Need help with a word for part of a telephone--Please!

[joeybee12]

This is making me nuts. It's got to be a simple word I've always known but just can't think of!

You pick up the handset, but in order to keep the line free (i.e., not in use), you keep your fingers on the two sprong-thing-ys that butt up from the base of the phone. What are those little buggers called???

Thanks.

[Kamika]

1. thingys

I think

[thebaghwan]

2. Isn't that area called the hook or cradle?

n/t

[joeybee12]

6. I think it's the cradle, but the two things that stick up in the cradle

is what I'm getting at--they must have a name!

[Catshrink]

3. Buttons?

or thingies. Receiver cradle pokey things?

[VOX]

4. Used to be called "the cradle."

That's what the handset rests in.

Of course, I haven't had a phone with a handset or a cradle for years!

:toast:

[Catshrink]

5. I do have one of those....

I almost never use it but have a "hard wired" phone in case of a power outage. I guess that's the result of living through many midwest thunderstorms.

[Lefta Dissenter]

7. Those are called

Nipples!

[Hokie]

8. How about hookswitch? <NT>

[Padraig18]

9. Bingo!

We have a winner, ladies and gentlemen! :)

[MidwestMomma]

10. I think it's switch hook

from a telephone user guide:

Three Way Call: To add a third party to your call.

Press flash button(office phones) or switch hook(dorm phones)... dial
third party... party answers... press flash button(office phones) or
switch hook(dorm phones)... all 3 parties are now connected.

[Catshrink]

11. OMG! Momma read the manual!!

Heck, I never do that. Mystery solved -- what a brainiac you are. Good sleuthing there, MidwestMomma.

[MaineDem]

14. Yep, switch hook

I'm a retired telephone employee. I've used the term a bunch of times.

:)

[BigMcLargehuge]

12. switchhook

:)

[Kellanved]

13. I can only tell you how it's called in German

Gabel (="Fork").
:shrug: :hi:

[Buns_of_Fire]

15. Technically...

They're known as "the two sprong-thingies that butt up from the base of the phone" (note spelling of "thingies"). You can trust me on this, since I used to work for The Phone Company.

On the other hand, I did say "used to" work for them. Maybe that's the reason... :shrug:

[joeybee12]

16. Thanks for all your help...

...I guess it is switch hook, although it's a terribly unromantic name, if you ask me!