phone

cellular, cordless, mobile, portable

car

pay (also payphone)

public

I needed to make an important call, so I found a public phone at the train station.

office, private

be on

My dad was on the phone with his boss when I got home from school.

use

My daughter used the phone to call her friend after school yesterday.

answer, get

I was in the shower when I heard the phone ring, so I couldn't answer it in time.

lift, pick up

When my mother called yesterday, I picked up the phone immediately.

hang up, put down, replace

She put down the phone and immediately regretted ending the conversation so abruptly.

slam down

He slammed the phone down after hearing the bad news.

be wanted on

I was wanted on the phone during the meeting, so I had to step outside.

call sb to

Sarah was called to the phone while she was in the middle of her presentation.

connect

disconnect

bug, tap

The government suspected criminals were bugging their office phones during the investigation.

wait by

He waited by the phone nervously, hoping to hear back about the job interview.

leave/take off the hook

When I took the phone off the hook, nobody could disturb my afternoon nap.

ring

be engaged

When I tried calling my mother this morning, her phone was engaged for over an hour.

be off the hook

go dead

My phone went dead during the job interview yesterday afternoon.

number

book

bill

call, conversation, message

card (also phonecard)

company, network, service

booth, box

line

I tried calling you yesterday but your phone line was busy.

by ~

I called my grandmother by phone every Sunday when she lived abroad.

on the ~

I need to call my doctor's office, so I'll speak with them on the phone tomorrow morning.

over the ~

My boss explained the new project details over the phone this morning.