phone line dead

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "phone line dead" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when indicating that a telephone line is not functioning or has no signal. Example: "I tried to call her, but the phone line is dead." Alternative expressions include "line is down" and "no dial tone."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The phone line went dead.

The Guardian - Opinion

The phone line was dead.

The New Yorker

Then the phone line went dead.

Independent

A moment later, the phone line went dead.

The New York Times

Mr. Farmer tried to reach contacts in Washington but the phone line went dead.

The New York Times

There was no response to emails, and the phone line went dead.

The Guardian - Money

At the 2012 annual meeting of United Natural Foods, a distributor of organic and specialty foods, his phone line went dead while he was commenting on a shareholder proposal.

The New York Times

"She was crying hysterically, and then the phone line went dead," Lieutenant Rodriguez said, adding that at one point her identification was found, leading to a burst of optimism and a fruitless trek through hospitals and the morgue.

The New York Times

Moments later, the phone line goes dead".

Huffington Post

Imagine waking up after a storm and your wired phone line is dead.

Huffington Post

The phone lines are dead.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting a "phone line dead", specify the time and any observed conditions. This helps diagnose the issue quickly.

Common error

Avoid using "phone line dead" for temporary network congestion; reserve it for persistent failures. Instead of "dead" for temporary problem use words like "unavailable" or "temporarily out of service".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "phone line dead" functions as a descriptive statement, typically used to report that a telephone line is not working or is out of service. Examples found by Ludwig confirm this usage in news and personal contexts. Ludwig AI validates the correctness of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "phone line dead" is a grammatically sound and commonly understood way to describe a non-functioning telephone line. While the phrase itself is straightforward, understanding the context and potential temporary problems from permanent issues will improve accuracy. The Ludwig AI reports a correct usage of the phrase. Although examples count is low, sources confirm common usage across news, business and general contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Disconnected phone line

Focuses on the physical disconnection aspect of the phone line.

Non-operational phone line

Uses more formal language to indicate the phone line isn't working.

Phone line is out of service

Emphasizes that the phone line is temporarily unavailable.

Faulty phone connection

Highlights a technical issue with the phone connection.

Broken phone line

Indicates a physical or technical fault rendering the line unusable.

Phone service is down

Broader term referring to the unavailability of phone service.

No dial tone

Refers to the absence of the expected sound when the phone is picked up, indicating a problem.

Phone isn't working

A simple, general way of saying the phone is not functioning.

Line's been cut

Suggests a deliberate severing of the phone line.

Service outage

Indicates a more general interruption of service affecting phone lines.

FAQs

How can I describe a non-functioning phone line?

You can use phrases like "disconnected phone line", "non-operational phone line", or "phone line is out of service" as alternatives to "phone line dead".

What does it mean when someone says the 'phone line is dead'?

It typically means that the telephone line is not functioning, preventing calls from being made or received. There is no dial tone and the connection is not working.

Is 'phone line dead' a permanent condition?

Not necessarily. It could indicate a temporary outage, a physical disconnection, or a more serious problem requiring repair. Further investigation is needed to determine the cause.

What should I do if I find that my 'phone line is dead'?

First, check your equipment to ensure it's properly connected. If the problem persists, contact your service provider to report the issue and request assistance.