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What does on the blower mean?

Author

Mia Smith

Updated on May 10, 2026

Meaning: If someone is on the blower, they are on the phone.

What does it mean to be on the blower?

Definition of on the blower

British, informal + old-fashioned. : on the telephone When I finally got him on the blower he said he couldn't come.

Where does the phrase on the blower come from?

That's because the term comes from the speaking tube, a mechanical device that was used to make the telephone. You blew down the tube to make the other whistle sound in order to get the attention of the person at the other end.

Why do Australians call the phone the blower?

That's because the slang term comes from a mechanical precursor to the telephone, the speaking tube, each end of which was stoppered with a whistle. In order to attract the attention of the person at the other end, you took out your stopper and blew down the tube to make the other whistle sound.

What is a blower in the UK?

singular noun. The blower is the telephone. [British, informal, old-fashioned]

30 related questions found

Is a blower a Cockney?

Blower is Cockney slang for Telephone.

What is a blower on a car?

The blower motor is the fan that pushes heated or cooled air through dashboard vents based on the climate system settings and the fan speed selected. Adjusting the fan speed sends a signal through a resistor to the blower motor to either pick up the pace or slow it down.

What does tinkle on the blower meaning in English?

Tinkle on the blower. That means to have a conversation on the telephone.

What is Tele In British slang?

A telly is a television. [British, informal]

Why is phone called the horn?

when talking to someone on the telephone, one can say "while I have you on the horn", where did horn come from. Horn is slang for telephone for the same reason "horn" is applied to loudspeakers, ear trumpets, powder horns, etc. All of them resemble animal horns, e.g., ram's horns.

What is the meaning of leaf blower?

Definition of leaf blower

: a machine that generates a current of air used to collect loose leaves and debris He figures it would take two men with rakes and brooms a half hour to clear a typical driveway of a week's worth of leaves, or one man five minutes with a leaf blower.—

How does a blower work?

Air enters the centre of the impellers, and then is divided between the impeller blades. This increases the volume of the air stream, and increases the speed of the air using centrifugal force. The high-velocity air that is accelerated as a result is then contained in the blower housing, creating pressure.

What is a blower in Ireland?

What is a "blower"? It can mean a lot of things depending on the context (a glass blower, one who plays woodwind instruments), but in this case, it is a telephone. In the UK, the precursor to the telephone was the speaking tube, which was a tube stoppered with whistles at both ends.

What do the British call a telephone?

Tinkle. Meaning: (Noun) Tinkle, ring, and buzz are all British slang terms simply referring to a “telephone call.” Tinkle is very common with the older generation.

What's a telly slang?

The slang term “Telly” is a noun which is used to reference a hotel or hotel room.

What does Helly mean?

Resembling or characteristic of hell; hellish.

Why do Brits always say mate?

Mate is used as a term of endearment, but also frequently used to casually ingratiate oneself with a stranger or new acquaintance. You might refer to a waiter or fellow bar fly using the word 'mate'. When used to address somebody or get their attention, the word mate is usually reserved for men only.

What is the British slang for girl?

Bird. Meaning: (Noun) Primarily British, “bird” is used to refer to a young woman or girl.

Do Brits say mate?

The word “mate” is very common in Australian and British English and can help you sound a lot more natural when speaking Englsih in these places. Although it's not used in American English, it is understood by English speakers all over the world.

Is it safe to dry your car with a leaf blower?

You can definitely use a leaf blower to dry a car. The main advantage, is that you don't touch the paint, so it reduces the risk of inflicting scratches and swirls. Just remember to use one with an air-filter, and don't point it directly at the ground or you'll spray dirt onto the freshly washed paintwork.

What is a blower on a race car?

Through the use of a supercharger (or blower), horsepower and torque can be doubled or tripled. Unlike a turbo that's driven by hot exhaust gasses, blowers are driven directly by the crankshaft, so the speed of the supercharger directly relates to engine rpm.

How does a blower on a car engine work?

It is like an air pump bolted onto the engine to increase the pressure or density of air supplied to the engine. It pumps additional air into the engine to increase the intake manifold pressure of the engine, and is driven mechanically via the belts that run off the crankshaft or by an electric motor.

What does blower mean in Australia?

(slang, chiefly Britain and Australia, usually preceded by the) Telephone. Get on the blower and call headquarters right away! (slang, UK, historical) A telephone service providing betting odds and commentary, relayed to customers in a bookmaker's shop via loudspeaker.

What is the meaning behind the blowers daughter?

A number of sources have documented that during live performances, Rice explained the meaning of this song as most simply put being based on an unrequited love. To make a long story short, he fell for someone over the telephone who he never met in person nor actually arranged to meet.