Etymology Journal · H
Hold the phone!
Meaning
- An exclamation of surprise used to stop a conversation because something shocking or confusing was just said. It signals that you need the speaker to pause and clarify.
Surprised, interrogative
Used in a sentence
- Hold the phone, did you say you are getting married on Tuesday?
- Hold the phone, I thought we agreed to take the train, not fly.
- Hold the phone, why is the boss at our picnic?
The backstory
The phrase came into common usage during the rise of telephone communication. It is a literal request to stop the flow of information so that you can catch up.
Heard in
Nationwide
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