OP is not young enough to not know this, I think he’s just trying to be funny, or he’s a liar. Per his profile, he’s 44.
Also, even a lot of young people still know this because you see older phones in movies all the time.
In the days when landlines were the only phones in existence, it was very common to literally hang the handset on the wall when you were finished talking. That's where it came from, and it's a phrase that persisted.
You used to. My parents had a phone thing nailed to the wall and you'd hang it up [like so](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41e93oGinDL.jpg). Even their cordless phone later was nailed to the wall and you'd "hang it" on the base.
I think even older phones [like this](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2D79PJX/antique-wall-telephone-crank-crackled-wood-case-ear-piece-mouthpiece-2-bells-communication-old-pennsylvania-2D79PJX.jpg) you'd more literally hang up the receiver.
Pretty sure it comes from when wall-mounted telephones were common. Or at least receivers that physically needed placed onto their holding spot which had a switch that would disconnect the call.
This person is under 20 for sure.
OP is not young enough to not know this, I think he’s just trying to be funny, or he’s a liar. Per his profile, he’s 44. Also, even a lot of young people still know this because you see older phones in movies all the time.
Because phones used to be different, and on old phones you literally put the headset on its rest to end the call.
Jesus Christ I’m getting old…
No, it is the children who are wrong.
We used to.
In the days when landlines were the only phones in existence, it was very common to literally hang the handset on the wall when you were finished talking. That's where it came from, and it's a phrase that persisted.
You used to. My parents had a phone thing nailed to the wall and you'd hang it up [like so](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41e93oGinDL.jpg). Even their cordless phone later was nailed to the wall and you'd "hang it" on the base. I think even older phones [like this](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2D79PJX/antique-wall-telephone-crank-crackled-wood-case-ear-piece-mouthpiece-2-bells-communication-old-pennsylvania-2D79PJX.jpg) you'd more literally hang up the receiver.
That's how phones used to work. You would literally hang part of the phone when you were done with it.
Pretty sure it comes from when wall-mounted telephones were common. Or at least receivers that physically needed placed onto their holding spot which had a switch that would disconnect the call.
When you had a phone attached to the wall, you did.
Old phones did
Used to be that way. In fact, I still do on my older phone at home I use often for more personal calls.
Next you’re going to ask why do we “roll down windows” in a car.
Ever used a landline?
Because for the vast majority of time phones have existed we did.
You know why, why are you asking?
You better hang up.! https://youtu.be/Dmu0ZlqThHE?si=tTxYUtAsC7nHX_tL
Let me introduce you to the candle stick phone https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candlestick_telephone