red phone
Emergency leader connection
A red phone is a direct emergency communication line, especially between heads of state.
The term comes from Cold War imagery of an instant connection between American and Soviet leaders to prevent nuclear war, though the actual hotline used teletype rather than voice.
Any dedicated crisis line may be called a red phone: The CEO has a red phone to the board chair.
- hotlineDirect emergency phone connection
- emergencySerious sudden danger
- KremlinMoscow's fortified government seat
- Cold WarProlonged East-West standoff
- batphoneDirect emergency line
direct line · direct connection · back channel · urgent · crisis · receiver · dial · dial tone · rotary · secure · classified · top secret · president · White House · nuclear · nuclear codes · communication · cold call
- communication devicescellphone, landline, smartphone, payphone, iPhone
red phonechitchat
Informal light conversation
small talk · pocket dial · butt dial · idle chatter · courtesy call
red phoneswitchboard
Telephone routing panel
customer service line · 1-800 number · toll-free number · help desk · voicemail
red, phone, reds, redden, reddish, redness, redder, reddest, phones