Contacted by phone, caught express (3,7)
I believe the answer is:
got through
'contacted by phone' is the definition.
(as in getting through to someone by phone)
'caught express' is the wordplay.
'caught' becomes 'got' ('get' can be a synonym of 'catch').
'express' becomes 'through' (as in an express train or through train).
'got'+'through'='GOT THROUGH'
(Other definitions for got through that I've seen before include "Finished" , "made contact by phone" .)