Re: Get on the Horn

Posted by J. LaMarre on May 25, 2001

In Reply to: Re: Get on the Horn posted by R. Berg on May 22, 2001

: : Usually used when people want to call someone on the phone. Wondering if anyone had any idea about its origin.

: The horn is the phone. For example, people also say "I'm on the horn" during a call. I'm guessing that this nickname came from the shape of early receivers, which were roughly cylindrical with one flared end.

I believe that the horn refers to the device used on ships
to contact the engine room from the bridge. This was an actual
tube with both ends flared(like a horn). The term is still used on ships
today.