# be on the phone

idiom · CEFR A1

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/be-on-the-phone
Updated: 2026-04-22

## Meaning

To be busy talking to someone using a telephone.

## Examples

- Please wait, she is on the phone right now.
- I tried to call you earlier, but you were on the phone with a client for an hour.
- While the manager was on the phone discussing the urgent contract, the rest of the team prepared the presentation for the afternoon meeting.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.