In slang, particularly British slang, “the blower” refers to a telephone. It’s an informal and somewhat old-fashioned term for the device used for speaking with someone remotely. The term originates from the earlier speaking tubes, where you would blow into a tube to signal the other person.
Here’s a bit more detail:
Origin:
The term “blower” for a telephone comes from the older technology of speaking tubes, where you would literally blow into a tube to signal the other person.
Usage:
While not as common as “phone” or “telephone,” you might still hear “the blower” used in British slang, especially in older contexts or in certain dialects.
Other meanings:
While “blower” primarily refers to a telephone, it can also refer to a person who talks a lot or a mechanical device that moves air (like a fan or a hair dryer). However, in the context of slang, it is highly likely to be referring to a telephone.
