on the horn
On the telephone.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“She's on the horn with her mother right now.”
“The manager was on the horn for an hour, trying to sort out the delivery problem.”
“While the rest of us waited anxiously in silence, the lawyer was already on the horn, negotiating terms with the opposing counsel.”
- 01
chrome horn
The front bumper of a car when used to bump another vehicle, usually to inform the driver of the other vehicle that the first car would like to pass.
- 02
grab the bull by the horns
Synonym of take the bull by the horns.
- 03
lock horns
To come into conflict.
- 04
pull in one's horns
To become less impassioned, aggressive, or argumentative; to exercise restraint; to yield or capitulate.
- 05
toot one's own horn
To promote oneself; to boast or brag; to tout oneself.
Last updated August 10, 2026