Phrase guide

ring off the hook

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

Of a telephone, to ring constantly or excessively.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • I placed the advertisement yesterday, and the phone has been ringing off the hook ever since.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 響個不停 /响个不停 (xiǎng gè bùtíng) — ring constantly
  • Finnish: soida jatkuvasti — ring constantly
  • French: ne pas arrêter de sonner — ring constantly
  • German: Sturm klingeln — ring constantly
  • German: Sturm läuten — ring constantly
  • Portuguese: tocar sem parar — ring constantly