pick up the receiver
lift the receiver

She went to a wall phone and lifted the receiver.

Moving to a phone on an end table next to the love seat, he lifted the receiver.

He'd lifted the receiver and there had been no answer.

He lifted the receiver again and called the local police.

I lifted the receiver and put it right back down.

But when he lifted the receiver, the line was dead.

He turned and went back to the phone, lifted the receiver.

By the time she lifted the receiver he was almost in the house.

I lifted the receiver with my right hand, which hurt.

Richard moved to the phone, lifted the receiver and asked for the number.