We use „on the phone” to say that someone is using a telephone. Let’s see some examples to understand how „on the phone” is used:
- Please do not enter your father’s office while he is on the phone. [this means while he is using the phone]
- Can you please be quiet? I am on the phone.
- Mum was on the phone when I arrived home, she was crying…
We use „over the phone” to express that something is done using the phone as a tool or a way to do it.
Let’s see some examples to understand how „over the phone” is used:
- We announced the news over the phone. [=we used the phone to make the announcement, rather than an email or other way]
- Nowadays we can pay the bills over the phone so we don’t have to go to the bank or post office.
- We can order a taxi over the phone or we can use an app.