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Rishonly Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
OFF THE HOOK (MEANING)
Joshua Schachter is surrounded by lawyers and his phone is ringing off the hook.
As far as I know, the meaning of the idiom 'off the hook' is 'Freed (from blame/obligation)';however, in the above sentence, it seems to me, has a different meaning. Please explain.
As far as I know, the meaning of the idiom 'off the hook' is 'Freed (from blame/obligation)';however, in the above sentence, it seems to me, has a different meaning. Please explain.
Top answer
Hi, Joshua Schachter is surrounded by lawyers and his phone is ringing off the hook. As far as I know, the meaning of the idiom 'off the hook' is 'Freed (from blame/obligation)';however, in the above sentence, it seems to me, has a different meaning. Please explain.
- Hi, Joshua Schachter is surrounded by lawyers and his phone is ringing off the hook.
- As far as I know, the meaning of the idiom 'off the hook' is 'Freed (from blame/obligation)';however, in the above sentence, it seems to me, has a different meaning.
- Please explain.
- Yes, it's a different meaning.
- Think of a phone on a wall.
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11 Answers
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Hi,
Joshua Schachter is surrounded by lawyers and his phone is ringing off the hook.
As far as I know, the meaning of the idiom 'off the hook' is 'Freed (from blame/obligation)';however, in the above sentence, it seems to me, has a different meaning. Please explain.
Yes, it's a different meaning. Think of a
Joshua Schachter is surrounded by lawyers and his phone is ringing off the hook.
As far as I know, the meaning of the idiom 'off the hook' is 'Freed (from blame/obligation)';however, in the above sentence, it seems to me, has a different meaning. Please explain.
Yes, it's a different meaning. Think of a
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Thanks, Clive. So, I interpret the meaning of 'off the hook', here, as 'continuously'.
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Does anyone else find
MrP
more natural?
"Joshua Schachter is surrounded by lawyers and his phone is ringing itself off the hook."
MrP
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Not at all, Mr. P. A phone do not ring itself; it rings when an incoming call activates the ringer.
More generally, the phrase "ringing of the hook" is an idiom and as such defies a logical explanation. It's probably more appropriately explained by the visual language of cartoons -- loud ringing making the cartoon phone dance on the receiver (hook). In real life, it has the connot
More generally, the phrase "ringing of the hook" is an idiom and as such defies a logical explanation. It's probably more appropriately explained by the visual language of cartoons -- loud ringing making the cartoon phone dance on the receiver (hook). In real life, it has the connot
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Hi MrP,
Not me, not anymore. But I'm sinking fast in an ocean of corrupt and decadent language. Save yourself, I beg you!
Clive
Not me, not anymore. But I'm sinking fast in an ocean of corrupt and decadent language. Save yourself, I beg you!
Clive
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MrPedanticI do, MrP, I do!
Does anyone else findmore natural?
"Joshua Schachter is surrounded by lawyers and his phone is ringing itself off the hook."
MrP
In fact, when I hear this:
"Joshua Schachter is surrounded by lawyers and his phone is ringing off the ho
00
Such antics!
How about
"The phone is ringing (to the point of falling) off the hook."
the analogy being with the phrasal verb "to fall off"?
Cf. 'shaking/brushing an insect off one's sleeve' (This doesn't mean picking up the little fellow and shaking/brushing him, does it?)
How about
"The phone is ringing (to the point of falling) off the hook."
the analogy being with the phrasal verb "to fall off"?
Cf. 'shaking/brushing an insect off one's sleeve' (This doesn't mean picking up the little fellow and shaking/brushing him, does it?)
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Hi,
"Joshua Schachter is surrounded by lawyers and his phone is ringing off the hook."
Personally, when I read this sentence, I feel that the ringing phone is the lesser of Joshua's problems.
(No, this is not an open invitation for lawyer jokes)
Best wishes, Clive
"Joshua Schachter is surrounded by lawyers and his phone is ringing off the hook."
Personally, when I read this sentence, I feel that the ringing phone is the lesser of Joshua's problems.
(No, this is not an open invitation for lawyer jokes)
Best wishes, Clive
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Yes, I see what you mean, CJ. But if you take:
1. The phone is falling
the phone is already "falling", before you add "off the hook". Whereas in
2. The phone is ringing
the phone is doing what phones do; and it's left to "off the hook" to convey the sense of movement – which (to my ears) it's too weak to do.
But it's not something I'd insist on...
1. The phone is falling
the phone is already "falling", before you add "off the hook". Whereas in
2. The phone is ringing
the phone is doing what phones do; and it's left to "off the hook" to convey the sense of movement – which (to my ears) it's too weak to do.
But it's not something I'd insist on...
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