Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

ring-off-the-hook

idiom
/rɪŋ ɔf ðə hʊk/
Definition
A phrase used to describe a situation where a telephone is ringing continuously and is not being answered.
Examples
  • When the news broke, the office phone was ring-off-the-hook all day.
  • Her popularity made her phone ring-off-the-hook with calls from friends and family.
  • During the sale, the customer service line was ring-off-the-hook.
Meaning
The term conveys the idea that a phone is so busy with incoming calls that it keeps ringing without interruption, often indicating high demand or urgency to communicate.
Synonyms
  • buzzing with calls
  • ringing incessantly
  • swamped with calls