hot line

Idioms  

1. A telephone line that gives quick and direct access to a source of information or help. For example, Our state has an AIDS hot line in every county. This term was originally (and is still) used for a direct link between heads of government for use during a crisis, but was quickly extended to wider applications. [1950s]

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Example Sentences

Lake Tahoe, so dependent on tourist bucks, set up a hot line to help visitors find open gas stations.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

At the Camp David summit in August, leaders of Japan, South Korea and the United States agreed to carry out annual, multi-domain trilateral exercises and set up a hot line for crisis communications.

From Reuters • Oct. 22, 2023

Under Sir David's guidance, the two super powers went on to establish the "hot line", a direct communication to ensure tensions could never again reach that level without the two leaders speaking.

From BBC • Oct. 30, 2022

“No hot line for people who are mobility impaired or don’t have reliable access to a car” to carry their recyclables to a central drop-off site.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 14, 2022

Harry knew Aunt Petunia would simply love to be the one to call the hot line number.

From "Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban" by J.K. Rowling