The term 'crank caller' was derived from a group of men in Birmingham who tried to use automobile crankshafts as substitutes for telephones. When they discovered that this was physically impossible, they called everyone they knew in rage and hung up. These 'crank' callers became infamous for cranking while on the telephone. Similarly, the word 'hang up' is derived from these same men, who, insecure about their ability to hold a crankshaft (much less a conversation), would rather hang up than talk about their problems.

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