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he was afraid to say so; he did not have the courage of his
convictions./
[have the goods on] See: GET THE GOODS ON.
[have the guts to do something] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be brave
enough to do something difficult or dangerous. * /Jack wants to marry
Jilt, but he doesn't have the guts to pop the question./
[have the jump on] See: GET THE JUMP ON.
[have the last laugh] or [get the last laugh] {v. phr.} To make
someone seem foolish for having laughed at you. * /Other schools
laughed at us when our little team entered the state championship, but
we had the last laugh when we won it./ Compare: HE LAUGHS BEST WHO
LAUGHS LAST, TURN THE TABLES.
[have the laugh on] {v. phr.} To emerge as the victor. * /We were
trying to fool Paul by setting him up with a blind date who was
reportedly unattractive, but he had the laugh on us when this girl
turned out to be beautiful./
[have the lead] {v. phr.} To occupy the most prominent part in
something. * /Maria has the lead in our school play./
[have the makings of] {v. phr.} To possess the basic ingredients;
have the basic qualities to do something. * /Tom is still young but he
seems to have the makings of an excellent pianist./
[have the right-of-way] {v. phr.} To have priority in proceeding in
traffic on a public highway while other vehicles must yield and wait.
* /"Go ahead," he said. "We have the right-of-way at this
intersection."/
[have the time of one's life] See: TIME OF ONE'S LIFE.
[have the worst of] See: GET THE WORST OF.
[have to] or [have got to] {v.}, {informal} To be obliged or forced
to; need to; must. * /Do you have to go now?/ * /He had to come. His
parents made him./ * /I have got to go to the doctor./ * /I have to go
to Church./
[have to do with] {v. phr.} 1. To be about; be on the subject of or
connected with. * /The book has to do with airplanes./ 2. To know or
be a friend of; work or have business with. - Usually used in negative
sentence. * /Tom said he didn't want to have anything to do with the
new boy./ * /I had nothing to do with the party; I was home that
night./
[have too many irons in the fire] See: TOO MANY IRONS IN THE FIRE.
[have two strikes against one] or [have two strikes on one] {v.
phr.}, {informal} To have things working against you; be hindered in
several ways; be in a difficult situation; be unlikely to succeed. *
/Children from the poorest parts of a city often have two strikes
against them before they enter school./ * /George has two strikes
against him already. Everybody is against what he wants to do./
Compare: BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL. (In baseball, three strikes are out.
If the umpire calls two strikes against the batter, he has only one
strike left and will be out if he gets one more strike.)
[haw] See: HEM AND HAW.
[hay] See: HIT THE HAY.
[haystack] See: NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK.
[haywire] See: GO HAYWIRE.
[hazard] See: AT ALL HAZARDS.
[haze] See: IN A FOG or IN A HAZE.
[head] See: ACID HEAD, BEAT INTO ONE'S HEAD, BEAT ONE'S HEAD
AGAINST A WALL, BIG HEAD, COUNT HEADS, EYES IN THE BACK OF ONE'S HEAD,
FROM HEAD TO FOOT, GET THROUGH ONE'S HEAD, GOOD HEAD ON ONE'S
SHOULDERS, GO TO ONE'S HEAD, HANG ONE'S HEAD, HAVE ONE'S HEAD IN THE
SAND, HAVE ROCKS IN ONE'S HEAD, HEAP COALS OF FIRE ON ONE'S HEAD, HIT
THE NAIL ON THE HEAD, HANG OVER ONE'S HEAD, HIDE ONE'S FACE or HIDE
ONE'S HEAD, HOLD ONE'S HEAD UP, KEEP A CIVIL TONGUE IN ONE'S HEAD,
KEEP ONE'S HEAD, LOSE ONE'S HEAD, MAKE HEAD OR TAIL OF, OFF THE TOP OF
ONE'S HEAD, ON ONE'S HEAD, OUT OF ONE'S HEAD, also OFF ONE'S HEAD,
OVER ONE'S HEAD, PRICE ON ONE'S HEAD, PUT THEIR HEADS TOGETHER or LAY
THEIR HEADS TOGETHER, SWELLED HEAD, TAKE INTO ONE'S HEAD, TELL ---
WHERE TO GET OFF or TELL --- WHERE TO HEAD IN, THROW ONESELF AT
SOMEONE'S HEAD or FLING ONESELF AT SOMEONE'S HEAD, TURN ONE'S HEAD,
USE ONE'S HEAD.
[head above water] {n. phr.} out of difficulty; clear of trouble. *
/How are your marks at school? Are you keeping your head above water?/
* /Business at the store is bad. They can't keep their heads above
water./
[head and shoulders] {adv. phr.} 1. By the measure of the head and
shoulders. * /The basketball player is head and shoulders taller than
the other boys./ 2. By far; by a great deal; very much. * /She is head
and shoulders above the rest of the class in singing./ See: FAR AND
AWAY.
[header] See: DOUBLE-HEADER.
[head for] {v. phr.} To go in the direction of. * /We left early in
the morning and headed for Niagara Falls./
[head for the hills] {v. phr.}, {informal} To get far away in a
hurry; run away and hide. - Often used imperatively. * /Head for the
hills. The bandits are coming./ * /He saw the crowd chasing him, so he
headed for the hills./ * /When they saw the mean boy coming, they all
headed for the hills./ Compare: BEAT IT, LIGHT OUT, TAKE TO THE WOODS.
[head-hunting] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. The custom of seeking
out, decapitating, and preserving the heads of enemies as trophies. 2.
A search for qualified individuals to fill certain positions. * /The
president sent a committee to the colleges and universities to do some
head-hunting; we hope he finds some young talent./ 3. A systematic
destruction of opponents, especially in politics. * /Billings was
hired by the party to do some head-hunting among members of the
opposition./
[head in the clouds] See: IN THE CLOUDS.
[head in the sand] See: HIDE ONE'S HEAD IN THE SAND.
[head off] {v.} 1. To get in front of and stop, turn back, or turn
aside. * /The sheriff said to head the cattle thieves off at the
pass./ 2. To block; stop; prevent. * /He will get into trouble if
someone doesn't head him off./
[head-on] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} 1. With the head or front pointing
at; with the front facing; front end to front end. * /Our car skidded
into a head-on crash with the truck./ * /In the fog the boat ran
head-on into a log./ * /There is a head-on view of the parade from our
house./ Compare: FACE-TO-FACE. Contrast: REAR-END. 2. In a way that is
exactly opposite; against or opposed to in argument. * /If you think a
rule should be changed, a head-on attack against it is best./ * /Tom
did not want to argue head-on what the teacher said, so he said
nothing./
[head out] {v.} 1. To go or point away. * /The ship left port and
headed out to sea./ * /The car was parked beside the house. It was
headed out towards the street./ 2. {informal} Leave; start out. * /I
have a long way to go before dark. I'm going to head out./
[head over heels] also [heels over head] 1a. In a somersault;
upside down; head first. * /It was so dark Bob fell head over heels
into a big hole in the ground./ Compare: UPSIDE DOWN. 1b. In great
confusion or disorder; hastily. * /The children all tried to come in
the door at once, head over heels./ Compare: TOPSY-TURVY. 2.
{informal} Completely; deeply. * /He was head over heels in debt./ *
/She was head over heels in love./
[headshrinker] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} A psychoanalyst, also
called a shrink. * /Forrester is falling apart; his family physician
sent him to a head shrinker (to a shrink)./
[head start] {n.} 1. A beginning before someone; lead or advantage
at the beginning. * /The other racers knew they couldn't catch Don if
he got too big a head start./ * /Joe has a head start. He began to
study earlier than we did./ 2. A good beginning. * /Let's get a head
start in painting the house by getting up early./ * /The teacher gave
the class a head start on the exercise by telling them the answers to
the first two problems./ Compare: RUNNING START.
[heads or tails] {n. phr.} The two sides of a coin, especially when
the coin is tossed in the air in order to decide which of two
alternatives are to be followed. * /Tom tossed a quarter in the air
and said, "Tails, I win; heads you win."/
[heads up] {interj.}, {informal} Keep your head up and be careful
or ready. - Used as a warning to prepare for something or clear the
way * /"Heads up!" said the waiter carrying the hot food./ * /Heads
up, boys! A train is coming./ * /Heads up, now! You can do better than
that./ Syn.: LOOK ALIVE, LOOK OUT.
[heads-up] {adj.}, {informal} Wide-awake; alert; watchful;
intelligent. * /You must play hard, heads-up baseball to win this
game./ Compare: ON ONE'S TOES, ON THE BALL.
[head up] {v.}, {informal} 1. To be at the head or front of. * /The
elephants headed up the whole parade./ 2. To be the leader or boss of.
* /Mr. Jones will head up the new business./ * /The class planned a
candy sale, and they elected Mary to head it up./
[health] See: CLEAN HILL OF HEALTH.
[heap] See: STRIKE ALL OF A HEAP.
[heap coals of fire on one's head] {v. phr.}, {literary} To be kind
or helpful to someone who has done wrong to you, so that he is
ashamed. * /Alice heaped coals of fire on Mary's head by inviting her
to a party after Mary had gossiped about her./ * /Jean Valjean stole
the Bishop's silver, but the Bishop heaped coals of fire on his head
by giving the silver to him./
[hear] See: WILL NOT HEAR OF.
[hear a pin drop] {v. phr.} Absolute silence. * /It's so quiet in
the room you could hear a pin drop./
[heart] See: AFTER ONE'S OWN HEART, AT HEART, EAT ONE'S HEART OUT,
BREAK ONE'S HEART, BY HEART, CHANGE OF HEART, CROSS ONE'S HEART, DO
ONE GOOD or DO ONE'S HEART GOOD, FIND IT IN ONE'S HEART, FROM THE
BOTTOM OF ONE'S HEART or WITH ALL ONE'S HEART, FROM THE HEART, GET TO
THE HEART OF, HAVE A HEART, HEAVY HEART, LOSE HEART, LOSE ONE'S HEART,
OPEN HEART, OPEN ONE'S HEART, SEARCH ONE'S HEART, SET ONE'S HEART ON,
TAKE HEART, TAKE TO HEART, TO ONE'S HEART'S CONTENT, WEAR ONE'S HEART
ON ONE'S SLEEVE.
[heartbreaker] {n.} One with numerous admirers of the opposite sex;
one with whom others fall in love readily. * /Tom, who has four girls
in love with him at college, has developed the reputation of being a
heartbreaker./
[heart and soul(1)] {n.} Eager love; strong feeling; great
enthusiasm. Often used with a singular verb. * /When Mr. Pitt plays
the piano, his heart and soul is in it./ * /John plays tennis badly,
but with heart and soul./ * /Mary wanted a puppy with all her heart
and soul./
[heart and soul(2)] {adv.} Wholly and eagerly; with all one's
interest and strength; completely. * /Will you try to make our city a
better place? Then we are with you heart and soul./ * /Mike was heart
and soul against the new rules./ Compare: BODY AND SOUL.
[heart goes out to] {formal} You feel very sorry for; you feel pity
or sympathy for. - Used with a possessive. * /Frank's heart went out
to the poor children playing in the slum street./ * /Our hearts went
out to the young mother whose child had died./
[hear the beat] or [see the beat] {v. phr.}, {dialect} To hear of
or to see someone or something better or surpassing. - Usually used in
negative or interrogative sentences and often followed by "of". * /I
never heard the beat! John swam all the way across the river. Did you
ever hear the beat of it?/ * /The juggler spun a table around on the
tip of his finger. I never saw the beat of that./
[heart in one's mouth] or [heart in one's boots] A feeling of great
fear or nervousness. - Often considered trite. * /Charles got up to
make his first speech with his heart in his mouth./ * /My heart was in
my mouth as I went into the haunted house./ * /When the bear came out
of the woods towards us, our hearts were in our mouths./ Compare: HAIR
STAND ON END.
[heart is in the right place] or [have one's heart in the right
place] To be kind-hearted, sympathetic or well-meaning; have good
intentions. * /All the tramps and stray dogs in the neighborhood knew
that Mrs. Brown's heart was in the right place./ * /Tom looks very
rough but his heart is in the right place./
[heart miss a beat] See: HEART SKIP A BEAT.
[heart of gold] {n. phr.} A kind, generous, or forgiving nature. *
/John has a heart of gold. I never saw him angry at anyone./ * /Mrs.
Brown is a rich woman with a heart of gold./ Compare: GOOD AS GOLD,
HEART IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
[heart of stone] {n. phr.} A. nature without pity. * /Mr. Smith has
a heart of stone. He whipped his horse until it fell down./
[heart-searching] See: SEARCH ONE'S HEART.
[heart set] See: SET ONE'S HEART ON.
[heart sink] To lose hope, courage, or eagerness; be very
disappointed. * /The soldiers' hearts sank when they saw that they
were surrounded by Indians./ * /The children were happy because they
were going to the beach to swim, but their hearts sank when it began
to rain./
[heart skip a beat] or [heart miss a beat] 1. The heart leaves out
or seems to leave out a beat; the heart beats hard or leaps from
excitement or strong feeling. - Often considered trite. * /When Paul
saw the bear standing in front of him, his heart skipped a beat./ 2.
To be startled or excited from surprise, joy. or fright. * /When Linda
was told that she had won, her heart missed a beat./
[heart stand still] {v. phr.} To be very frightened or worried. *
/Johnny's heart stood still when he saw his dog run into the street in
front of a car./ * /Everybody's heart stood still when the President
announced that war was declared./ Compare: HAIR STAND ON END.
[heart-to-heart] {adj.} Speaking freely and seriously about
something private. * /The father decided to have a heart-to-heart talk
with his son about smoking./ * /She waited until they were alone so
she could have a heart-to-heart talk with him./ Compare: MAN-TO-MAN.
[hearty] See: HALE AND HEARTY.
[heat] See: CANNED HEAT.
[heave in sight] {v. phr.} To seem to rise above the horizon at sea
and come into sight; come into view; become visible. - Usually used of
ships. * /A ship hove in sight many miles away on the horizon./
[heaven] See: MOVE HEAVEN AND EARTH, WOULD THAT or WOULD HEAVEN.
[heaven knows] or [heaven only knows] See: GOD KNOWS.
[heavenly days!] {interj.}, {informal} Exclamation of amazement and
disbelief with negative coloring. * /Heavenly days! Look what
happened! The dog did it again on the Persian carpet!/ Compare: GOOD
GRIEF!
[heave to] {v.} To bring a ship to a stop; bring a sailing ship to
a standstill by setting the sails in a certain way. * /"Heave to!" the
captain shouted to his crew./ * /We fired a warning shot across the
front of the pirate ship to make her heave to./
[heave up] See: THROW UP.
[heavy] See: HANG HEAVY or HANG HEAVY ON ONE'S HANDS, HOT AND
HEAVY.
[heavy-duty] {adj.} Made for long or hard use; very strong. * /The
lumberman used heavy-duty trucks for hauling logs down the mountains./
* /The workers in the steel mill have heavy-duty gloves for handling
hot steel./ * /Mrs. Carlson bought a heavy-duty cleanser to clean her
greasy oven./
[heavy-footed] {adj.} 1. Slow and clumsy in walking or movement;
awkward in using your feet. * /The fat man tried to dance, but he was
too heavy-footed./ * /Martha is not fat, but she is heavy-footed and
walks noisily./ 2. Awkward in choice and order of words; not smooth
and graceful; clumsy. * /In Mary's compositions, the words seem to
dance, but John's compositions are always heavy-footed./ 3. or
[lead-footed] {informal} Likely to drive an automobile fast. * /Jerry
is a bad driver because he is too heavy-footed./ Compare: STEP ON IT.
[heavy-handed] {adj.} 1. Not skillful or graceful; clumsy. *
/George is heavy-handed and seldom catches the ball./ * /My sister
plays the piano badly; she is too heavy-handed./ * /Tim told a
heavy-handed joke about the principal's baldness that embarrassed
everyone./ 2. Likely to hit or punish hard; harsh or cruel in making
(someone) obey. * /Years ago many fathers were heavy-handed bosses in
their homes./ * /Many American colonists believed that the English tax
collectors were too heavy-handed./ 3. See: HAM-HANDED.
[heavy heart] {n. phr.} A feeling of being weighed down with
sorrow; unhappiness. * /They had very heavy hearts as they went to the
funeral./
[heck] See: RAISE THE DEVIL or RAISE HECK or RAISE HOB or RAISE
NED.
[heck of it] See: DEVIL OF IT.
[hedge about] or [hedge in] 1. To surround with a hedge or barrier;
protect or separate by closing in. * /The house is hedged about with
hushes and trees./ * /The little garden is hedged in to keep the
chickens out./ 2. To keep from getting out or moving freely; keep from
acting freely; block in. * /The boys are hedged in today. They can
only play in the backyard./ * /The king said he could not make new
laws if he was so hedged in by old ones./ Syn.: FENCE IN.
[hedged in] See: FENCED IN.
[heed] See: TAKE HEED.
[heel] See: AT ONE'S HEELS, COOL ONE'S HEELS, DOWN AT-THE-HEEL or
DOWN-AT-HEEL, DRAG ONE'S FEET or DRAG ONE'S HEELS, HEAD OVER HEELS,
KICK UP ONE'S HEELS, ON ONE'S HEELS or ON THE HEELS OF, SET BACK ON
ONE'S HEELS or KNOCK BACK ON ONE'S HEELS, TAKE TO ONE'S HEELS also
SHOW A CLEAN PAIR OF HEELS, TO HEEL, TURN ON ONE'S HEEL, WELL-HEELED.
[heels over head] See: HEAD OVER HEELS.
[he laughs best who laughs last] A person should go ahead with what
he is doing and not worry when others laugh at him. When he succeeds
he will enjoy laughing at them for being wrong more than they enjoyed
laughing at him. - A proverb. * /Everyone laughed at Mary when she was
learning to ski. She kept falling down. Now she is the state champion.
He laughs best who laughs last./ Compare: CHANGE ONE'S TUNE, LAST
LAUGH, LAUGH ON THE OTHER SIDE OF ONE'S MOUTH, SHOE ON THE OTHER FOOT.
[hell] See: COME HELL OR HIGH WATER, GO THROUGH HELL AND HIGH
WATER, HELL-ON-WHEELS, LIKE HELL, TO HELL WITH, UNTIL HELL FREEZES
OVER, WHEN HELL FREEZES OVER.
[hell and high water] {n. phr.} Troubles or difficulties of any
kind. * /After John's father died he went through hell and high water,
but he managed to keep the family together./ Compare: COME HELL OR
HIGH WATER.
[hell-on-wheels] {n.}, {slang} A short-tempered, nagging, or crabby
person especially one who makes another unhappy by constantly
criticizing him even when he has done nothing wrong. * /Finnegan
complains that his wife is hell on wheels; he is considering getting a
divorce./
[help] See: CAN HELP, CAN'T HELP BUT or CANNOT BUT, SO HELP ME.
[help oneself] {v. phr.} To take what you want; take rather than
ask or wail to be given. * /Help yourself to another piece of pie./ *
/John helped himself to some candy without asking./
[help out] {v.} 1. To be helpful or useful; help sometimes or
somewhat. * /Mr. Smith helps out with the milking on the farm./ * /Tom
helps out in the store after school./ 2. To help (someone) especially
in a time of need; aid; assist. * /Jane is helping out Mother by
minding the baby./ * /When John couldn't add the numbers, the teacher
helped him out./
[helter-skelter] {adv.} 1. At a fast speed, but in confusion. *
/The hatted ball broke Mr. Jones's window, and the boys ran away
helter-skelter./ * /When the bell rang, the pupils ran helter-skelter
out of the door./ 2. In a confusing group; in disorder. * /The movers
piled the furniture helter-skelter in the living room of the new
house./ * /Mary fell down and her books, papers, and lunch landed
helter-skelter over the sidewalk./ Compare: EVERY WHICH WAY.
[he-man] {n.}, {informal} A man who is very strong, brave, and
healthy. * /Larry was a real he-man when he returned from service with
the Marines./
[hem and haw] {v. phr.} 1. To pause or hesitate while speaking,
often with little throat noises. * /The man was a poor lecturer
because he hemmed and hawed too much./ 2. To avoid giving a clear
answer; be evasive in speech. * /The principal asked Bob why he was
late to school, and Bob only hemmed and hawed./ Compare: BEAT AROUND
THE BUSH.
[hem in] or [hem around] or [hem about] {v.} 1. To put something
around, or to be placed around; surround. * /Mountains hemmed the town
in on all sides./ * /As soon as Tom and Bob started to fight, they
were hemmed around by other boys./ 2. See: FENCE IN.
[hen] See: MAD AS A HORNET or MAD AS HOPS or MAD AS A WET HEN.
[hen party] {n. phr.}, {informal} A party to which only women or
girls are invited. * /The sorority gave a hen party for its members./
Contrast: STAG PARTY. See: GO STAG.
[Henry] See: JOHN HANCOCK or JOHN HENRY.
[her] See: GIVE IT THE GUN or GIVE HER THE GUN.
[herd] See: RIDE HERD ON.
[here] See: ALL THERE or ALL HERE, NEITHER HERE NOR THERE, SAME
HERE.
[here and now(1)] {adv. phr.} At this very time and place; right
now; immediately. * /I want my dime back, and I want it here and now./
Compare: THEN AND THERE.
[here and now(2)] {n.} The present time and place; today. * /He
enjoys the pleasures of the here and now and never worries about the
future./ * /"I want my steak here and now!"/
[here and there] {adv. phr.} 1. In one place and then in another. *
/I looked here and there for my pen, but I didn't look everywhere./ *
/Here and there in the yard little yellow flowers had sprung up./ 2.
In various directions. * /We went here and there looking for berries./
Compare: HITHER AND THITHER.
[here goes] {interj.}, {informal} I am ready to begin; I am now
ready and willing to take the chance; I am hoping for the best. - Said
especially before beginning something that takes skill, luck, or
courage. * /"Here goes!" said Charley, as he jumped off the high
diving board./ * /"Here goes!" said Mary as she started the test./
[here goes nothing] {interj.}, {informal} I am ready to begin, but
this will be a waste of time; this will not be anything great; this
will probably fail. - Used especially before beginning something that
takes skill, luck or courage. * /"Here goes nothing," said Bill at the
beginning of the race./
[hide] See: HAVE ONE'S HIDE, TAN ONE'S HIDE.
[hide one's face] or [hide one's head] {v. phr.} 1. To lower your
head or turn your face away because of shame or embarrassment. * /The
teacher found out that Tom had cheated, and Tom hid his head./ * /When
Bob said how pretty Mary was, she blushed and hid her face./ 2. To
feel embarrassed or ashamed. * /We will beat the other team so badly
that they will hide their heads in shame./
[hide one's head in the sand] or [bury one's head in the sand] or
[have one's head in the sand] To keep from seeing, knowing, or
understanding something dangerous or unpleasant; to refuse to see or
face something. * /If there is a war, you cannot just bury your head
in the sand./
[hide one's light under a bushel] {v. phr.} To be very shy and
modest and not show your abilities or talents; be too modest in
letting others see what you can do. * /When Joan is with her close
friends she has a wonderful sense of humor, but usually she hides her
light under a bushel./ * /Mr. Smith is an expert in many fields, but
most people think he is not very smart because he hides his light
under a bushel./ * /All year long Tommy hid his light under a bushel
and the teacher was surprised to see how much he knew when she read
his exam paper./
[hide or hair] or [hide nor hair] {n. phr.}, {informal} A sign or
trace of someone that is gone or lost; any sign at all of something
missing. Usually used in negative or interrogative sentence. * /Tommy
left the house this morning and I haven't seen hide or hair of him
since./ * /A button fell off my coat and I could find neither hide nor
hair of it./
[hide out] {v. phr.} To go into hiding, as in the case of a
criminal on the run. * /He tried to hide out but the police tracked
him down./
[hideout] {n.} A place where one hides. * /The wanted criminal used
several hideouts but he was captured in the end./
[high] See: COME HELL OR HIGH WATER, FLYING HIGH, GO THROUGH HELL
AND HIGH WATER, HELL AND HIGH WATER, HIT THE HIGH SPOTS, LIVE HIGH OFF
THE HOG or EAT HIGH ON THE HOG, OFF ONE'S HIGH HORSE, ON TOP OF THE
WORLD or SITTING ON TOP OF THE WORLD also ({Southern}) SITTING ON HIGH
COTTON, RIDING HIGH.
[high and dry] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. Up above the water; beyond
the reach of splashing or waves. * /Mary was afraid she had left her
towel where the tide would reach it, but she found it high and dry./ *
/When the tide went out the boat was high and dry./ 2. Without anyone
to help; alone and with no help. * /When the time came to put up the
decorations, Mary was left high and dry./ * /At first the other boys
helped, but when the work got hard. Bob found himself high and dry./
Compare: LEAVE IN THE LURCH, OUT IN THE COLD.
[high and low] {adv.} Everywhere. * /The police were searching for
the criminal high and low, but they couldn't find him./
[high-and-mighty] {adj.}, {informal} Feeling more important or
superior to someone else; too proud of yourself. * /John wasn't
invited to the party, because he acted too high-and-mighty./ * /Mary
become high-and-mighty when she won the prize, and Joan would not go
around with her any more./ Compare: STUCK-UP.
[high as a kite] {adj.} 1. As excited and happy as one can possibly
be. * /When Eric won the lottery he was high as a kite./ 2.
Intoxicated or under the influence of some drug. * /Jeff has been
drinking again and he is high as a kite./ Compare: THREE SHEETS IN/TO
THE WIND.
[highbrow] {adj.} Very well educated or even over-educated;
belonging to the educated middle class; sophisticated. * /Certain
novels are not for everyone and are considered as highbrow
entertainment./ Contrast: LOW BROW.
[high camp] {n.}, {slang}, {show business} 1. Kitsch, or
pretentious material in bad taste that is still liked by higher class
audiences. * /"The Potsdam Quartet" is a play full of high camp./ 2.
An exaggerated movie or theater scene that loses believability. *
/Scarecrow and Mrs. King and Sledge Hammer are so full of high camp
that no sensible people watch them anymore./ [middle camp] and [low
camp] refer to theatrical kitsch preferred by middle class and low
class audiences, respectively.
[high-class] {adj.} Of the best quality; very good; superior. -
Avoided by many careful speakers. * /When Mr. Brown got a raise in
pay, Mrs. Brown started to look for a high-class apartment./ * /Mrs.
Smith always gets her clothing at high-class shops./ * /Mr. Jones
always gets his office workers from Burns Agency because they have
high-class help./ Compare: FIRST-CLASS.
[higher education] {n.} Schooling after graduation from high
school, especially in a college or university. * /Tom plans to get his
higher education at the state university./
[higher-up] {n.}, {informal} One of the people who has one of the
more important positions in an organization; an important official. *
/The teacher's problem was discussed by the higher-ups./ * /The local
officers of the scout group approved the plan, but the state
higher-ups did not accept it./
[high fashion] or [high style] {n. phr.} The new style in women's
dress set each season by designers in Paris or other fashion centers
and accepted by fashionable women. * /The high styles designed in
Paris are often quickly copied by makers of cheap clothing./
[high gear] {n. phr.}, {informal} Top speed; full activity. *
/Production got into high gear after the vacation./ * /An advertising
campaign for the new toothpaste promptly moved into high gear./
[high-handed] {adj.} Depending on force rather than right; bossy;
dictatorial. * /With high-handed daring, John helped himself to the
best food on the table./ * /Mr. Smith was a high-handed tyrant in his
office./
[high-hat(1)] {adj.}, {slang} Treating others as inferior; acting
above others. /It was an expensive place to eat, and the customers
were likely to be a little high-hat./ /Jones acted high-hat toward
anyone poorer than he./
[high-hat(2)] {v.}, {slang} To treat others as inferior; look down
on. * /After she had married a rich man, Mary high-hatted her former
friends./ * /"Don't high-hat me," Fred warned, when Harry began to
walk away as if he didn't know him./ Compare: BRUSH OFF.
[high jinks] {n. phr.}, {informal} Noisy or rough gaiety; wild
play; tricks. * /The sailors were on shore leave, and high jinks were
to be expected./ * /The high school seniors engaged in high jinks
after commencement./
[high off the hog] See: LIVE HIGH OFF THE HOG.
[high on] {adj. phr.} 1. Intoxicated on some drug or alcoholic
drink. * /Rob was severely scolded by the dean for always being high
on marijuana./ 2. Enthusiastic about something. * /Jeff is high on
Beethoven and Brahms./
[high place] {n. phr.} A position of responsibility, honor, and
power. * /Jones had reached a high place in the government at
Washington./
[high seas] {n. phr.} The open ocean, not the waters near the
coast. * /It was a big powerful liner built to sail on the high seas./
* /The ships of every country have the right to sail on the high
seas./
[high season] {n. phr.} The time of year when the largest number of
passengers are travelling; the time when airfare costs more. * /We had
to pay $100 more for our tickets because it was the high season./
Contrast: LOW SEASON.
[high sign] {n. phr.}, {informal} A silent signal of recognition,
greeting, or warning; an open or secret signal between two persons. -
Used with "get" or "give". * /The Joneses saw us across the hotel
dining room and gave us the high sign./ * /John could see that Grace
wanted to tell him something, but he got her attention and frowned.
She got the high sign and waited until the teacher had moved on before
speaking./
[high-sounding] {adj.} Sounding important; said for showing off;
too fancy. * /The politician's speech was full of high-sounding
words./ * /Mr. Brown filled his son with many high-sounding ideas
about life./
[high-strung] {adj.} Nervous; sensitive; tense. * /Gary has been
rather high-strung lately because of too much work at the office./
[high style] See: HIGH FASHION.
[hightail it] {v. phr.}, {slang} To travel fast; move rapidly. *
/After school, Frank would hightail it home./ * /The two men who held
up the bank hightailed it out of town./
[high time] {adj. phr.}, {used predicatively} (stress on "time")
Dire, necessary, and sufficient circumstances prompting action. * /It
is high time we sold the old house; it will fall apart within a year./
[highway] See: DIVIDED HIGHWAY or DUAL HIGHWAY.
[highway robbery] {n. phr.} 1. A hold-up of or theft from a person
committed on an open road or street usually by an armed man. *
/Highway robbery was common in England in Shakespeare's day./ 2. An
extremely high price or charge; a profiteer's excessive charge. * /To
someone from a small town, the prices of meals and theater tickets in
New York often seem to he highway robbery./
[hill] See: GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE
or GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HILL, HEAD FOR THE
HILLS.
[hilt] See: TO THE HILT or UP TO THE HILT.
[hinge on] or [hinge upon] {v.} To depend on as decisive: be
decided by. * /In a dictatorship, everything hinges on one man./ * /A
tobacco grower's income for the year may hinge on what the weather is
like in a few summer weeks./
[hired man] {n. phr.} A man employed to do jobs every day about a
house or farm. * /The hired man was sick, and a lot of the daily
chores were not done./
[hire out] {v.}, {informal} 1. To accept a job; take employment. *
/Frank hired out as a saxophonist with a dance band./ 2. To rent (as
owner). * /John used to hire out his tractor sometimes when he didn't
need it himself./
[history] See: GO DOWN IN HISTORY or GO DOWN IN THE RECORDS.
[hit] See: HARD-HITTING, MAKE A HIT, SMASH HIT.
[hit and miss] See: HIT OR MISS.
[hit-and-run] {adj.} 1. Of or about an accident after which a
motorist drives away without giving his name and offering help. *
/Judges are stern with hit-and-run drivers./ 2. Striking suddenly and
leaving quickly. * /The bandits often made hit-and-run attacks on
wagon trains./
[hit below the belt] See: BELOW THE BELT.
[hit between the eyes] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make a strong
impression on; surprise greatly. * /Helen hit Joe right between the
eyes the moment he saw her./ * /It was a wonderfully lifelike picture,
and it hit Sol right between the eyes./ * /To learn that his parents
had endured poverty for his sake hit John between the eyes./
[hit bottom] or [touch bottom] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To be at
the very lowest. * /In August there was a big supply of corn and the
price hit bottom./ * /When Johnny failed the exam his spirits hit
bottom./ 2. To live through the worst; not to be able to go any lower.
* /After all their troubles, they thought they had hit bottom and then
something else happened./ * /When they lost all their money they
thought they had touched bottom and things would have to get better./
[hitch one's wagon to a star] {v. phr.} To aim high; follow a great
ambition or purpose, * /In trying to be a famous pianist, Mary had
hitched her wagon to a star./ * /John hitched his wagon to a star and
decided to try to become President./
[hither and thither] or [hither and yon] {adv. phr.}, {literary} In
one direction and then in another. * /Bob wandered hither and thither
looking for a playmate./ Compare: HERE AND THERE.
[hither and yon] See: HITHER AND THITHER.
[hit home] {v. phr.} To go directly to the mark; strike a
vulnerable spot. * /His remark hit home when he referred to those who
do not contribute sufficiently to the college fund drive./
[hit it off] {v. phr.}, {informal} To enjoy one another's company;
be happy and comfortable in each other's presence. * /Tom and Fred hit
it off well with each other./ * /Mary and Jane hit it off from the
first./ Syn.: GET ALONG.
[hit on] or [hit upon] {v.} To happen to meet, find, or reach; to
choose or think by chance, * /John hit on a business that was just
starting to grow rapidly./ * /There seemed to be several explanations
of the crime, but the detectives hit on the right one the first time./
Compare: HAPPEN ON.
[hit on all cylinders] {v. phr.} 1. To run smoothly or at full
power without any missing or skipping. - Said of a motor. * /The
mechanic tuned the car engine until it was hitting on all cylinders./
2. {informal} To think or work well; to use all your ability. * /The
football team was hitting on all cylinders and scored a big victory./
* /Bob began to write his examination, and found himself hitting on
all cylinders./
[hit one's stride] {v. phr.} 1. To walk or run at your best speed;
reach your top speed or game. * /After walking the first mile, Jim was
just hitting his stride./ * /The horse began to hit his stride and
moved ahead of the other horses in the race./ 2. To do your best work;
do the best job you are able to. * /Mary didn't begin to hit her
stride in school until the fifth grade./
[hit-or-miss] also [hit-and-miss] {adj.} Unplanned; uncontrolled;
aimless; careless. * /John did a lot of hit-or-miss reading, some of
it about taxes./ * /Mary packed her bag in hurried, hit-or-miss
fashion./
[hit or miss] also [hit and miss] {adv.} In an unplanned or
uncontrolled way; aimlessly; carelessly. * /George didn't know which
house on the street was Jane's, so he began ringing doorbells hit or
miss./
[hit parade] {n.} 1. A list of songs or tunes arranged in order of
popularity. * /Tom was overjoyed when his new song was named on the
hit parade on the local radio station./ 2. {slang} A list of favorites
in order of popularity. * /Jack is no longer number one on Elsie's hit
parade./
[hitter] See: PINCH HIT, PINCH HITTER, PULL HITTER.
[hit the books] {v. phr.}, {informal} To study your school
assignments, prepare for classes. * /Jack broke away from his friends,
saying, "I've got to hit the books."/
[hit the bull's-eye] {v. phr.}, {informal} To go to the important
part of the matter; reach the main question. * /John hit the
bull's-eye when he said the big question was one of simple honesty./
[hit the ceiling] or [hit the roof] {v. phr.}, {slang} To become
violently angry; go into a rage. * /When Elaine came home at three in
the morning, her father hit the ceiling./ * /Bob hit the roof when Joe
teased him./ Syn.: BLOW A FUSE.
[hit the deck] {v. phr.} To get up from bed, to start working.
(From sailor's language as in "All hands on the deck!") * /OK boys,
it's time to hit the deck!/
[hit the dirt] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {military} To take cover under
gunfire by falling on the ground. * /We hit the dirt the moment we
heard the machine gun fire./
[hit the fan] {v. phr.}, {informal} To become a big public problem
or controversy. * /The whole mess hit the fan when the judge was
arrested for drunken driving for the second time./
[hit the hay] or [hit the sack] {v. phr.}, {slang} To go to bed. *
/The men hit the hay early, in order to be out hunting at dawn./ *
/Louis was so tired that he hit the sack soon after supper./
[hit the high spots] {v. phr.} To consider, mention, or see only
the more important parts of something such as a book, war, or school
course. * /In his lecture, the speaker hit the high spots of his
subject./ * /The first course in general science hits only the high
spots of the physical sciences./ * /The Bakers went to the fair for
one day, and only hit the high spots./
[hit the jackpot] {v. phr.}, {slang} To be very lucky or
successful. * /Mr. Brown invented a new gadget which hit the jackpot./
* /Mrs. Smith hit the jackpot when she got Lula for a maid./
[hit the nail on the head] {v. phr.} To get something exactly
right; speak or act in the most fitting or effective way. * /The
mayor's talk on race relations hit the nail on the head./
[hit the road] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To become a wanderer; to live
an idle life; become a tramp or hobo. * /When Jack's wife left him, he
felt a desire to travel, so he hit the road./ 2. To leave, especially
in a car. * /It is getting late, so I guess we will hit the road for
home./ * /He packed his car and hit the road for California./
[hit the roof] See: HIT THE CEILING.
[hit the sack] See: HIT THE HAY.
[hit the sauce] {v. phr.}, {slang} To drink alcoholic beverages -
especially heavily and habitually. * /When Sue left him, Joe began to
hit the sauce./
[hit the spot] {v. phr.}, {informal} To refresh fully or satisfy
you; bring back your spirits or strength. - Used especially of food or
drink. * /A cup of tea always hits the spot when you are tired./ *
/Mother's apple pie always hits the spot with the boys./
[hit town] {v. phr.} To arrive in town. * /Give me a phone call as
soon as you hit town./
[hit upon] See: HIT ON.
[hob] See: PLAY THE DEVIL WITH or PLAY HOB WITH.
[hoe] See: HARD ROW TO HOE or TOUGH ROW TO HOE.
[hoe one's own row] {v. phr.} To make your way in life by your own
efforts; get along without help. * /David's father died when he was
little, and he has always had to hoe his own row./ Syn.: PADDLE ONE'S
OWN CANOE, STAND ON ONE'S OWN FEET.
[hog] See: EAT (LIVE) HIGH ON THE HOG or EAT (LIVE) HIGH OFF THE
HOG, GO THE WHOLE HOG or GO WHOLE HOG, ROAD HOG.
[hog-tie] {v.}, {informal} 1. To tie (an animal) so it is unable to
move or escape. * /The Cowboy caught a calf and hog-tied it./ 2. To
make someone unable to act freely; limit. * /The welfare worker wanted
to help at once, but rules and regulations hog-tied her, so she could
only report the case./
[hoist with one's own petard] {adj. phr.} Caught in your own trap
or trick. * /Jack carried office gossip to the boss until he was
hoisted by his own petard./ (From Shakespeare; literally, blown up
with one's own bomb.)
[hold] See: GET HOLD OF, LAY HOLD OF, LEAVE HOLDING THE BAG or
LEAVE HOLDING THE SACK.
[hold a brief for] {v. phr.} To argue in support of; defend. -
Usually used with a negative. * /I hold no brief for John, but I do
not think he was responsible for the accident./ * /The lawyer said he
held no brief for thievery, but he considered the man should he given
another chance./
[hold a candle to] also [hold a stick to] {v. phr.} To be fit to be
compared with; be in the same class with. - A trite phrase used in
negative, interrogative, and conditional sentences. * /Henry thought
that no modern ball club could hold a candle to those of 50 years
ago./
[hold all the trumps] {v. phr.} To have the best chance of winning;
have all the advantages; have full control. * /Most of the team wants
John for captain and he is the best player. He will he elected captain
because he holds all the trumps./ * /Freddy has a quarter and I have
no money, so he holds all the trumps and can buy whatever he wants
with it./
[hold back] {v.} 1. To stay back or away; show unwillingness. *
/The visitor tried to gel the child to come to her, but he held back./
* /John held back from social activity because he felt embarrassed
with people./ 2. To keep someone in place; prevent from acting. * /The
police held back the crowd./
[hold court] {v. phr.} 1. To hold a formal meeting of a royal court
or a court of law. * /Judge Stephens allowed no foolishness when he
held court./ 2. {informal} To act like a king or queen among subjects.
* /Even at sixteen, Judy was holding court for numbers of charmed
boys./
[hold down] {v.} 1. To keep in obedience; keep control of; continue
authority or rule over. * /Kings used to know very well how to hold
down the people./ 2. {informal} To work satisfactorily at. * /John had
held down a tough job for a long time./
[hold everything] See: HOLD IT.
[hold fire] See: HOLD ONE'S FIRE.
[hold forth] {v.} 1. To offer; propose. * /As a candidate, Jones
held forth the promise of a bright future./ 2. To speak in public;
preach. - Usually used with little respect. * /Senator Smith was
holding forth on free trade./
[hold good] {v.} 1. To continue to be good; last. * /The coupon on
the cereal box offered a free toy, but the offer held good only till
the end of the year./ * /Attendance at the basketball games held good
all winter./ 2. To continue; endure: last. * /The demand for new
houses held good all that year./ * /The agreement between the schools
held good for three years./ See: HOLD TRUE.
[hold it] or [hold everything] {v. phr.}, {informal} To stop
something one is doing or getting ready to do. - Usually used as a
command. * /The pilot was starting to take off, when the control tower
ordered "Hold it!"/
[hold off] {v.} 1a. To refuse to let (someone) become friendly. *
/The president's high rank and chilly manner held people off./
Compare: KEEP AT A DISTANCE. 1b. To be rather shy or unfriendly. *
/Perkins was a scholarly man who held off from people./ Compare: KEEP
AT A DISTANCE. 2. To keep away by fighting; oppose by force. * /The
man locked himself in the house and held off the police for an hour./
3. To wait before (doing something); postpone; delay. * /Jack held off
paying for the television set until the dealer fixed it./ * /Mr. Smith
held off from building while interest rates were high./
[hold on] {v.} 1. To keep holding tightly; continue to hold
strongly. * /As Ted was pulling on the rope, it began to slip and Earl
cried, "Hold on, Ted!"/ Syn.: HANG ON. 2. To wait and not hang up a
telephone; keep a phone for later use. * /Mr. Jones asked me to hold
on while he spoke to his secretary./ 3. To keep on with a business or
job in spite of difficulties. * /It was hard to keep the store going
during the depression, but Max held on and at last met with success./
4. {informal} To wait a minute; stop. - Usually used as a command. *
/"Hold on!" John's father said, "I want the car tonight."/
[hold one's breath] {v. phr.} 1. To stop breathing for a moment
when you are excited or nervous. * /The race was so close that
everyone was holding his breath at the finish./ 2. To endure great
nervousness, anxiety, or excitement. * /John held his breath for days
before he got word that the college he chose had accepted him./
[hold one's end up] or [hold up one's end] or [keep one's end up]
or [keep up one's end] {v. phr.}, {informal} To do your share of work;
do your part. * /Mary washed the dishes so fast that Ann, who was
drying them, couldn't keep her end up./ * /Susan kept up her end of
the conversation, but Bill did not talk very much./ * /Bob said he
would lend me his bicycle if I repaired the flat tire, but he didn't
keep up his end of the bargain./
[hold one's fire] or [hold fire] {v. phr.} To keep back arguments
or facts; keep from telling something. * /Tow could have hurt Fred by
convictions./
[have the goods on] See: GET THE GOODS ON.
[have the guts to do something] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be brave
enough to do something difficult or dangerous. * /Jack wants to marry
Jilt, but he doesn't have the guts to pop the question./
[have the jump on] See: GET THE JUMP ON.
[have the last laugh] or [get the last laugh] {v. phr.} To make
someone seem foolish for having laughed at you. * /Other schools
laughed at us when our little team entered the state championship, but
we had the last laugh when we won it./ Compare: HE LAUGHS BEST WHO
LAUGHS LAST, TURN THE TABLES.
[have the laugh on] {v. phr.} To emerge as the victor. * /We were
trying to fool Paul by setting him up with a blind date who was
reportedly unattractive, but he had the laugh on us when this girl
turned out to be beautiful./
[have the lead] {v. phr.} To occupy the most prominent part in
something. * /Maria has the lead in our school play./
[have the makings of] {v. phr.} To possess the basic ingredients;
have the basic qualities to do something. * /Tom is still young but he
seems to have the makings of an excellent pianist./
[have the right-of-way] {v. phr.} To have priority in proceeding in
traffic on a public highway while other vehicles must yield and wait.
* /"Go ahead," he said. "We have the right-of-way at this
intersection."/
[have the time of one's life] See: TIME OF ONE'S LIFE.
[have the worst of] See: GET THE WORST OF.
[have to] or [have got to] {v.}, {informal} To be obliged or forced
to; need to; must. * /Do you have to go now?/ * /He had to come. His
parents made him./ * /I have got to go to the doctor./ * /I have to go
to Church./
[have to do with] {v. phr.} 1. To be about; be on the subject of or
connected with. * /The book has to do with airplanes./ 2. To know or
be a friend of; work or have business with. - Usually used in negative
sentence. * /Tom said he didn't want to have anything to do with the
new boy./ * /I had nothing to do with the party; I was home that
night./
[have too many irons in the fire] See: TOO MANY IRONS IN THE FIRE.
[have two strikes against one] or [have two strikes on one] {v.
phr.}, {informal} To have things working against you; be hindered in
several ways; be in a difficult situation; be unlikely to succeed. *
/Children from the poorest parts of a city often have two strikes
against them before they enter school./ * /George has two strikes
against him already. Everybody is against what he wants to do./
Compare: BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL. (In baseball, three strikes are out.
If the umpire calls two strikes against the batter, he has only one
strike left and will be out if he gets one more strike.)
[haw] See: HEM AND HAW.
[hay] See: HIT THE HAY.
[haystack] See: NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK.
[haywire] See: GO HAYWIRE.
[hazard] See: AT ALL HAZARDS.
[haze] See: IN A FOG or IN A HAZE.
[head] See: ACID HEAD, BEAT INTO ONE'S HEAD, BEAT ONE'S HEAD
AGAINST A WALL, BIG HEAD, COUNT HEADS, EYES IN THE BACK OF ONE'S HEAD,
FROM HEAD TO FOOT, GET THROUGH ONE'S HEAD, GOOD HEAD ON ONE'S
SHOULDERS, GO TO ONE'S HEAD, HANG ONE'S HEAD, HAVE ONE'S HEAD IN THE
SAND, HAVE ROCKS IN ONE'S HEAD, HEAP COALS OF FIRE ON ONE'S HEAD, HIT
THE NAIL ON THE HEAD, HANG OVER ONE'S HEAD, HIDE ONE'S FACE or HIDE
ONE'S HEAD, HOLD ONE'S HEAD UP, KEEP A CIVIL TONGUE IN ONE'S HEAD,
KEEP ONE'S HEAD, LOSE ONE'S HEAD, MAKE HEAD OR TAIL OF, OFF THE TOP OF
ONE'S HEAD, ON ONE'S HEAD, OUT OF ONE'S HEAD, also OFF ONE'S HEAD,
OVER ONE'S HEAD, PRICE ON ONE'S HEAD, PUT THEIR HEADS TOGETHER or LAY
THEIR HEADS TOGETHER, SWELLED HEAD, TAKE INTO ONE'S HEAD, TELL ---
WHERE TO GET OFF or TELL --- WHERE TO HEAD IN, THROW ONESELF AT
SOMEONE'S HEAD or FLING ONESELF AT SOMEONE'S HEAD, TURN ONE'S HEAD,
USE ONE'S HEAD.
[head above water] {n. phr.} out of difficulty; clear of trouble. *
/How are your marks at school? Are you keeping your head above water?/
* /Business at the store is bad. They can't keep their heads above
water./
[head and shoulders] {adv. phr.} 1. By the measure of the head and
shoulders. * /The basketball player is head and shoulders taller than
the other boys./ 2. By far; by a great deal; very much. * /She is head
and shoulders above the rest of the class in singing./ See: FAR AND
AWAY.
[header] See: DOUBLE-HEADER.
[head for] {v. phr.} To go in the direction of. * /We left early in
the morning and headed for Niagara Falls./
[head for the hills] {v. phr.}, {informal} To get far away in a
hurry; run away and hide. - Often used imperatively. * /Head for the
hills. The bandits are coming./ * /He saw the crowd chasing him, so he
headed for the hills./ * /When they saw the mean boy coming, they all
headed for the hills./ Compare: BEAT IT, LIGHT OUT, TAKE TO THE WOODS.
[head-hunting] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. The custom of seeking
out, decapitating, and preserving the heads of enemies as trophies. 2.
A search for qualified individuals to fill certain positions. * /The
president sent a committee to the colleges and universities to do some
head-hunting; we hope he finds some young talent./ 3. A systematic
destruction of opponents, especially in politics. * /Billings was
hired by the party to do some head-hunting among members of the
opposition./
[head in the clouds] See: IN THE CLOUDS.
[head in the sand] See: HIDE ONE'S HEAD IN THE SAND.
[head off] {v.} 1. To get in front of and stop, turn back, or turn
aside. * /The sheriff said to head the cattle thieves off at the
pass./ 2. To block; stop; prevent. * /He will get into trouble if
someone doesn't head him off./
[head-on] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} 1. With the head or front pointing
at; with the front facing; front end to front end. * /Our car skidded
into a head-on crash with the truck./ * /In the fog the boat ran
head-on into a log./ * /There is a head-on view of the parade from our
house./ Compare: FACE-TO-FACE. Contrast: REAR-END. 2. In a way that is
exactly opposite; against or opposed to in argument. * /If you think a
rule should be changed, a head-on attack against it is best./ * /Tom
did not want to argue head-on what the teacher said, so he said
nothing./
[head out] {v.} 1. To go or point away. * /The ship left port and
headed out to sea./ * /The car was parked beside the house. It was
headed out towards the street./ 2. {informal} Leave; start out. * /I
have a long way to go before dark. I'm going to head out./
[head over heels] also [heels over head] 1a. In a somersault;
upside down; head first. * /It was so dark Bob fell head over heels
into a big hole in the ground./ Compare: UPSIDE DOWN. 1b. In great
confusion or disorder; hastily. * /The children all tried to come in
the door at once, head over heels./ Compare: TOPSY-TURVY. 2.
{informal} Completely; deeply. * /He was head over heels in debt./ *
/She was head over heels in love./
[headshrinker] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} A psychoanalyst, also
called a shrink. * /Forrester is falling apart; his family physician
sent him to a head shrinker (to a shrink)./
[head start] {n.} 1. A beginning before someone; lead or advantage
at the beginning. * /The other racers knew they couldn't catch Don if
he got too big a head start./ * /Joe has a head start. He began to
study earlier than we did./ 2. A good beginning. * /Let's get a head
start in painting the house by getting up early./ * /The teacher gave
the class a head start on the exercise by telling them the answers to
the first two problems./ Compare: RUNNING START.
[heads or tails] {n. phr.} The two sides of a coin, especially when
the coin is tossed in the air in order to decide which of two
alternatives are to be followed. * /Tom tossed a quarter in the air
and said, "Tails, I win; heads you win."/
[heads up] {interj.}, {informal} Keep your head up and be careful
or ready. - Used as a warning to prepare for something or clear the
way * /"Heads up!" said the waiter carrying the hot food./ * /Heads
up, boys! A train is coming./ * /Heads up, now! You can do better than
that./ Syn.: LOOK ALIVE, LOOK OUT.
[heads-up] {adj.}, {informal} Wide-awake; alert; watchful;
intelligent. * /You must play hard, heads-up baseball to win this
game./ Compare: ON ONE'S TOES, ON THE BALL.
[head up] {v.}, {informal} 1. To be at the head or front of. * /The
elephants headed up the whole parade./ 2. To be the leader or boss of.
* /Mr. Jones will head up the new business./ * /The class planned a
candy sale, and they elected Mary to head it up./
[health] See: CLEAN HILL OF HEALTH.
[heap] See: STRIKE ALL OF A HEAP.
[heap coals of fire on one's head] {v. phr.}, {literary} To be kind
or helpful to someone who has done wrong to you, so that he is
ashamed. * /Alice heaped coals of fire on Mary's head by inviting her
to a party after Mary had gossiped about her./ * /Jean Valjean stole
the Bishop's silver, but the Bishop heaped coals of fire on his head
by giving the silver to him./
[hear] See: WILL NOT HEAR OF.
[hear a pin drop] {v. phr.} Absolute silence. * /It's so quiet in
the room you could hear a pin drop./
[heart] See: AFTER ONE'S OWN HEART, AT HEART, EAT ONE'S HEART OUT,
BREAK ONE'S HEART, BY HEART, CHANGE OF HEART, CROSS ONE'S HEART, DO
ONE GOOD or DO ONE'S HEART GOOD, FIND IT IN ONE'S HEART, FROM THE
BOTTOM OF ONE'S HEART or WITH ALL ONE'S HEART, FROM THE HEART, GET TO
THE HEART OF, HAVE A HEART, HEAVY HEART, LOSE HEART, LOSE ONE'S HEART,
OPEN HEART, OPEN ONE'S HEART, SEARCH ONE'S HEART, SET ONE'S HEART ON,
TAKE HEART, TAKE TO HEART, TO ONE'S HEART'S CONTENT, WEAR ONE'S HEART
ON ONE'S SLEEVE.
[heartbreaker] {n.} One with numerous admirers of the opposite sex;
one with whom others fall in love readily. * /Tom, who has four girls
in love with him at college, has developed the reputation of being a
heartbreaker./
[heart and soul(1)] {n.} Eager love; strong feeling; great
enthusiasm. Often used with a singular verb. * /When Mr. Pitt plays
the piano, his heart and soul is in it./ * /John plays tennis badly,
but with heart and soul./ * /Mary wanted a puppy with all her heart
and soul./
[heart and soul(2)] {adv.} Wholly and eagerly; with all one's
interest and strength; completely. * /Will you try to make our city a
better place? Then we are with you heart and soul./ * /Mike was heart
and soul against the new rules./ Compare: BODY AND SOUL.
[heart goes out to] {formal} You feel very sorry for; you feel pity
or sympathy for. - Used with a possessive. * /Frank's heart went out
to the poor children playing in the slum street./ * /Our hearts went
out to the young mother whose child had died./
[hear the beat] or [see the beat] {v. phr.}, {dialect} To hear of
or to see someone or something better or surpassing. - Usually used in
negative or interrogative sentences and often followed by "of". * /I
never heard the beat! John swam all the way across the river. Did you
ever hear the beat of it?/ * /The juggler spun a table around on the
tip of his finger. I never saw the beat of that./
[heart in one's mouth] or [heart in one's boots] A feeling of great
fear or nervousness. - Often considered trite. * /Charles got up to
make his first speech with his heart in his mouth./ * /My heart was in
my mouth as I went into the haunted house./ * /When the bear came out
of the woods towards us, our hearts were in our mouths./ Compare: HAIR
STAND ON END.
[heart is in the right place] or [have one's heart in the right
place] To be kind-hearted, sympathetic or well-meaning; have good
intentions. * /All the tramps and stray dogs in the neighborhood knew
that Mrs. Brown's heart was in the right place./ * /Tom looks very
rough but his heart is in the right place./
[heart miss a beat] See: HEART SKIP A BEAT.
[heart of gold] {n. phr.} A kind, generous, or forgiving nature. *
/John has a heart of gold. I never saw him angry at anyone./ * /Mrs.
Brown is a rich woman with a heart of gold./ Compare: GOOD AS GOLD,
HEART IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
[heart of stone] {n. phr.} A. nature without pity. * /Mr. Smith has
a heart of stone. He whipped his horse until it fell down./
[heart-searching] See: SEARCH ONE'S HEART.
[heart set] See: SET ONE'S HEART ON.
[heart sink] To lose hope, courage, or eagerness; be very
disappointed. * /The soldiers' hearts sank when they saw that they
were surrounded by Indians./ * /The children were happy because they
were going to the beach to swim, but their hearts sank when it began
to rain./
[heart skip a beat] or [heart miss a beat] 1. The heart leaves out
or seems to leave out a beat; the heart beats hard or leaps from
excitement or strong feeling. - Often considered trite. * /When Paul
saw the bear standing in front of him, his heart skipped a beat./ 2.
To be startled or excited from surprise, joy. or fright. * /When Linda
was told that she had won, her heart missed a beat./
[heart stand still] {v. phr.} To be very frightened or worried. *
/Johnny's heart stood still when he saw his dog run into the street in
front of a car./ * /Everybody's heart stood still when the President
announced that war was declared./ Compare: HAIR STAND ON END.
[heart-to-heart] {adj.} Speaking freely and seriously about
something private. * /The father decided to have a heart-to-heart talk
with his son about smoking./ * /She waited until they were alone so
she could have a heart-to-heart talk with him./ Compare: MAN-TO-MAN.
[hearty] See: HALE AND HEARTY.
[heat] See: CANNED HEAT.
[heave in sight] {v. phr.} To seem to rise above the horizon at sea
and come into sight; come into view; become visible. - Usually used of
ships. * /A ship hove in sight many miles away on the horizon./
[heaven] See: MOVE HEAVEN AND EARTH, WOULD THAT or WOULD HEAVEN.
[heaven knows] or [heaven only knows] See: GOD KNOWS.
[heavenly days!] {interj.}, {informal} Exclamation of amazement and
disbelief with negative coloring. * /Heavenly days! Look what
happened! The dog did it again on the Persian carpet!/ Compare: GOOD
GRIEF!
[heave to] {v.} To bring a ship to a stop; bring a sailing ship to
a standstill by setting the sails in a certain way. * /"Heave to!" the
captain shouted to his crew./ * /We fired a warning shot across the
front of the pirate ship to make her heave to./
[heave up] See: THROW UP.
[heavy] See: HANG HEAVY or HANG HEAVY ON ONE'S HANDS, HOT AND
HEAVY.
[heavy-duty] {adj.} Made for long or hard use; very strong. * /The
lumberman used heavy-duty trucks for hauling logs down the mountains./
* /The workers in the steel mill have heavy-duty gloves for handling
hot steel./ * /Mrs. Carlson bought a heavy-duty cleanser to clean her
greasy oven./
[heavy-footed] {adj.} 1. Slow and clumsy in walking or movement;
awkward in using your feet. * /The fat man tried to dance, but he was
too heavy-footed./ * /Martha is not fat, but she is heavy-footed and
walks noisily./ 2. Awkward in choice and order of words; not smooth
and graceful; clumsy. * /In Mary's compositions, the words seem to
dance, but John's compositions are always heavy-footed./ 3. or
[lead-footed] {informal} Likely to drive an automobile fast. * /Jerry
is a bad driver because he is too heavy-footed./ Compare: STEP ON IT.
[heavy-handed] {adj.} 1. Not skillful or graceful; clumsy. *
/George is heavy-handed and seldom catches the ball./ * /My sister
plays the piano badly; she is too heavy-handed./ * /Tim told a
heavy-handed joke about the principal's baldness that embarrassed
everyone./ 2. Likely to hit or punish hard; harsh or cruel in making
(someone) obey. * /Years ago many fathers were heavy-handed bosses in
their homes./ * /Many American colonists believed that the English tax
collectors were too heavy-handed./ 3. See: HAM-HANDED.
[heavy heart] {n. phr.} A feeling of being weighed down with
sorrow; unhappiness. * /They had very heavy hearts as they went to the
funeral./
[heck] See: RAISE THE DEVIL or RAISE HECK or RAISE HOB or RAISE
NED.
[heck of it] See: DEVIL OF IT.
[hedge about] or [hedge in] 1. To surround with a hedge or barrier;
protect or separate by closing in. * /The house is hedged about with
hushes and trees./ * /The little garden is hedged in to keep the
chickens out./ 2. To keep from getting out or moving freely; keep from
acting freely; block in. * /The boys are hedged in today. They can
only play in the backyard./ * /The king said he could not make new
laws if he was so hedged in by old ones./ Syn.: FENCE IN.
[hedged in] See: FENCED IN.
[heed] See: TAKE HEED.
[heel] See: AT ONE'S HEELS, COOL ONE'S HEELS, DOWN AT-THE-HEEL or
DOWN-AT-HEEL, DRAG ONE'S FEET or DRAG ONE'S HEELS, HEAD OVER HEELS,
KICK UP ONE'S HEELS, ON ONE'S HEELS or ON THE HEELS OF, SET BACK ON
ONE'S HEELS or KNOCK BACK ON ONE'S HEELS, TAKE TO ONE'S HEELS also
SHOW A CLEAN PAIR OF HEELS, TO HEEL, TURN ON ONE'S HEEL, WELL-HEELED.
[heels over head] See: HEAD OVER HEELS.
[he laughs best who laughs last] A person should go ahead with what
he is doing and not worry when others laugh at him. When he succeeds
he will enjoy laughing at them for being wrong more than they enjoyed
laughing at him. - A proverb. * /Everyone laughed at Mary when she was
learning to ski. She kept falling down. Now she is the state champion.
He laughs best who laughs last./ Compare: CHANGE ONE'S TUNE, LAST
LAUGH, LAUGH ON THE OTHER SIDE OF ONE'S MOUTH, SHOE ON THE OTHER FOOT.
[hell] See: COME HELL OR HIGH WATER, GO THROUGH HELL AND HIGH
WATER, HELL-ON-WHEELS, LIKE HELL, TO HELL WITH, UNTIL HELL FREEZES
OVER, WHEN HELL FREEZES OVER.
[hell and high water] {n. phr.} Troubles or difficulties of any
kind. * /After John's father died he went through hell and high water,
but he managed to keep the family together./ Compare: COME HELL OR
HIGH WATER.
[hell-on-wheels] {n.}, {slang} A short-tempered, nagging, or crabby
person especially one who makes another unhappy by constantly
criticizing him even when he has done nothing wrong. * /Finnegan
complains that his wife is hell on wheels; he is considering getting a
divorce./
[help] See: CAN HELP, CAN'T HELP BUT or CANNOT BUT, SO HELP ME.
[help oneself] {v. phr.} To take what you want; take rather than
ask or wail to be given. * /Help yourself to another piece of pie./ *
/John helped himself to some candy without asking./
[help out] {v.} 1. To be helpful or useful; help sometimes or
somewhat. * /Mr. Smith helps out with the milking on the farm./ * /Tom
helps out in the store after school./ 2. To help (someone) especially
in a time of need; aid; assist. * /Jane is helping out Mother by
minding the baby./ * /When John couldn't add the numbers, the teacher
helped him out./
[helter-skelter] {adv.} 1. At a fast speed, but in confusion. *
/The hatted ball broke Mr. Jones's window, and the boys ran away
helter-skelter./ * /When the bell rang, the pupils ran helter-skelter
out of the door./ 2. In a confusing group; in disorder. * /The movers
piled the furniture helter-skelter in the living room of the new
house./ * /Mary fell down and her books, papers, and lunch landed
helter-skelter over the sidewalk./ Compare: EVERY WHICH WAY.
[he-man] {n.}, {informal} A man who is very strong, brave, and
healthy. * /Larry was a real he-man when he returned from service with
the Marines./
[hem and haw] {v. phr.} 1. To pause or hesitate while speaking,
often with little throat noises. * /The man was a poor lecturer
because he hemmed and hawed too much./ 2. To avoid giving a clear
answer; be evasive in speech. * /The principal asked Bob why he was
late to school, and Bob only hemmed and hawed./ Compare: BEAT AROUND
THE BUSH.
[hem in] or [hem around] or [hem about] {v.} 1. To put something
around, or to be placed around; surround. * /Mountains hemmed the town
in on all sides./ * /As soon as Tom and Bob started to fight, they
were hemmed around by other boys./ 2. See: FENCE IN.
[hen] See: MAD AS A HORNET or MAD AS HOPS or MAD AS A WET HEN.
[hen party] {n. phr.}, {informal} A party to which only women or
girls are invited. * /The sorority gave a hen party for its members./
Contrast: STAG PARTY. See: GO STAG.
[Henry] See: JOHN HANCOCK or JOHN HENRY.
[her] See: GIVE IT THE GUN or GIVE HER THE GUN.
[herd] See: RIDE HERD ON.
[here] See: ALL THERE or ALL HERE, NEITHER HERE NOR THERE, SAME
HERE.
[here and now(1)] {adv. phr.} At this very time and place; right
now; immediately. * /I want my dime back, and I want it here and now./
Compare: THEN AND THERE.
[here and now(2)] {n.} The present time and place; today. * /He
enjoys the pleasures of the here and now and never worries about the
future./ * /"I want my steak here and now!"/
[here and there] {adv. phr.} 1. In one place and then in another. *
/I looked here and there for my pen, but I didn't look everywhere./ *
/Here and there in the yard little yellow flowers had sprung up./ 2.
In various directions. * /We went here and there looking for berries./
Compare: HITHER AND THITHER.
[here goes] {interj.}, {informal} I am ready to begin; I am now
ready and willing to take the chance; I am hoping for the best. - Said
especially before beginning something that takes skill, luck, or
courage. * /"Here goes!" said Charley, as he jumped off the high
diving board./ * /"Here goes!" said Mary as she started the test./
[here goes nothing] {interj.}, {informal} I am ready to begin, but
this will be a waste of time; this will not be anything great; this
will probably fail. - Used especially before beginning something that
takes skill, luck or courage. * /"Here goes nothing," said Bill at the
beginning of the race./
[hide] See: HAVE ONE'S HIDE, TAN ONE'S HIDE.
[hide one's face] or [hide one's head] {v. phr.} 1. To lower your
head or turn your face away because of shame or embarrassment. * /The
teacher found out that Tom had cheated, and Tom hid his head./ * /When
Bob said how pretty Mary was, she blushed and hid her face./ 2. To
feel embarrassed or ashamed. * /We will beat the other team so badly
that they will hide their heads in shame./
[hide one's head in the sand] or [bury one's head in the sand] or
[have one's head in the sand] To keep from seeing, knowing, or
understanding something dangerous or unpleasant; to refuse to see or
face something. * /If there is a war, you cannot just bury your head
in the sand./
[hide one's light under a bushel] {v. phr.} To be very shy and
modest and not show your abilities or talents; be too modest in
letting others see what you can do. * /When Joan is with her close
friends she has a wonderful sense of humor, but usually she hides her
light under a bushel./ * /Mr. Smith is an expert in many fields, but
most people think he is not very smart because he hides his light
under a bushel./ * /All year long Tommy hid his light under a bushel
and the teacher was surprised to see how much he knew when she read
his exam paper./
[hide or hair] or [hide nor hair] {n. phr.}, {informal} A sign or
trace of someone that is gone or lost; any sign at all of something
missing. Usually used in negative or interrogative sentence. * /Tommy
left the house this morning and I haven't seen hide or hair of him
since./ * /A button fell off my coat and I could find neither hide nor
hair of it./
[hide out] {v. phr.} To go into hiding, as in the case of a
criminal on the run. * /He tried to hide out but the police tracked
him down./
[hideout] {n.} A place where one hides. * /The wanted criminal used
several hideouts but he was captured in the end./
[high] See: COME HELL OR HIGH WATER, FLYING HIGH, GO THROUGH HELL
AND HIGH WATER, HELL AND HIGH WATER, HIT THE HIGH SPOTS, LIVE HIGH OFF
THE HOG or EAT HIGH ON THE HOG, OFF ONE'S HIGH HORSE, ON TOP OF THE
WORLD or SITTING ON TOP OF THE WORLD also ({Southern}) SITTING ON HIGH
COTTON, RIDING HIGH.
[high and dry] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. Up above the water; beyond
the reach of splashing or waves. * /Mary was afraid she had left her
towel where the tide would reach it, but she found it high and dry./ *
/When the tide went out the boat was high and dry./ 2. Without anyone
to help; alone and with no help. * /When the time came to put up the
decorations, Mary was left high and dry./ * /At first the other boys
helped, but when the work got hard. Bob found himself high and dry./
Compare: LEAVE IN THE LURCH, OUT IN THE COLD.
[high and low] {adv.} Everywhere. * /The police were searching for
the criminal high and low, but they couldn't find him./
[high-and-mighty] {adj.}, {informal} Feeling more important or
superior to someone else; too proud of yourself. * /John wasn't
invited to the party, because he acted too high-and-mighty./ * /Mary
become high-and-mighty when she won the prize, and Joan would not go
around with her any more./ Compare: STUCK-UP.
[high as a kite] {adj.} 1. As excited and happy as one can possibly
be. * /When Eric won the lottery he was high as a kite./ 2.
Intoxicated or under the influence of some drug. * /Jeff has been
drinking again and he is high as a kite./ Compare: THREE SHEETS IN/TO
THE WIND.
[highbrow] {adj.} Very well educated or even over-educated;
belonging to the educated middle class; sophisticated. * /Certain
novels are not for everyone and are considered as highbrow
entertainment./ Contrast: LOW BROW.
[high camp] {n.}, {slang}, {show business} 1. Kitsch, or
pretentious material in bad taste that is still liked by higher class
audiences. * /"The Potsdam Quartet" is a play full of high camp./ 2.
An exaggerated movie or theater scene that loses believability. *
/Scarecrow and Mrs. King and Sledge Hammer are so full of high camp
that no sensible people watch them anymore./ [middle camp] and [low
camp] refer to theatrical kitsch preferred by middle class and low
class audiences, respectively.
[high-class] {adj.} Of the best quality; very good; superior. -
Avoided by many careful speakers. * /When Mr. Brown got a raise in
pay, Mrs. Brown started to look for a high-class apartment./ * /Mrs.
Smith always gets her clothing at high-class shops./ * /Mr. Jones
always gets his office workers from Burns Agency because they have
high-class help./ Compare: FIRST-CLASS.
[higher education] {n.} Schooling after graduation from high
school, especially in a college or university. * /Tom plans to get his
higher education at the state university./
[higher-up] {n.}, {informal} One of the people who has one of the
more important positions in an organization; an important official. *
/The teacher's problem was discussed by the higher-ups./ * /The local
officers of the scout group approved the plan, but the state
higher-ups did not accept it./
[high fashion] or [high style] {n. phr.} The new style in women's
dress set each season by designers in Paris or other fashion centers
and accepted by fashionable women. * /The high styles designed in
Paris are often quickly copied by makers of cheap clothing./
[high gear] {n. phr.}, {informal} Top speed; full activity. *
/Production got into high gear after the vacation./ * /An advertising
campaign for the new toothpaste promptly moved into high gear./
[high-handed] {adj.} Depending on force rather than right; bossy;
dictatorial. * /With high-handed daring, John helped himself to the
best food on the table./ * /Mr. Smith was a high-handed tyrant in his
office./
[high-hat(1)] {adj.}, {slang} Treating others as inferior; acting
above others. /It was an expensive place to eat, and the customers
were likely to be a little high-hat./ /Jones acted high-hat toward
anyone poorer than he./
[high-hat(2)] {v.}, {slang} To treat others as inferior; look down
on. * /After she had married a rich man, Mary high-hatted her former
friends./ * /"Don't high-hat me," Fred warned, when Harry began to
walk away as if he didn't know him./ Compare: BRUSH OFF.
[high jinks] {n. phr.}, {informal} Noisy or rough gaiety; wild
play; tricks. * /The sailors were on shore leave, and high jinks were
to be expected./ * /The high school seniors engaged in high jinks
after commencement./
[high off the hog] See: LIVE HIGH OFF THE HOG.
[high on] {adj. phr.} 1. Intoxicated on some drug or alcoholic
drink. * /Rob was severely scolded by the dean for always being high
on marijuana./ 2. Enthusiastic about something. * /Jeff is high on
Beethoven and Brahms./
[high place] {n. phr.} A position of responsibility, honor, and
power. * /Jones had reached a high place in the government at
Washington./
[high seas] {n. phr.} The open ocean, not the waters near the
coast. * /It was a big powerful liner built to sail on the high seas./
* /The ships of every country have the right to sail on the high
seas./
[high season] {n. phr.} The time of year when the largest number of
passengers are travelling; the time when airfare costs more. * /We had
to pay $100 more for our tickets because it was the high season./
Contrast: LOW SEASON.
[high sign] {n. phr.}, {informal} A silent signal of recognition,
greeting, or warning; an open or secret signal between two persons. -
Used with "get" or "give". * /The Joneses saw us across the hotel
dining room and gave us the high sign./ * /John could see that Grace
wanted to tell him something, but he got her attention and frowned.
She got the high sign and waited until the teacher had moved on before
speaking./
[high-sounding] {adj.} Sounding important; said for showing off;
too fancy. * /The politician's speech was full of high-sounding
words./ * /Mr. Brown filled his son with many high-sounding ideas
about life./
[high-strung] {adj.} Nervous; sensitive; tense. * /Gary has been
rather high-strung lately because of too much work at the office./
[high style] See: HIGH FASHION.
[hightail it] {v. phr.}, {slang} To travel fast; move rapidly. *
/After school, Frank would hightail it home./ * /The two men who held
up the bank hightailed it out of town./
[high time] {adj. phr.}, {used predicatively} (stress on "time")
Dire, necessary, and sufficient circumstances prompting action. * /It
is high time we sold the old house; it will fall apart within a year./
[highway] See: DIVIDED HIGHWAY or DUAL HIGHWAY.
[highway robbery] {n. phr.} 1. A hold-up of or theft from a person
committed on an open road or street usually by an armed man. *
/Highway robbery was common in England in Shakespeare's day./ 2. An
extremely high price or charge; a profiteer's excessive charge. * /To
someone from a small town, the prices of meals and theater tickets in
New York often seem to he highway robbery./
[hill] See: GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE
or GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HILL, HEAD FOR THE
HILLS.
[hilt] See: TO THE HILT or UP TO THE HILT.
[hinge on] or [hinge upon] {v.} To depend on as decisive: be
decided by. * /In a dictatorship, everything hinges on one man./ * /A
tobacco grower's income for the year may hinge on what the weather is
like in a few summer weeks./
[hired man] {n. phr.} A man employed to do jobs every day about a
house or farm. * /The hired man was sick, and a lot of the daily
chores were not done./
[hire out] {v.}, {informal} 1. To accept a job; take employment. *
/Frank hired out as a saxophonist with a dance band./ 2. To rent (as
owner). * /John used to hire out his tractor sometimes when he didn't
need it himself./
[history] See: GO DOWN IN HISTORY or GO DOWN IN THE RECORDS.
[hit] See: HARD-HITTING, MAKE A HIT, SMASH HIT.
[hit and miss] See: HIT OR MISS.
[hit-and-run] {adj.} 1. Of or about an accident after which a
motorist drives away without giving his name and offering help. *
/Judges are stern with hit-and-run drivers./ 2. Striking suddenly and
leaving quickly. * /The bandits often made hit-and-run attacks on
wagon trains./
[hit below the belt] See: BELOW THE BELT.
[hit between the eyes] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make a strong
impression on; surprise greatly. * /Helen hit Joe right between the
eyes the moment he saw her./ * /It was a wonderfully lifelike picture,
and it hit Sol right between the eyes./ * /To learn that his parents
had endured poverty for his sake hit John between the eyes./
[hit bottom] or [touch bottom] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To be at
the very lowest. * /In August there was a big supply of corn and the
price hit bottom./ * /When Johnny failed the exam his spirits hit
bottom./ 2. To live through the worst; not to be able to go any lower.
* /After all their troubles, they thought they had hit bottom and then
something else happened./ * /When they lost all their money they
thought they had touched bottom and things would have to get better./
[hitch one's wagon to a star] {v. phr.} To aim high; follow a great
ambition or purpose, * /In trying to be a famous pianist, Mary had
hitched her wagon to a star./ * /John hitched his wagon to a star and
decided to try to become President./
[hither and thither] or [hither and yon] {adv. phr.}, {literary} In
one direction and then in another. * /Bob wandered hither and thither
looking for a playmate./ Compare: HERE AND THERE.
[hither and yon] See: HITHER AND THITHER.
[hit home] {v. phr.} To go directly to the mark; strike a
vulnerable spot. * /His remark hit home when he referred to those who
do not contribute sufficiently to the college fund drive./
[hit it off] {v. phr.}, {informal} To enjoy one another's company;
be happy and comfortable in each other's presence. * /Tom and Fred hit
it off well with each other./ * /Mary and Jane hit it off from the
first./ Syn.: GET ALONG.
[hit on] or [hit upon] {v.} To happen to meet, find, or reach; to
choose or think by chance, * /John hit on a business that was just
starting to grow rapidly./ * /There seemed to be several explanations
of the crime, but the detectives hit on the right one the first time./
Compare: HAPPEN ON.
[hit on all cylinders] {v. phr.} 1. To run smoothly or at full
power without any missing or skipping. - Said of a motor. * /The
mechanic tuned the car engine until it was hitting on all cylinders./
2. {informal} To think or work well; to use all your ability. * /The
football team was hitting on all cylinders and scored a big victory./
* /Bob began to write his examination, and found himself hitting on
all cylinders./
[hit one's stride] {v. phr.} 1. To walk or run at your best speed;
reach your top speed or game. * /After walking the first mile, Jim was
just hitting his stride./ * /The horse began to hit his stride and
moved ahead of the other horses in the race./ 2. To do your best work;
do the best job you are able to. * /Mary didn't begin to hit her
stride in school until the fifth grade./
[hit-or-miss] also [hit-and-miss] {adj.} Unplanned; uncontrolled;
aimless; careless. * /John did a lot of hit-or-miss reading, some of
it about taxes./ * /Mary packed her bag in hurried, hit-or-miss
fashion./
[hit or miss] also [hit and miss] {adv.} In an unplanned or
uncontrolled way; aimlessly; carelessly. * /George didn't know which
house on the street was Jane's, so he began ringing doorbells hit or
miss./
[hit parade] {n.} 1. A list of songs or tunes arranged in order of
popularity. * /Tom was overjoyed when his new song was named on the
hit parade on the local radio station./ 2. {slang} A list of favorites
in order of popularity. * /Jack is no longer number one on Elsie's hit
parade./
[hitter] See: PINCH HIT, PINCH HITTER, PULL HITTER.
[hit the books] {v. phr.}, {informal} To study your school
assignments, prepare for classes. * /Jack broke away from his friends,
saying, "I've got to hit the books."/
[hit the bull's-eye] {v. phr.}, {informal} To go to the important
part of the matter; reach the main question. * /John hit the
bull's-eye when he said the big question was one of simple honesty./
[hit the ceiling] or [hit the roof] {v. phr.}, {slang} To become
violently angry; go into a rage. * /When Elaine came home at three in
the morning, her father hit the ceiling./ * /Bob hit the roof when Joe
teased him./ Syn.: BLOW A FUSE.
[hit the deck] {v. phr.} To get up from bed, to start working.
(From sailor's language as in "All hands on the deck!") * /OK boys,
it's time to hit the deck!/
[hit the dirt] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {military} To take cover under
gunfire by falling on the ground. * /We hit the dirt the moment we
heard the machine gun fire./
[hit the fan] {v. phr.}, {informal} To become a big public problem
or controversy. * /The whole mess hit the fan when the judge was
arrested for drunken driving for the second time./
[hit the hay] or [hit the sack] {v. phr.}, {slang} To go to bed. *
/The men hit the hay early, in order to be out hunting at dawn./ *
/Louis was so tired that he hit the sack soon after supper./
[hit the high spots] {v. phr.} To consider, mention, or see only
the more important parts of something such as a book, war, or school
course. * /In his lecture, the speaker hit the high spots of his
subject./ * /The first course in general science hits only the high
spots of the physical sciences./ * /The Bakers went to the fair for
one day, and only hit the high spots./
[hit the jackpot] {v. phr.}, {slang} To be very lucky or
successful. * /Mr. Brown invented a new gadget which hit the jackpot./
* /Mrs. Smith hit the jackpot when she got Lula for a maid./
[hit the nail on the head] {v. phr.} To get something exactly
right; speak or act in the most fitting or effective way. * /The
mayor's talk on race relations hit the nail on the head./
[hit the road] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To become a wanderer; to live
an idle life; become a tramp or hobo. * /When Jack's wife left him, he
felt a desire to travel, so he hit the road./ 2. To leave, especially
in a car. * /It is getting late, so I guess we will hit the road for
home./ * /He packed his car and hit the road for California./
[hit the roof] See: HIT THE CEILING.
[hit the sack] See: HIT THE HAY.
[hit the sauce] {v. phr.}, {slang} To drink alcoholic beverages -
especially heavily and habitually. * /When Sue left him, Joe began to
hit the sauce./
[hit the spot] {v. phr.}, {informal} To refresh fully or satisfy
you; bring back your spirits or strength. - Used especially of food or
drink. * /A cup of tea always hits the spot when you are tired./ *
/Mother's apple pie always hits the spot with the boys./
[hit town] {v. phr.} To arrive in town. * /Give me a phone call as
soon as you hit town./
[hit upon] See: HIT ON.
[hob] See: PLAY THE DEVIL WITH or PLAY HOB WITH.
[hoe] See: HARD ROW TO HOE or TOUGH ROW TO HOE.
[hoe one's own row] {v. phr.} To make your way in life by your own
efforts; get along without help. * /David's father died when he was
little, and he has always had to hoe his own row./ Syn.: PADDLE ONE'S
OWN CANOE, STAND ON ONE'S OWN FEET.
[hog] See: EAT (LIVE) HIGH ON THE HOG or EAT (LIVE) HIGH OFF THE
HOG, GO THE WHOLE HOG or GO WHOLE HOG, ROAD HOG.
[hog-tie] {v.}, {informal} 1. To tie (an animal) so it is unable to
move or escape. * /The Cowboy caught a calf and hog-tied it./ 2. To
make someone unable to act freely; limit. * /The welfare worker wanted
to help at once, but rules and regulations hog-tied her, so she could
only report the case./
[hoist with one's own petard] {adj. phr.} Caught in your own trap
or trick. * /Jack carried office gossip to the boss until he was
hoisted by his own petard./ (From Shakespeare; literally, blown up
with one's own bomb.)
[hold] See: GET HOLD OF, LAY HOLD OF, LEAVE HOLDING THE BAG or
LEAVE HOLDING THE SACK.
[hold a brief for] {v. phr.} To argue in support of; defend. -
Usually used with a negative. * /I hold no brief for John, but I do
not think he was responsible for the accident./ * /The lawyer said he
held no brief for thievery, but he considered the man should he given
another chance./
[hold a candle to] also [hold a stick to] {v. phr.} To be fit to be
compared with; be in the same class with. - A trite phrase used in
negative, interrogative, and conditional sentences. * /Henry thought
that no modern ball club could hold a candle to those of 50 years
ago./
[hold all the trumps] {v. phr.} To have the best chance of winning;
have all the advantages; have full control. * /Most of the team wants
John for captain and he is the best player. He will he elected captain
because he holds all the trumps./ * /Freddy has a quarter and I have
no money, so he holds all the trumps and can buy whatever he wants
with it./
[hold back] {v.} 1. To stay back or away; show unwillingness. *
/The visitor tried to gel the child to come to her, but he held back./
* /John held back from social activity because he felt embarrassed
with people./ 2. To keep someone in place; prevent from acting. * /The
police held back the crowd./
[hold court] {v. phr.} 1. To hold a formal meeting of a royal court
or a court of law. * /Judge Stephens allowed no foolishness when he
held court./ 2. {informal} To act like a king or queen among subjects.
* /Even at sixteen, Judy was holding court for numbers of charmed
boys./
[hold down] {v.} 1. To keep in obedience; keep control of; continue
authority or rule over. * /Kings used to know very well how to hold
down the people./ 2. {informal} To work satisfactorily at. * /John had
held down a tough job for a long time./
[hold everything] See: HOLD IT.
[hold fire] See: HOLD ONE'S FIRE.
[hold forth] {v.} 1. To offer; propose. * /As a candidate, Jones
held forth the promise of a bright future./ 2. To speak in public;
preach. - Usually used with little respect. * /Senator Smith was
holding forth on free trade./
[hold good] {v.} 1. To continue to be good; last. * /The coupon on
the cereal box offered a free toy, but the offer held good only till
the end of the year./ * /Attendance at the basketball games held good
all winter./ 2. To continue; endure: last. * /The demand for new
houses held good all that year./ * /The agreement between the schools
held good for three years./ See: HOLD TRUE.
[hold it] or [hold everything] {v. phr.}, {informal} To stop
something one is doing or getting ready to do. - Usually used as a
command. * /The pilot was starting to take off, when the control tower
ordered "Hold it!"/
[hold off] {v.} 1a. To refuse to let (someone) become friendly. *
/The president's high rank and chilly manner held people off./
Compare: KEEP AT A DISTANCE. 1b. To be rather shy or unfriendly. *
/Perkins was a scholarly man who held off from people./ Compare: KEEP
AT A DISTANCE. 2. To keep away by fighting; oppose by force. * /The
man locked himself in the house and held off the police for an hour./
3. To wait before (doing something); postpone; delay. * /Jack held off
paying for the television set until the dealer fixed it./ * /Mr. Smith
held off from building while interest rates were high./
[hold on] {v.} 1. To keep holding tightly; continue to hold
strongly. * /As Ted was pulling on the rope, it began to slip and Earl
cried, "Hold on, Ted!"/ Syn.: HANG ON. 2. To wait and not hang up a
telephone; keep a phone for later use. * /Mr. Jones asked me to hold
on while he spoke to his secretary./ 3. To keep on with a business or
job in spite of difficulties. * /It was hard to keep the store going
during the depression, but Max held on and at last met with success./
4. {informal} To wait a minute; stop. - Usually used as a command. *
/"Hold on!" John's father said, "I want the car tonight."/
[hold one's breath] {v. phr.} 1. To stop breathing for a moment
when you are excited or nervous. * /The race was so close that
everyone was holding his breath at the finish./ 2. To endure great
nervousness, anxiety, or excitement. * /John held his breath for days
before he got word that the college he chose had accepted him./
[hold one's end up] or [hold up one's end] or [keep one's end up]
or [keep up one's end] {v. phr.}, {informal} To do your share of work;
do your part. * /Mary washed the dishes so fast that Ann, who was
drying them, couldn't keep her end up./ * /Susan kept up her end of
the conversation, but Bill did not talk very much./ * /Bob said he
would lend me his bicycle if I repaired the flat tire, but he didn't
keep up his end of the bargain./
[hold one's fire] or [hold fire] {v. phr.} To keep back arguments
or facts; keep from telling something. * /Tow could have hurt Fred by