Off-hook

Off-hook describes a state that a phone currently is in when the phone is taken off the hook or placed in the off-hook position. Off-hook causes the phone line to be busy and allows the user to place phone calls or answer incoming calls.

Younger visitors may not be familiar with rotary dial phones, but when the handset is picked up off the hook it is off-hook. If you are more familiar with a cell phone, you can think of off-hook as when your cell phone making a call.

Modem terms, On-hook