Collocations Phones
Phones
Making and receiving phone calls
the phone/telephone rings
answer/pick up/hang up the phone/telephone
lift/pick up/hold/replace the receiver
dial a (phone/extension/wrong) number/an area code
call somebody/talk (to somebody)/speak (to somebody) on the phone/telephone; from home/work/the office
make/get/receive a phone call
take the phone off the hook (= remove the receiver so that the phone does not ring)
the line is (British English) engaged/ (especially North American English) busy
the phones have been (North American English) ringing off the hook (= ringing frequently)
put somebody through/get through to the person you want to speak to
put somebody on hold (= so that they must wait for the person they want to speak to)
call from/use a landline
Mobile/cell phones
be/talk on a (both British English) mobile phone/mobile/(especially North American English) cell phone/(informal, especially North American English) cell
use/answer/call (somebody on)/get a message on your mobile phone/mobile/cell phone/cell
switch/turn on/off your mobile phone/mobile/cell phone/cell
charge/recharge your mobile phone/mobile/cell phone/cell
a mobile/cell phone is on/is off/rings/goes off
(British English) top up your mobile/cell (phone)
send/receive a text (message)/an SMS (message)/a fax
insert/remove/change a SIM card