Vocab question

Question

Bonjour,referring to this sentence:Et les au-revoirs qui n'en finissent jamais au téléphone.How about "... jamais à l'appareil"?I worked in a French-speaking environment where that phrase would often be used.

Accepted Answer

Bonjour Carolize,
You are right that "à l'appareil" is used although only when someone is "speaking" on the phone.

Allô, Sophie Le Moine à l'appareil ! = Hello, Sophie Le Moine speaking!
C'est qui à l'appareil ? = Who's on the line/speaking?

"Au téléphone" is used in the general context.

Ma fille parle des heures au téléphone =My daughter speaks for hours on the phone
John l'appelle au téléphone = John is calling her/him on the phone

I hope this is helpful.
Bonne journée !