr&hash=9f3de5f628ade847a55a6f79c8079103909f5941&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to cut off

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gY3V0IG9mZg&hash=20a0c678069bbadd9721c3786fadcf9b7e9648cf&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gY3V0IG9mZg&hash=20311beff8263b1d854c57748f58911fed35c553&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to get through

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gZ2V0IHRocm91Z2g&hash=0270d111f216708bad2b17e49fd9cb0e19e6bfb2&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gZ2V0IHRocm91Z2g&hash=75a503295dba425481e7162d4346c9cb08908be7&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to hang on

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gaGFuZyBvbg&hash=daee759ab806e44d308e919cfbdacde4c64e56a1&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gaGFuZyBvbg&hash=b4f89569cf2f3e2fe48930b059fa18eab8c813a8&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to hang up

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gaGFuZyB1cA&hash=3591d796155a3cbc7b18496f1e02fc6ddc0522e7&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gaGFuZyB1cA&hash=0b7029a02c77af6618542d7789102d115c319f30&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

The origin of the idiom "off the hook" can be traced back to the early days of telephone technology when phones had physical handsets connected by cords. When a phone was "off the hook," it meant that the handset was not resting in its cradle or hook, rendering it unable to receive incoming calls. The idiom has since been used to refer to the same concept.

What is the origin of the idiom "off the hook" and when to use it?

off the hook

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=b2ZmIHRoZSBob29r&hash=f33530f5c739a78cc9472043b5aa5671fcd2275f&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=b2ZmIHRoZSBob29r&hash=c3bbfec25daffc667ecc3bcb3672bd2f806863f1&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to [put] {sb} on hold

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gcHV0IHNvbWVib2R5IG9uIGhvbGQ&hash=aa31f24a005330bcb7b52de3e6efed52c4ad0523&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gcHV0IHNvbWVib2R5IG9uIGhvbGQ&hash=760451ec9257cbf3968cb1469d2325d69a1b54b0&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to put through

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gcHV0IHRocm91Z2g&hash=487bf6a00551222b81bdf6521c8b10ed9f1472a9&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gcHV0IHRocm91Z2g&hash=812806284d94b9479b1057ace1cc40b7ba959c61&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to ring back

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gcmluZyBiYWNr&hash=359fa0dc827f1a274ff3f0aa3af13952dd958924&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gcmluZyBiYWNr&hash=d5d011b3a40c4236614ce36414e306218ac67527&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to ring off

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gcmluZyBvZmY&hash=2314e38c26f571d9ba57e120a13f392fe156aff2&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gcmluZyBvZmY&hash=d5d63eaa2d748d020ec6f4b4110c685c9aa9d843&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to speak up

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gc3BlYWsgdXA&hash=42c1845d67ad4a8c7d517742eba885b18afdde67&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gc3BlYWsgdXA&hash=77d9436df1fecc7bb6d99a9b0d423c216b0df783&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to pass over

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gcGFzcyBvdmVy&hash=56ab63e99c09e3a1c90b6590a861bc114c72c7fc&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gcGFzcyBvdmVy&hash=1a6c4e98b2e0619bdf768b33c5eb090623842952&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

Learn advanced CAE vocabulary for telephone communication and direct speech, including calls, conversations, responses, quotations, and spoken interaction.

Téléphoner et Discours Direct

Vocabulaire CAE pour le téléphone et le discours direct

Telephoning & Direct Speech

CAE Vocabulary for Telephoning and Direct Speech