HOLDING THE PHONE Meaning and
Definition
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"Holding the phone" is a colloquial expression used to convey the emotion of surprise or disbelief in response to new or unexpected information. Primarily used in informal conversations, this phrase captures a moment of shock or astonishment, often accompanied by literal or figurative imagery of grasping onto a telephone receiver in order to steady oneself or regain composure.
In a figurative sense, "holding the phone" suggests that the information received is so astonishing or unsettling that it momentarily stops one in their tracks, equivalent to physically gripping a phone to steady oneself. This expression can be used to convey a range of emotions, including astonishment, incredulity, confusion, or even frustration. It can also be accompanied by an exclamation point or other expletives to emphasize the intensity of the reaction.
The origin of this expression can be traced back to a time when landline telephones were the primary means of communication. When someone received surprising news over the phone, their immediate reaction might have been to grasp the receiver tightly in their hand, potentially to prevent it from slipping away or just to maintain balance while being caught off guard. As phone usage shifted to mobile devices, this expression has evolved to incorporate the modern context but retains its essence as an expression of shock or disbelief.
In conclusion, "holding the phone" is an idiom used to express a moment of surprise or disbelief in response to new or unexpected information, often accompanied by an imaginary or literal act of grasping a telephone receiver.
Common Misspellings for HOLDING THE PHONE
- golding the phone
- bolding the phone
- nolding the phone
- jolding the phone
- uolding the phone
- yolding the phone
- hilding the phone
- hklding the phone
- hllding the phone
- hplding the phone
- h0lding the phone
- h9lding the phone
- hokding the phone
- hopding the phone
- hooding the phone
- holsing the phone
- holxing the phone
- holcing the phone
- holfing the phone
- holring the phone
