H

[hackle] See: RAISE HACKLES or RAISE ONE’S HACKLES.

[had as soon] or [had as lief] See: AS SOON.

[had better] or [had best] {informal} Should; must. •/I had better leave now, or I’ll be late./ •/If you want to stay out of trouble, you had best not make any mistakes. / •/Jim decided he had better do his homework instead of playing ball./

[had rather] or [had sooner] {v.} To choose to (do one thing instead of another thing); like better to; would prefer to. — Used with an infinitive without "to". •/My aunt invited me to the movies, but I said I had rather go on a picnic with the girls./ •/I had sooner live in the city than on a farm./

[hall] See: WITHIN CALL or WITHIN HAIL.

[hail-fellow-well-met(1)]{adj. phr.} Talking easily and in a friendly way to everyone you meet. •/John won the election as class president because he was hail-fellow-well-met./

[hail-fellow-well-met(2)]{n. phr.} A good friend and companion; buddy; pal. •/John just moved to town but he and the boys in the neighborhood are already hail-fellows-well-met./

[hail from]{v.}, {informal} To have your home in; come from; be from; especially, to have been born and raised in. •/Mrs. Gardner hails from Mississippi./ •/Mr. Brown and Mr. White are old friends because they both hail from the same town./

[hair] See: CURL ONE’S HAIR, GET GRAY HAIR or GET GRAY, GIVE GRAY HAIR, HANG BY A THREAD or HANG BY A HAIR, HIDE OR HAIR or HIDE NOR HAIR, IN ONE’S HAIR, LET ONE’S HAIR DOWN, OUT OF ONE’S HAIR, SPLIT HAIRS, TEAR ONE’S HAIR.

[haircut place]{n.}, {slang}, {citizen’s band radio jargon} Bridge or overpass with tight clearance. •/Are we going to make it in that haircut place?/

[hairdo]{n.} Style or manner of arranging, combing, or wearing one’s hair. •/"How do you like my new hairdo?" Jane asked, as she left the beauty parlor./

[hair stand on end]{informal} The hair of your head rises stiffly upwards as a sign or result of great fright or horror. •/When he heard the strange cry, his hair stood on end./ •/The sight of the dead man made his hair stand on end./ Compare: BLOOD RUN COLD, HEART IN ONE’S MOUTH, HEART STAND STILL, JUMP OUT OF ONE’S SKIN, SPINE-CHILLING.

[hale and hearty]{adj. phr.} In very good health; well and strong. •/Grandfather will be 80 years old tomorrow, but he is hale and hearty./ •/That little boy looks hale and hearty, as if he is never sick./

[half] See: GO HALVES, GO OFF HALF-COCKED also GO OFF AT HALF COCK, IN HALF, SIX OF ONE AND HALF-A-DOZEN OF THE OTHER, TIME AND A HALF, TOO-BY HALF.

[half a chance] or [a half chance] {n.} An opportunity; a reasonable chance. •/Just give yourself half a chance and you will quickly get used to your new job./

[half a loaf is better than none] or [half a loaf is better than no bread] Part of what we want or need is better than nothing. — A proverb. •/Albert wanted two dollars for shoveling snow from the sidewalk but the lady would only give him a dollar. And he said that half a loaf is better than none./ Compare: BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.

[half a mind] also [half a notion] {n. phr.}, {informal} A wish or plan that you have not yet decided to act on; a thought of possibly doing something. — Used after "have" or "with" and before "to" and an infinitive. •/I have half a mind to stop studying and walk over to the brook./ •/Jerry went home with half a mind to telephone Betty./

[half-and-half(1)]{adj.} As much one thing as the other. •/We asked the coach if more boys than girls were interested in debating, and he said it was about half-and-half./ •/The show last night was neither very good nor very poor — just half-and-half./ Compare: FIFTY-FIFTY.

[half-and-half(2)]{n.} A mixture of milk and cream in equal parts, used with cereal or coffee. •/John uses half-and-half with his cereal, but his wife, who is dieting, uses milk./

[half an eye]{n. phr.} A slight glance; a quick look. •/The substitute teacher could see with half an eye that she was going to have trouble with the class./ •/While Mary was cooking she kept half an eye on the baby to see that he didn’t get into mischief./

[half bad] See: NOT BAD.

[half-baked]{adj.}, {informal} Not thought out or studied thoroughly; not worth considering or accepting. •/We wish Tom would not take our time at meetings to offer his half-baked ideas./ •/We cannot afford to put the government in the hands of people with half-baked plans./

[half-hearted]{adj.} Lacking enthusiasm or interest. •/Phil made several half-hearted attempts to learn word processing, but we could see that he didn’t really like it./

[half-holiday]{n.} A day on which you get out of school or work in the afternoon. •/The principal said that Tuesday would be a half-holiday./

[half the battle]{n. phr.} A large part of the work. •/When you write an essay for class, making the outline is half the battle./ •/To see your faults and decide to change is half the battle of self-improvement./

[half-time]{n.} A rest period in the middle of certain games. •/I saw Henry at the football game and I went over and talked to him at half-time./ •/The pep squad put on a drill at half-time when we played basketball with our old rivals./

[halfway] See: GO HALFWAY or MEET ONE HALF-WAY or GO HALFWAY TO MEET ONE.

[halt] See: CALL A HALT, GRIND TO A HALT.

[ham actor]{n. phr.}, {slang} An untalented actor; someone who tries so hard to act that his performance becomes foolishly exaggerated. •/Fred is a ham actor who, instead of memorizing his lines, keeps moving around in a ridiculous way./

[ham-handed]{adj.}, {slang} 1. Having very large hands. •/Pete is a big, ham-handed man who used to be a football player./ 2. See: HEAVY-HANDED.

[ham it up]{v. phr.}, {slang} To do more than look natural in acting a part; pretend too much; exaggerate. •/When Tom told the teacher he was too sick to do homework, he really hammed it up./ •/The old-fashioned movies are funny to us because the players hammed it up./ Compare: LAY IT ON.

[hammer] See: GO AT IT HAMMER AND TONGS, UNDER THE HAMMER.

[hammer and tongs]{adv. phr.} Violently. •/Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been at it all day, hammer and tongs./

[hammer at] or [hammer away at] {v.} 1. To work steadily at; keep at. •/That lesson is not easy, but hammer away at it and you will get it right./ 2. To talk about again and again; emphasize. •/The speaker hammered at his opponent’s ideas./

[hammer out]{v.} 1. To write or produce by hard work. •/The President sat at his desk till midnight hammering out his speech for the next day./ 2. To remove, change, or work out by discussion and debate; debate and agree on (something). •/Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Green have hammered out their difference of opinion./ •/The club members have hammered out an agreement between the two groups./ Compare: IRON OUT.

[Hancock] See: JOHN HANCOCK or JOHN HENRY.

[hand] See: AT HAND, BIRD IN THE HAND IS WORTH TWO IN THE BUSH, BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS ONE, CLEAN HANDS, DIRTY ONE’S HANDS, EAT OUT OF ONE’S HAND, FORCE ONE’S HAND, FREE HAND, FROM HAND TO HAND, GLAD HAND, HAM-HANDED, HANG HEAVY or HANG HEAVY ON ONE’S HANDS, HAT IN HAND, HAVE A HAND IN, HAVE ONE’S HANDS FULL, HEAVY-HANDED, IN HAND, JOIN FORCES or JOIN HANDS, KEEP ONE’S HAND IN, LAY HANDS ON, LAY ONE’S HANDS ON or GET ONE’S HAND ON or PUT ONE’S HAND ON, LEND A HAND or GIVE A HAND or BEAR A HAND, LET ONE’S LEFT HAND KNOW WHAT ONE’S RIGHT HAND IS DOING, LIFT A FINGER or LIFT A HAND also RAISE A HAND, LIVE FROM HAND TO MOUTH, MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK, OFF ONE’S HANDS, ON HAND, ON ONE’S HANDS, ON THE OTHER HAND, OUT OF HAND, PLAY INTO ONE’S HANDS, PUT ONE’S HAND TO or SET ONE’S HAND TO or TURN ONE’S HAND TO, PUT ONE’S HAND TO THE PLOW, ROB THE TILL or HAVE ONE’S HAND IN THE TILL, SECTION HAND, SIT ON ONE’S HANDS, TAKE ONE’S LIFE IN ONE’S HANDS, TAKE THE LAW INTO ONE’S OWN HANDS, THROW UP ONE’S HANDS, THROW UP ONE’S HANDS IN HORROR, TIE ONE’S HANDS, TRY ONE’S HAND, UPPER HAND or WHIP HAND, WASH ONE’S HANDS OF.

[hand and foot]{adv. phr.} 1. So that the hands and feet cannot be used. — Used with "bind" or a synonym. •/The robbers bound him hand and foot and left him on the floor./ 2. So that no tree action is possible. — Used with "bind" or a synonym. •/If Mr. Jones signs that paper, he will be bound hand and foot./ 3. See: WAIT ON HAND AND FOOT.

[hand and glove] See: HAND IN GLOVE.

[hand down]{v.} To arrange to give or leave after, death. •/Joe will have his father’s gold watch because it is handed down in the family./ •/In old times, property was usually handed down to the oldest son at his father’s death./ Compare: PASS ON.

[hand in] See: TURN IN(1).

[hand in glove] or [hand and glove] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} Very close or friendly; working together; in very close agreement or cooperation, especially for bad purposes. •/The Navy and the Coast Guard work hand and glove, especially in war time./ •/Judges and others in high office sometimes are hand in glove with gangsters to cheat and steal./

[hand in hand]{adv. phr.} 1. Holding hands. •/Bob and Mary walked along hand in hand in the park./ Compare: ARM IN ARM. 2. Accompanying each other; together; closely connected. — Used with "go". •/Ignorance and poverty often go hand in hand./ •/Selfishness and unhappiness often go hand in hand./

[hand it to]{v. phr.}, {informal} To admit the excellence of; give credit or praise to. •/You have to hand it to Jim; he is very careful and hard-working in all he does./ •/The teacher said, "I hand it to Jane for the way she managed the Music Club."/ Syn.: TAKE OFF ONE’S HAT TO.

[handle] See: FLY OFF THE HANDLE.

[handle to one’s name]{n. phr.}, {slang} A special title used before your name. •/Jim’s father has a handle to his name. He is Major Watson./ •/Bob came back from the University with a handle to his name and was called Dr. Jones./

[handle with gloves] or [handle with kid gloves] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To treat very gently and carefully. •/An atomic bomb is handled with kid gloves./ 2. To treat with great tact and diplomacy. •/Aunt Jane is so irritable that we have to treat her with kid gloves./

[hand-me-down]{n.}, {informal} Something given away after another person has no more use for it; especially, used clothing. •/Alice had four older sisters, so all her clothes were hand-me-downs./

[hand off]{v.} To hand the football to another back. •/The quarterback faked to the fullback and handed off to the halfback./

[hand on]{v.} To pass along to the next person who should have it. •/Everyone in class should read this, so when you have finished, please hand it on./ •/In the early days, news was handed on from one person to another./

[handout]{n.} 1. A free gift of food, clothes, etc. •/The homeless people were standing in a long line for various handouts./ 2. A typed and photocopied sheet or sheets of paper outlining the main points made by a speaker. •/Please look at page three of the handout./

[hand out]{v.}, {informal} To give (things of the same kind) to several people. •/The teacher handed out the examination papers./ •/At the Christmas party Santa Claus handed out the presents under the tree./ •/Handing out free advice to all your friends will not make them like you./ Compare: GIVE OUT(3).

[hand over]{v.} To give control or possession of; give (something) to another person. •/When the teacher saw Johnny reading a comic book in study period, she made him hand over the book./ •/When Mr. Jones gets old, he will hand over his business to his son./ Syn.: FORK OVER, GIVE UP(1), TURN OVER(3).

[hand over fist]{adv. phr.}, {informal} Fast and in large amounts. •/Fred may get a pony for Christmas because his father is making money hand over fist./ •/Business is so bad that the store on the corner is losing money hand over fist./

[hand over hand]{adv. phr.} By taking hold with one hand over the other alternately. •/The only way to climb a rope is hand over hand./

[hand-pick]{v.}, {informal} To choose very carefully. •/This debating team should win because its members are all hand-picked./ •/The political bosses hand-picked a man for mayor who would agree with them./

[hands-down]{adj.}, {informal} 1. Easy. •/The Rangers won a hands-down victory in the tournament./ 2. Unopposed; first; clear. •/Johnny was the hands-down favorite for president of the class./

[hands down]{adv.}, {informal} 1. Without working hard; easily. •/The Rangers won the game hands down./ 2. Without question or doubt; without any opposition; plainly. •/Johnny was bands down the best player on the team./

[hands off]{informal} Keep your hands off or do not interfere; leave that alone. — Used as a command. •/I was going to touch the machine, but the man cried, "Hands off!" and I let it alone./

[hands-off]{adj.}, {informal} Leaving alone, not interfering; inactive. •/The United States told the European governments to follow a hands-off policy toward Latin America./ •/I did not approve of his actions, but I have a hands-off rule in personal matters, so I said nothing./

[handsome is as handsome does]{informal} A person must act well and generously so that he will be truly worth respecting. — A proverb. •/Everyone thinks that Bon is a very handsome boy, but he is very mean too. Handsome is as handsome does./ Compare: FINE FEATHERS DO NOT MAKE PINE BIRDS.

[hands up]{informal} Hold up your hands! Put your hands up high and keep them there! — Used as a command. •/The sheriff pointed his gun at the outlaws and called out, "Hands up!"/ Syn.: REACH FOR THE SKY.

[hand something to someone on a silver platter]{v. phr.} To give a person a reward that has not been earned. •/The lazy student expected his diploma to be handed to him on a silver platter./

[hand to hand]{adv. phr.} Close together, near enough to hit each other. •/The two soldiers fought hand to hand until one fell badly wounded./ •/In modern naval warfare, men seldom fight hand to hand./ Compare: FACE TO FACE.

[hand-to-hand]{adj.} Close to each other; near enough to hit each other. •/The result of the battle was decided in hand-to-hand combat./ •/When the police tried to break up the riot, there was hand-to-hand fighting with fists, stones, and clubs./ Compare: FACE-TO-FACE.

[hand-to-mouth]{adj.} Not providing for the future; living from day to day; not saving for later. •/Many native tribes lead a hand-to-mouth existence, content to have food for one day at a time./ •/John is not a saving boy; he spends his money without thought for the future, and lives a hand-to-mouth life./ See: LIVE FROM HAND TO MOUTH.

[handwriting on the wall]{n. phr.} A sign that something bad will happen. •/When Bill’s team lost four games in a row, he saw the handwriting on the wall./ •/John’s employer had less and less work for him; John could read the handwriting on the wall and looked for another job./

[hang] See: GO HANG, GIVE A HANG or CARE A HANG, GIVE ONE ENOUGH ROPE, AND HE WILL HANG HIMSELF, LEAVE HANGING or LEAVE HANGING IN THE AIR.

[hang around]{v.}, {informal} 1. To pass time or stay near without any real purpose or aim; loaf near or in. •/The principal warned the students not to hang around the corner drugstore after school./ Compare: HANG OUT(1). 2. To spend time or associate, •/Jim hangs around with some boys who live in his neighborhood./

[hang back] or [hang off] or [hang behind] 1. To stay some distance behind or away, be unwilling to move forward. •/Mary offered the little girl candy, but she was shy and hung back./ 2. To hesitate or be unwilling to do something. •/Lou wanted Fred to join the club, but Fred hung off./

[hang behind] See: HANG BACK(1).

[hang by a hair] See: HANG BY A THREAD.

[hang by a thread] or [hang by a hair] {v. phr.} To depend on a very small thing; be in doubt. •/For three days Tom was so sick that his life hung by a thread./ •/As Joe got ready to kick a field goal, the result of the game hung by a hair./ Compare: HANG IN THE BALANCE.

[hanger] See: CREPE HANGER.

[hang fire]{v. phr.} 1. To fail or be slow in shooting or firing. •/Smith pulled the trigger, but the gun hung fire and the deer escaped./ 2. To be slow in beginning; to be delayed; to wait. •/The boys' plans for organizing a scout troop hung fire because they could not find a man to be scoutmaster./

[hang heavy] or [hang heavy on one’s hands] {v. phr.} To pass slowly or uninterestingly; be boring with little to do. •/The vacation time hung heavy on Dick’s hands because all his friends were away at camp./ Compare: ON ONE’S HANDS.

[hang in effigy] or [burn in effigy] {v. phr.} To hang or burn a figure, usually a stuffed dummy, representing a person who is disliked or scorned. •/When the high school team lost the championship game, the coach was hung in effigy by the townspeople./ •/During World War II, Hitler was sometimes burned in effigy in the United States./

[hang in the balance]{v. phr.} To have two equally possible results; to be in doubt; be uncertain. •/Until Jim scored the winning touchdown, the outcome of the game hung in the balance./ •/She was very sick and her life hung in the balance for several days./ Compare: HANG BY A THREAD.

[hang in (there)]{v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To persevere; not to give up; to stick to a project and not lose faith or courage. •/Hang in there old buddy; the worst is yet to come./

[hang it]{interj.}, {informal} An exclamation used to express annoyance or disappointment. •/Oh, hang it! I forgot to bring the book I wanted to show you./ •/Hang it all, why don’t you watch where you’re going?/

[hang off] See: HANG BACK.

[hang on]{v.} 1. To hold on to something, usually tightly. •/Jack almost fell off the cliff, but managed to hang on until help came./ Syn.: HOLD ON(1). 2a. To continue doing something; persist. •/The grocer was losing money every day, but he hung on, hoping that business would improve./ Compare: HOLD OUT, STICK OUT. 2b. To hold a lead in a race or other contest while one’s opponents try to rally. •/The favorite horse opened an early lead and hung on to win as two other horses almost passed him in the final stretch./ •/Bunning, staked to a 6-0 lead in the first inning, hung on to heat the Dodgers 6-4./ 3. To continue to give trouble or cause suffering. •/Lou’s cold hung on from January to April./ 4. To continue listening on the telephone. •/Jerry asked John, who had called him on the phone, to hung on while he ran for a pencil and a sheet of paper./ Compare: HOLD ON(3).

[hang one on]{v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To give a heavy blow to; hit hard. •/The champion hung one on his challenger in the second round and knocked him out of the ring./ 2. To get very drunk. •/After Smith lost his job, he went to a bar and hung one on./

[hang one’s head]{v. phr.} To bend your head forward in shame. •/Johnny hung his head when the teacher asked him if he broke the window./ Compare: HIDE ONE’S HEAD.

[hang on the words of] also [hang on the lips of] {v. phr.} To listen very attentively to. •/Ann hangs on every word of her history teacher and takes very careful notes. / •/As he went on with his speech, his auditors, deeply interested, hung on his lips./

[hang on to]{v.} To hold tightly; keep firmly. •/The child hung on to its mother’s apron, and would not let go./ •/John did not like his job, but decided to hang on to it until he found a better one./

[hang on to one’s mother’s apron strings] See: TIED TO ONE’S MOTHER’S APRON STRINGS.

[hang on to your hat] or [hold on to your hat] or [hold your hat] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. Watch out; be prepared. — Used as a command, usually to warn of an unexpected action. •/"Hold on to your hat," said Jim as he stepped on the gas and the car shot forward./ 2. Get ready for a surprise. — Used as a command, usually to warn of unexpected news. •/"Hold on to your hat," said Mary. "Jim asked me to marry him."/

[hang out]{v.} 1. {slang} To spend your time idly or lounging about. •/The teacher complained that Joe was hanging out in poolrooms instead of doing his homework./ Compare: HANG AROUND(1). 2. {slang} To live; reside. •/Two policemen stopped the stranger and asked him where he hung out./ 3. To reach out farther than the part below. •/The branches of the trees hung out over the road./ •/The upper floor of that house hangs out above the first./

[hang out one’s shingle]{v. phr.}, {informal} To give public notice of the opening of an office, especially a doctor’s or lawyer’s office, by putting up a small signboard. •/The young doctor hung out his shingle and soon had a large practice./

[hangover]{n.} A bad feeling of nausea and/or headache the day after one has had too much to drink. •/Boy, did I have a hangover after that party yesterday!/

[hang over]{v.} 1. To be going to happen to; threaten. •/Great trouble hangs over the little town because its only factory has closed down./ 2. To remain to be finished or settled. •/The committee took up the business that hung over from its last meeting./

[hang over one’s head]{v. phr.} To be a danger or threat to you. — An overused phrase. •/Over Jimmy’s head hung the teacher’s suspicion that Jimmy had cheated in the final examination./ •/Death hangs over a bullfighter’s head every time he performs./

[hang round] See: HANG AROUND.

[hang ten]{v.}, {slang} 1. To be an outstanding performer on a surfboard or on a skateboard (referring to the user’s ten toes). •/I bet I am going to be able to hang ten if you let me practice on your skateboard./ 2. To be a survivor despite great odds. •/Don’t worry about Jack, he can hang ten anywhere!/

[hang together]{v.} 1. To stay united; help and defend one another. •/The club members always hung together when one of them was in trouble./ Syn.: STICK TOGETHER. Compare: STAND BY, STAND UP FOR. 2. {informal} To form a satisfactory whole; fit together. •/Jack’s story of why he was absent from school seems to hang together./

[hang up]{v.} 1. To place on a hook, peg, or hanger. •/When the children come to school, they hang up their coats in the cloakroom./ 2a. To place a telephone receiver back on its hook and break the connection. •/Carol’s mother told her she had talked long enough on the phone and made her hang up./ 2b. To put a phone receiver back on its hook while the other person is still talking. — Used with "on". •/I said something that made Joe angry, and he hung up on me./ 3a. {informal} To cause to be stuck or held so as to be immovable. — Usually used in the passive. •/Ann’s car was hung up in a snowdrift and she had to call a garageman to get it out./ 3b. {informal} To stick or get held so as to be immovable. •/A big passenger ship hung up on a sandbar for several hours./ 4. {informal} To cause a wait; delay. •/Rehearsals for the school play were hung up by the illness of some of the actors./ 5. {informal} To set (a record.) •/Bob hung up a school record for long distance swimming./

[hang-up]{n.}, {informal} (stress on "hang") 1. A delay in some process. •/The mail has been late for several days; there must be some hang-up with the trucks somewhere./ 2. A neurotic reaction to some life situation probably stemming from a traumatic shock which has gone unconscious. •/Doctor Simpson believes that Suzie’s frigidity is due to some hang-up about men./

[happen on] or [happen upon] {v.}, {literary} To meet or find accidentally or by chance. •/The Girl Scouts happened on a charming little brook not far from the camp./ •/At the convention I happened upon an old friend I had not seen for years./ Syn.: CHANCE ON, COME ACROSS(1),(3). Compare: HIT ON.

[happy] See: STRIKE A HAPPY MEDIUM, TRIGGER HAPPY at QUICK ON THE TRIGGER.

[happy as the day is long]{adj. phr.} Cheerful and happy. •/Carl is happy as the day is long because school is over for the summer./

[happy-go-lucky] See: FOOTLOOSE AND FANCY-FREE.

[happy hour]{n.}, {informal} A time in bars or restaurants when cocktails are served at a reduced rate, usually one hour before they start serving dinner. •/Happy hour is between 6 and 7 P.M. at Celestial Gardens./

[happy hunting ground]{n. phr.} 1. The place where, in American Indian belief, a person goes after death; heaven. •/The Indians believed that at death they went to the happy hunting ground./ 2. {informal} A place or area where you can find a rich variety of what you want, and plenty of it. •/The forest is a happy hunting ground for scouts who are interested in plants and flowers./ •/Shell collectors find the ocean beaches happy hunting grounds./

[hard] See: GIVE A HARD TIME, GO HARD WITH, SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS.

[hard-and-fast]{adj.} Not to be broken or changed; fixed; strict. •/The teacher said that there was a hard-and-fast rule against smoking in the school./

[hard as nails]{adj. phr.}, {informal} 1. Not flabby or soft; physically very fit; tough and strong. •/After a summer of work in the country, Jack was as hard as nails, without a pound of extra weight./ 2. Not gentle or mild; rough; stern. •/Johnny works for a boss who is as hard as nails and scolds Johnny roughly whenever he does something wrong./

[hard-boiled]{adj.} Unrefined; tough; merciless. •/"Because you were two minutes late," my hard-boiled boss cried, "I will deduct fifteen minutes worth from your salary!"/

[hard cash] See: COLD CASH.

[hard feeling]{n.} Angry or bitter feeling; enmity. — Usually used in the plural. •/Jim asked Andy to shake hands with him, just to show that there were no hard feelings./ •/Bob and George once quarreled over a girl, and there are still hard feelings between them./

[hard-fisted]{adj.} 1. Able to do hard physical labor; strong. •/Jack’s uncle was a hard-fisted truck driver with muscles of steel./ 2. Not gentle or easy-going; tough; stern. •/The new teacher was a hard-fisted woman who would allow no nonsense./ 3. Stingy or mean; not generous with money. •/The hard-fisted banker refused to lend Mr. Jones more money for his business./

[hard going]{adj. phr.} Fraught with difficulty. •/Dave finds his studies of math hard going./

[hardheaded]{adj.} Stubborn; shrewd; practical. •/Don is a hardheaded businessman who made lots of money, even during the recession./

[hardhearted]{adj.} Unsympathetic; merciless. •/Jack is so hardhearted that even his own children expect nothing from him./

[hard-hitting]{adj.} Working hard to get things done; strong and active; stubbornly eager. •/The boys put on a hard-hitting drive to raise money for uniforms for the football team./ •/He is a hard-hitting and successful football coach./

[hard line]{n. phr.} Tough political policy. •/Although modern economists were trying to persuade him to open up to the West, Castro has always taken the hard line approach./

[hard-liner]{n.} A politician who takes the hard line. See: HARD LINE.

[hard luck] See: TOUGH LUCK.

[hardly any] or [scarcely any] Almost no or almost none; very few. •/Hardly any of the students did well on the test, so the teacher explained the lesson again./ •/Charles and his friends each had three cookies, and when they went out, hardly any cookies were left./

[hardly ever] or [scarcely ever] {adv. phr.} Very rarely; almost never; seldom. •/It hardly ever snows in Florida./ •/Johnny hardly ever reads a book./

[hard-nosed]{adj.}, {slang} Tough or rugged; very strict; not weak or soft; stubborn, especially in a fight or contest. •/Joe’s father was a hard-nosed army officer who had seen service in two wars./ •/Pete is a good boy; he plays hard-nosed football./ Compare: HARD-BOILED.

[hard nut to crack] also [tough nut to crack] {n. phr.}, {informal} Something difficult to understand or to do. •/Tom’s algebra lesson was a hard nut to crack./ •/Mary found knitting a hard nut to crack./ Compare: HARD ROW TO HOE.

[hard of hearing]{adj.} Partially deaf. •/Some people who are hard of hearing wear hearing aids./

[hard-on]{n.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable}. An erection of the male sexual organ.

[hard put] or [hard put to it] {adj.} In a difficult position; faced with difficulty; barely able. •/John was hard put to find a good excuse for his lateness in coming to school./ •/The scouts found themselves hard put to it to find the way home./

[hard row to hoe] or [tough row to hoe] {n. phr.} A hard life to live; a very hard job to do. •/She has a hard row to hoe with six children and her husband dead./ •/Young people without enough education will have a tough row to hoe when they have to support themselves./ Syn.: HARD SLEDDING. Compare: DOWN ON ONE’S LUCK, HARD NUT TO CRACK.

[hard sell]{n.}, {informal} A kind of salesmanship characterized by great vigor, aggressive persuasion, and great eagerness on the part of the person selling something; opposed to "soft sell". •/Your hard sell turns off a lot of people; try the soft sell for a change, won’t you?/

[hard sledding] or [rough sledding] or [tough sledding] {n.}, {informal} Difficulty in succeeding or making progress. •/Jane had hard sledding in her math course because she was poorly prepared./ •/When Mr. Smith started his new business, he had tough sledding for a while but things got better./

[hard-top]{n.} 1. A car that has a metal roof; a car that is not a convertible. •/Every spring Mr. Jones sells his hard-top and buys a convertible./ 2. or [hardtop convertible] A car with windows that can be completely lowered with no partitions left standing, and with a top that may or may not be lowered. •/Mr. Brown’s new car is a hardtop convertible./

[hard up]{adj.}, {informal} Without enough money or some other needed thing. •/Dick was hard up and asked Lou to lend him a dollar./ •/The campers were hard up for water because their well had run dry./ Compare: UP AGAINST IT.

[hard way]{n.} The harder or more punishing of two or more ways to solve a problem, do something, or learn something. — Used with "the". •/The mayor refused the help of the crooks and won the election the hard way by going out to meet the people./ •/The challenger found out the hard way that the champion’s left hand had to be avoided./

[hare] See: MAD AS A HATTER or MAD AS A MARCH HARE, RUN WITH THE HARE AND HUNT (RIDE) WITH THE HOUNDS.

[harebrained]{adj.} Thoughtless; foolish. •/Most of the harebrained things Ed does may be attributable to his youth and lack of experience./

[hark back]{v.}, {literary} 1. To recall or turn back to an earlier time or happening. •/Judy is always harking back to the good times she had at camp./ 2. To go back to something as a beginning or origin. •/The cars of today hark back to the first automobiles made about 1900./ •/The slit in the back of a man’s coal harks back to the days when men rode horseback./

[harp away at] or [on] {v.} To mention again and again. •/In his campaign speeches, Jones harps on his rival’s wealth and powerful friends./

[Harry] See: TOM, DICK, AND HARRY.

[harum-scarum(1)]{adv.}, {informal} In a careless, disorderly or reckless way. •/Jim does his homework harum-scarum, and that is why his schoolwork is so poor./

[harum-scarum(2)]{adj.}, {informal} Careless, wild, or disorderly in one’s acts or performance; reckless. •/Jack is such a harum-scarum boy that you can never depend on him to do anything right./

[hash] See: SETTLE ONE’S HASH, SLING HASH.

[hash house]{n.}, {slang} An eating place where cheap meals are served. •/Joe and his friends went to a hash house around the corner after the game./

[hash out]{v.}, {informal} To talk all about and try to agree on; discuss thoroughly. •/The teacher asked Susan and Jane to sit down together and hash out their differences./ •/The students hashed out the matter and decided to drop it./

[hash up]{v.}, {slang} 1. To make a mess of; do badly. •/Bob really hashed up that exam and failed the course./ 2. To bring to life; remember and talk about. •/The teacher advised Sue not to hash up old bitterness against her schoolmates./

[haste] See: MAKE HASTE.

[hat] See: AT THE DROP OF A HAT, BRASS HAT, HANG ON TO YOUR HAT or HOLD ON TO YOUR HAT or HOLD YOUR HAT, HIGH-HAT, KEEP UNDER ONE’S HAT, OLD HAT, PULL OUT OF A HAT, TAKE OFF ONE’S HAT TO, TALK THROUGH ONE’S HAT, TEN-GALLON HAT, THROW ONE’S HAT IN THE RING.

[hat in hand]{adv. phr.}, {informal} In a humble and respectful manner. •/They went hat in hand to the old woman to ask for her secret recipe./

[hatch] See: COUNT ONE’S CHICKENS BEFORE THEY ARE HATCHED.

[hatchet] See: BURY THE HATCHET.

[hatchet face]{n.} A long narrow face with sharp parts; also, a person with such a face. •/Johnny was sent to the principal’s office because he called his teacher old hatchet face./ •/He was hatchet-faced and not at all handsome./

[hatchet job]{n. phr.}, {slang} 1. The act of saying or writing terrible things about someone or something, usually on behalf of one’s boss or organization. •/When Phil makes speeches against the competition exaggerating their weaknesses, he is doing the hatchet job on behalf of our president./ 2. A ruthless, wholesale job of editing a script whereby entire paragraphs or pages are omitted. •/Don, my editor, did a hatchet job on my new novel./

[hatchet man]{n.}, {colloquial} 1. A politician or newspaper columnist whose job is to write and say unfavorable things about the opposition. •/Bill Lerner is the hatchet man for the Mayor’s Party; he smears all the other candidates regularly./ 2. An executive officer in a firm whose job it is to fire superfluous personnel, cut back on the budget, etc., in short, to do the necessary but unpleasant things. •/The firm hired Cranhart to be hatchet man; his title is that of Executive Vice President./

[hate one’s guts]{v. phr.}, {slang} To feel a very strong dislike for someone. •/Dick said that he hated Fred’s guts because Fred had been very mean to him./

[hats off to] or [one’s hat is off to] {truncated phr.}, {informal} Used to recognize and praise a job well-done. •/Hats off to anyone who runs the twenty-six mile race./ •/My hat is off to the chef who created this delicious meal./ Compare: TAKE OFF ONE’S HAT TO.

[hatter] See: MAD AS A HATTER.

[haul] See: LONG HAUL.

[haul down]{v.}, {informal} 1. To catch (as a ball) usually after a long run. •/Willie hauled down a long fly to center field for the third out./ •/The star halfback hauled down the pass for a touchdown./ 2. To tackle in football. •/Ted was hauled down from behind when he tried to run with the ball./

[haul down one’s colors] or [strike one’s colors] {v. phr.} 1. To pull down a flag, showing you are beaten and want to stop fighting. •/After a long battle, the pirate captain hauled down his colors./ 2. To admit you are beaten; say you want to quit. •/After losing two sets of tennis, Tom hauled down his color./

[haul in] or [haul up] or [pull in] {v.}, {slang} To bring before someone in charge for punishment or questioning; arrest. •/John was hauled in to court for speeding./ •/The tramp was hauled up for sleeping on the sidewalk./ Compare: CALL ON THE CARPET.

[haul in one’s horns] See: PULL IN ONE’S HORNS.

[haul off]{v.} To move suddenly. — Used with "and" usually before a verb like "hit" or "kick". •/Ed hauled off and hit the other boy in the nose./ •/Lee hauled off and threw a touchdown pass./

[haul over the coals] or [rake over the coals] {v. phr.} To criticize sharply; rebuke; scold. •/The sergeant raked the soldier over the coals for being late for roll call./ Syn.: DRESS DOWN.

[have] See: CAT HAS NINE LIVES, ONE’S CAKE AND HAVE IT TOO, EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING, EVERY DOG HAS HIS DAY, HAVE NOTHING ON or HAVE ANYTHING ON, LITTLE PITCHERS HAVE BIG EARS, or an important word after this in the sentence.

[have] or [get] or [develop a crush on] {v. phr.} To be infatuated with someone. •/Walter has a terrible crush on his English teacher, but she is a lot older and doesn’t take it seriously./

[have a ball]{v. phr.}, {slang} Enjoy yourself very much; have a wonderful time. •/Johnny had a ball at camp./ •/Mary and Tim have a ball exploring the town./ •/After their parents left, the children had a ball./ Syn.: HAVE A TIME(2).

[have a bone to pick] See: BONE TO PICK.

[have a care]{v. phr.}, {formal} To be careful what you do. •/Jane, have a care what you’re doing with that valuable glass./ •/The judge told him to have a care what he said in court./

[have a field day]{v. phr.} To enjoy great success or unlimited opportunity. •/The visiting basketball team was so weak that our school had a field day scoring one point after another./

[have a finger in the pie] See: FINGER IN THE PIE.

[have a fit] or [have fits] or [throw a fit] {v. phr.} 1. To have a sudden illness with stiffness or jerking of the body. •/Our dog had a fit yesterday./ 2. {informal} To become angry or upset. •/Father will throw a fit when he sees the dent in the car./ •/Howard will have a fit when he learns that he lost the election./ •/When John decided to drop out of college, his parents had fits./

[have a go at]{v. phr.}, {informal} To try, especially after others have tried. •/Bob asked Dick to let him have a go at shooting at the target with Dick’s rifle./ •/She had a go at archery, but did not do very well./

[have a good head on one’s shoulders]{v. phr.} To be smart; intelligent; well educated. •/Rob is not the handsomest guy in the world but the girls appreciate him because he has a good head on his shoulders./

[have a (good) head for]{v. phr.} To have a special talent in a certain area. •/Joan has quite a good head for business administration./

[have a (good) mind to]{v. phr.} To consider doing; intend to with a high degree of probability. •/I have a good mind to tell my boss that he doesn’t know how to run our enterprise./

[have a hand in]{v. phr.} To have a part in or influence over; to be partly responsible for. •/Sue’s schoolmates respect her and she has a hand in every important decision made by the Student Council./ •/Ben had a hand in getting ready the Senior play./ Compare: FINGER IN THE PIE.

[have a heart]{v. phr.}, {informal} To stop being mean; be kind, generous, or sympathetic. •/Have a heart, Bob, and lend me two dollars./ •/Have a heart, Mary, and help me with this lesson./ •/He didn’t know if the teacher would have a heart and pass him./

[have a heart-to-heart talk]{v. phr.} To confide in someone with great intimacy. •/Jill and her mother had a heart-to-heart talk before she decided to move in with Andrew./

[have all one’s buttons] or [have all one’s marbles] {v. phr.}, {slang} To have all your understanding; be reasonable. — Usually used in the negative or conditionally. •/Mike acts sometimes as if he didn’t have all his buttons./ •/He would not go to town barefooted if he had all his marbles./

[have a mind of one’s own]{v. phr.} To be independent in one’s thinking and judgment. •/Tow has always had a mind of his own so there is no use trying to convince him how to vote./

[have an affair with]{v. phr.} To have a sexual relationship with someone, either before marriage or outside of one’s marriage. •/Tow and Jane had a long and complex affair but they never got married./

[have an ear for]{v. phr.} To have a keen perception; have a taste or a talent for; be sensitive to something. •/I have no ear whatsoever for foreign languages or music./

[have an ear to the ground] See: EAR TO THE GROUND.

[have an edge on]{v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To have an advantage over someone or something else in the course of an evaluative comparison. •/I can’t beat you at tennis, but I have an edge on you in ping-pong./ 2. To be mildly intoxicated; to have had a few drinks. •/Joe sure had an edge on when I saw him last night./ Compare: EDGE ON.

[have an eye for]{v. phr.} To be able to judge correctly of; have good taste in. •/She has an eye for color and style in clothes./ •/He has an eye for good English usage./

[have an eye on] or [have one’s eye on] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To look at or think about (something wanted); have a wish for; have as an aim. •/I bought ice cream, but Jimmy had his eye on some candy./ •/John has his eye on a scholarship so he can go to college./ Compare: IN MIND. 2. See: KEEP AN EYE ON(1).

[have an eye out] See: EYE OUT.

[have an eye] to See: EYE TO.

[have an itch for] or [to do] See: BE ITCHING TO.

[have a nodding acquaintance with] See: NODDING ACQUAINTANCE.

[have a price on one’s head] See: PRICE ON ONE’S HEAD.

[have a rough idea about] See: ROUGH IDEA.

[have a say in] or [a voice in] {v. phr.} To have the right to express one’s opinion or cast a vote in a pending matter. •/Our boss is friendly and democratic; he always encourages us to have a say in what we will do next./

[have a screw loose]{v. phr.}, {slang} To act in a strange way; to be foolish. •/Now I know he has a screw loose — he stole a police car this time./ •/He was a smart man but had a screw loose and people thought him odd./

[have a snowball’s chance in hell]{v. phr.} To be condemned to failure; enjoy a zero chance of success. •/Pessimists used to think that we had a snowball’s chance in hell to put a man on the moon; yet we did it in July, 1969./

[have a soft spot in one’s heart for]{v. phr.} To be sympathetically inclined towards; entertain a predilection for. •/Ron always had a soft spot in his heart for intellectual women wearing miniskirts./

[have a sweet tooth]{v. phr.} To be excessively fond of dessert items, such as ice cream, pies, etc. •/Jill has a sweet tooth; she always orders apple pie after a meal in a restaurant./

[have a time]{v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To have trouble; have a hard time. •/Poor Susan had a time trying to get the children to go to bed./ •/John had a time passing his math course./ 2. To have a good time; to have fun. — Used with a reflexive pronoun. •/Bob had himself a time going to every night club in town./ •/Mary had herself a time dancing at the party./ Syn.: HAVE A BALL.

[have a way with]{v. phr.} To be able to lead, persuade, or influence. •/Dave has such a way with the campers that they do everything he tells them to do./ •/Ted will be a good veterinarian, because he has a way with animals./

[have a word with]{v. phr.} 1. To talk, discuss, or speak briefly with. •/Robert, I need to have a word with you about tomorrow’s exam./ 2. To engage in a sincere discussion with the purpose of persuading the other person or let him or her know of one’s dissatisfaction. •/Our boss has been making funny decisions lately; I think we ought to have a word with him./

[have been around]{v. phr.}, {informal} Have been to many places and done many things; know people; have experience and be able to take care of yourself. •/Uncle Willie is an old sailor and has really been around./ •/Betty likes to go out with Jerry, because he has been around./ •/It’s not easy to fool him; he’s been around./ Compare: GET AROUND, KNOW ONE’S WAY AROUND.

[have dibs on] or [put dibs on] {v. phr.}, {slang} To demand a share of something or to be in line for the use of an object usable by more than one person. •/Don’t throw your magazine away! I put (my) dibs on it, remember?/

[have done]{v.}, {formal} To stop; finish. •/When the teacher had done, she asked for questions from the class./ •/If you have done, I will explain the matter./

[have done with]{v.} To stop doing or using something. •/When you have done with that paintbrush, Barbara, I would like to use it. * /I wish you would have done with your criticisms./

[have eyes only for]{v. phr.} To see or want nothing else but; give all your attention to; be interested only in. •/Of all the horses in the show, John had eyes only for the big white one./ •/All the girls liked Fred, but he had eyes only for Helen./

[have fits] See: HAVE A FIT.

[have got to]{v. phr.} Must; be in great need to do something; be obliged to. •/I am sorry but we have got to leave, otherwise, we’ll miss the last train./

[have had it]{v. phr.}, {slang} To have experienced or suffered all you can; to have come to the end of your patience or life. •/"I’ve had it," said Lou, "I’m resigning from the job of chairman right now."/ •/When the doctor examined the man who had been shot, he said, "He’s had it."/

[have hair]{v. phr.}, {slang} To possess courage, fortitude, guts, sex-appeal. •/I like him, he’s got a lot of hair./

[have] or [hold the whip over] {v. phr.} To control; dominate. •/Eugene has always held the whip over his younger brothers and sisters./

[have in mind]{v. phr.} To plan; intend; select. •/We don’t know whom our boss has in mind for the new position./

[have in one’s hair] See: IN ONE’S HAIR.

[have in the palm of one’s hand]{v. phr.} To completely control; have a project finished, all wrapped up. •/Our boss felt that if he could calm his critics he would soon have the entire factory in the palm of his hand./

[have it]{v. phr.} 1. To hear or get news; understand. •/I have it on the best authority that we will be paid for our work next week./ 2. To do something in a certain way. •/Make up your mind, because you can’t have it both ways. You must either stay home or come with us./ •/Bobby must have it his way and play the game by his rules./ 3. To claim; say. •/Rumor has it that the school burned down./ •/Gossip has it that Mary is getting married./ •/The man is very smart the way his family has it, but I think he’s silly./ 4. To allow it. — Usually used with "will" or "would" in negative sentences. •/Mary wanted to give the party at her house, but her mother wouldn’t have it./ Syn.: HEAR OF, STAND FOR. 5. To win. •/When the senators vote, the ayes will have it./ 6. To get or find the answer; think of how to do something. •/"I have it!" said John to Mary. "We can buy Mother a nice comb for her birthday."/ 7. {informal} To have an (easy, good, rough, soft) time; have (certain kinds of) things happen to you; be treated in a (certain) way by luck or life. •/Everyone liked Joe and he had it good until he got sick./ •/Mary has it easy; she doesn’t have to work./ 8. See: AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT.

[have it all over] See: HAVE IT OVER.

[have it coming]{v. phr.} To deserve the good or bad things that happen to you. •/I feel sorry about Jack’s failing that course, but he had it coming to him./ •/Everybody said that Eve had it coming when she won the scholarship./ Compare: ASK FOR, GET WHAT’S COMING TO ONE, SERVE RIGHT.

[have it in for]{v. phr.}, {informal} To wish or mean to harm; have a bitter feeling against. •/George has it in for Bob because Bob told the teacher that George cheated in the examination./ •/After John beat Ted in a fight, Ted always had it in for John./

[have it made]{v. phr.}, {slang} To be sure of success; have everything you need. •/With her fine grades Alice has it made and can enter any college in the country./ •/The other seniors think Joe has it made because his father owns a big factory./

[have it out]{v. phr.} To settle a difference by a free discussion or by a fight. •/Joe called Bob a bad name, so they went back of the school and had it out. Joe got a bloody nose and Bob got a black eye./ •/The former friends finally decided to have it out in a free argument and they became friends again./

[have it over] or [have it all over] {v. phr.} To be better than; be superior to. •/Anne has it all over Jane in looks and charm./ •/A professional golfer usually has it all over an amateur./ •/A jeep has it over a regular car on rough mountain trails./ Compare: BEAT ALL HOLLOW.

[have kittens]{v. phr.}, {slang} To become very much worried or upset. •/Mrs. Jones was having kittens because if was very late and Susan wasn’t home yet./ Compare: HAVE A FIT.

[have lots (everything) going for one]{v. phr.} To have abilities or qualities that help in achieving one’s goal; assets working in one’s favor. •/The young woman will surely get the job; she has everything going for her./

[have money to burn] See: MONEY TO BURN.

[have no business]{v. phr.} To have no right or reason. •/Jack had no business saying those nasty things about Dick./ •/Vern’s mother told him he had no business going swimming that day./

[have none of]{v. phr.} To refuse to approve or allow. •/The teacher said she would have none of Mike’s arguing./ •/When the fullback refused to obey the captain, the captain said he would have none of that./

[have nothing on] or [not have anything on] {v. phr.} Not to be any better than; to have no advantage over. •/Susan is a wonderful athlete, but when it comes to dancing she has nothing on Mary./ •/Even though he is older, John has nothing on Peter in school./ •/Although the Smiths have a Rolls Royce, they have nothing on the Jones' who have a Cadillac and a Jaguar./ 2. To have no information or proof that someone broke the law. •/Mr. James was not worried when he was arrested because he was sure they had nothing on him./ •/Mr. Brown was an honest politician and they had nothing on him./

[have nothing to do with]{v. phr.} To not be involved with; not care about. •/Our firm has nothing to do with oil from the Near East; we are interested in solar energy./

[have no use for] See: NO USE.

[have on]{v.} 1. To be dressed in; wear. •/Mary had on her new dress./ 2. To have (something) planned; have an appointment; plan to do. •/Harry has a big weekend on./ •/I’m sorry I can’t attend your party, but I have a meeting on for that night./ 3. See: HAVE NOTHING ON, HAVE SOMETHING ON.

[have one’s ass in a sling]{v. phr.}, {slang}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} To be in an uncomfortable predicament; to be in the dog-house; to be at a disadvantage. •/Al sure had his ass in a sling when the boss found out about his juggling the account./

[have one’s cake and eat it too]{v. phr.} To enjoy two opposite advantages. •/You can either spend your money going to Europe or save it for a down payment on a house, but you can’t do both. That would be having your cake and eating it, too./

[have one’s ear]{v. phr.} To have access to someone in power; receive audiences rather frequently. •/The national security advisor has the president’s ear./

[have one’s ears on]{v. phr.}, {slang}, {citizen’s band radio jargon} To have one’s CB radio in receiving condition. •/Good buddy in the eighteen wheeler southbound, got your ears on?/

[have oneself]{v. phr.}, {nonstandard} To enjoy. — Sometimes used in very informal speech to provide emphasis. •/As soon as their parents left, the boys had themselves some fun./ •/After working hard all day, John had himself a good night’s sleep./

[have one’s feet planted firmly in the ground] See: FEET ON THE GROUND.

[have one’s fill]{v. phr.} To be satisfied; be surfeited; be overindulged. •/Howard says he’s had his fill of expensive golf tournaments in Europe./

[have one’s fling]{v. phr.} To have one or more romantic and/or sexual experiences, usually before marriage. •/Jack has had his fling and now seems to be ready to get married and settle down./

[have one’s hand in the till] See: ROB THE TILL.

[have one’s hands full]{v. phr.} To have as much work as you can do; be very busy. •/The plumber said that he had his hands full and could not take another job for two weeks./ •/With three small children to take care of, Susie’s mother has her hands full./

[have one’s hands tied] See: TIED ONE’S HANDS.

[have one’s head in the sand] See: HIDE ONE’S HEAD IN THE SAND.

[have one’s head screwed on backwards]{v. phr.} To lack common sense; behave in strange and irrational ways. •/Henry seems to have his head screwed on backwards; he thinks the best time to get a suntan is when it is raining and to sleep with his shoes on./

[have one’s heart in the right place] See: HEART IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

[have one’s hide]{v. phr.}, {informal} To punish severely. •/John’s mother said she would have his hide if he was late to school again./

[have one’s nose to the grindstone] See: KEEP ONE’S NOSE TO THE GRINDSTONE.

[have one’s number] See: GET ONE’S NUMBER.

[have one’s wings clipped] See: CLIP ONE’S WING.

[have one’s wits about one]{v. phr.} To be alert; remain calm; not panic. •/Sam was the only one who kept his wits about him when the floodwaters of the Mississippi broke into our yard./

[have one’s work cut out] See: CUT OUT(1).

[have on the ball] See: ON THE BALL.

[have qualms about]{v. phr.} To feel uneasy about; hesitate about something. •/Mike had no qualms in telling Sue that he was no longer in love with her./

[have rocks in one’s head]{v. phr.}, {informal} To be stupid; not have good judgment. •/When Mr. James quit his good job with the coal company to begin teaching school, some people thought he had rocks in his head./

[have second thoughts about] See: SECOND THOUGHT(s).

[have seen better days] See: SEE BETTER DAYS.

[have someone by the balls]{v. phr.}, {slang}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} To have someone at a disadvantage or in one’s power. •/The kidnappers had the company by the balls for six long weeks./

[have something going for one]{v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To have ability, talent; good looks, and/or influence in important places helping one to be successful. •/Well now, Pat Jones, that’s another story — she’s got something going for her./

[have something on]{v. phr.}, {informal} To have information or proof that someone did something wrong. •/Mr. Jones didn’t want to run for office because he knew the opponents had something on him./ •/Mr. Smith keeps paying blackmail to a man who has something on him./ •/Although Miss Brown is not a good worker, her boss does not fire her because she has something on him./ Compare: GET THE GOODS ON. Contrast: HAVE NOTHING ON.

[have something on the ball]{v. phr.}, {slang}, {colloquial} To be smart, clever; to be skilled and have the necessary know-how. •/You can trust Syd; he’s got a lot on the ball OR he’s got something on the ball./

[have sticky fingers] See: STICKY FINGERS.

[have or take a shot at] See: HAVE GO AT.

[have the best of] or [have the better of] See: GET THE BETTER OF(2).

[have the better of] or [have the best of] See: GET THE BETTER OF.

[have the cart before the horse] See: CART BEFORE THE HORSE.

[have the constitution of an ox]{v. phr.} To be able to work extremely hard and to have the stamina to overcome misfortune. •/Stan, who has lost both of his parents within one year and is constantly working late, seems to be indestructible, as if he had the constitution of an ox./

[have the courage of one’s convictions]{v. phr.} To be brave enough to act according to your beliefs. •/Steve showed that he had the courage of his convictions by refusing to help another student cheat in the exam./ •/Owen knew that Pete had started the fight, but 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 telling what he knew, but he held his fire./ •/Mary held fire until she had enough information to convince the other club members./

[hold one’s head up]{v. phr.} To show self-respect; not be ashamed; be proud. •/When Mr. Murray had paid off his debts, he felt that he could hold his head up again./

[hold one’s horses]{v. phr.}, {informal} To stop; wait; be patient. — Usually used as a command. May be considered rude. •/"Hold your horses!" Mr. Jones said to David when David wanted to call the police./

[hold one’s nose to the grindstone] See: KEEP ONE’S NOSE TO THE GRINDSTONE.

[hold one’s own]{v. phr.} To keep your position; avoid losing ground; keep your advantage, wealth, or condition without loss. •/Mr. Smith could not build up his business, but he held his own./ •/The team held its own after the first quarter./ •/Mary had a hard time after the operation, but soon she was holding her own./

[hold one’s peace]{v. phr.}, {formal} To be silent and not speak against something; be still; keep quiet. •/I did not agree with the teacher, but held my peace as he was rather angry./ Compare: HOLD ONE’S TONGUE

[hold one’s temper] or [keep one’s temper] {v. phr.} To make yourself be quiet and peaceful; not become angry. •/The meeting will go smoothly if the president keeps his temper./ •/Dave can’t keep his temper when he drives in heavy traffic./ Contrast: LOSE ONE’S TEMPER, BLOW ONE’S STACK.

[hold one’s tongue]{v. phr.} To be silent; keep still; not talk. — May be considered rude. •/The teacher told Fred to hold his tongue./ •/If people would hold their tongues from unkind speech, fewer people would be hurt/

[hold on to]{v. phr.} 1a. or [hold to] To continue to hold or keep; hold tightly. •/When Jane played horse with her father, she held on to him tightly./ •/The teacher said that if we believed something was true and good we should hold on to it./ •/The old man held on to his job stubbornly and would not retire./ 1b. To stay in control of. •/Ann was so frightened that she had to hold on to herself not to scream./ Contrast: LET GO. 2. To continue to sing or sound. •/The singer held on to the last note of the song for a long time./

[hold on to your hat] See: HANG ON TO YOUR HAT.

[holdout]{n.} A rebel who refuses to go with the majority. •/Sam was a lone holdout in town; he refused to sell his old lakefront cottage to make place for a skyscraper./

[hold out]{v. phr.} 1. To put forward; reach out; extend; offer. •/Mr. Ryan held out his hand in welcome./ •/The clerk held out a dress for Martha to try on./ •/The Company held out many fine promises to Jack in order to get him to work for them./ 2. To keep resisting; not yield; refuse to give up. •/The city held out for six months under siege./ Compare: HANG ON, HOLD ON. 3. To refuse to agree or settle until one’s wishes have been agreed to. •/The strikers held out for a raise of five cents an hour./ 4. {slang} To keep something from; refuse information or belongings to which someone has a right. •/Mr. Porters partner held out on him when the big payment came in./ •/Mother gave Bobby cookies for all the children in the yard, but he held out on them and ate the cookies himself./ •/John knew that the family would go to the beach Saturday, but he held out on his brother./

[hold out an olive branch] See: BURY THE HATCHET.

[holdover]{n.} 1. A successful movie or theater production that plays longer than originally planned. •/Because of its great popularity. Star Wars was a holdover in most movie theaters./ 2. A reservation not used at the lime intended, but used later. •/They kept my seat at the opera as a holdover because I am a patron./

[hold over]{v.} 1. To remain or keep in office past the end of the term. •/The city treasurer held over for six months when the new treasurer died suddenly./ •/The new President held the members of the Cabinet over for some time before appointing new members./ 2. To extend the engagement of; keep longer. •/The theater held over the feature film for another two weeks./ 3. To delay action on; to postpone: to defer. •/The directors held over their decision until they could get more information./

[hold still]{v. phr.} To remain motionless. •/"Hold still," the dentist said. "This won’t hurt you at all."/

[hold the bag]{v. phr.} To be made liable for or victimized. •/We went out to dinner together but when it was time to pay I was left holding the bag./

[hold the fort]{v. phr.} 1. To defend a fort successfully; fight off attackers. •/The little group held the fort for days until help came./ 2. {informal} To keep a position against opposing forces. •/Friends of civil liberties held the fort during a long debate./ 3. {informal} to keep service or operations going •/It was Christmas Eve, and a few workers held the fort in the office./ •/Mother and Father went out and told the children to hold the fort./

[hold the line]{v. phr.} To keep a situation or trouble from getting worse; hold steady; prevent a setback or loss. •/The mayor held the line on taxes./ •/The company held the line on employment./

[hold the stage][v. phr.] 1. To continue to be produced and to attract audiences. •/"Peter Pan" holds the stage year after year at its annual Christmas showing in London./ 2. To be active in a group; attract attention. •/We had only an hour to discuss the question and Mr. Jones held the stage for most of it./ •/Jane likes to hold the stage at any party or meeting, so she does and says anything./

[hold to] See: HOLD ON TO.

[hold true] or [hold good] {v. phr.} To remain true. •/It has always held true that man cannot live without laws./ •/Bob is a good boy and that holds true of Jim./

[holdup]{n.} 1. Robbery. •/John fell victim to a highway holdup./ 2. A delay, as on a crowded highway. •/Boy we’re late! What’s causing this holdup?/

[hold up]{v.} 1. To raise; lift. •/John held up his hand./ 2. To support; hear; carry. •/The chair was too weak to hold up Mrs. Smith./ 3. To show; call attention to; exhibit. •/The teacher held up excellent models of composition for her class to imitate./ 4. To check; stop; delay. •/The wreck held up traffic on the railroad’s main line tracks./ 5. {informal} To rob at gunpoint. •/Masked men held up the bank./ 6. To keep one’s courage or spirits up; remain calm; keep control of oneself. •/The grieving mother held up for her children’s sake./ 7. To remain good; not get worse. •/Sales held up well./ •/Our team’s luck held up and they won the game./ •/The weather held up and the game was played./ 8. To prove true. •/The police were doubtful at first, but Tony’s story held up./ 9. To delay action; defer; postpone. Often used with "on". •/The college held up on plans for the building until more money came in./ •/The President held up on the news until he was sure of it./

[hold up one’s end] See: HOLD ONE’S END UP.

[hold water]{v. phr.} 1. To keep water without leaking. •/That pail still holds water./ 2. {informal} To prove true; stand testing; bear examination. — Usually used in negative, interrogative, or conditional sentences. •/Ernest told the police a story that wouldn’t hold water./

[hold your hat] See: HANG ON TO YOUR HAT.

[hole] See: ACE IN THE HOLE, BURN A HOLE IN ONE’S POCKET, IN A HOLE or IN A SPOT, IN THE HOLE, OUT OF THE HOLE, SQUARE PEG IN A ROUND HOLE.

[hole in] See: HOLE UP.

[hole in one]{n. phr.} A shot in golf that is hit from the tee and goes right into the cup. •/Many golfers play for years before they get a hole in one./

[hole-in-the-wall]{n. phr.} A small place to live, stay in, or work in; a small, hidden, or inferior place. •/The jewelry store occupied a tiny hole-in-the-wall./ •/When Mr. and Mrs. Green were first married, they lived in a little hole-in-fhe-wall in a cheap apartment building./ 2. {slang}, {citizen’s band radio jargon}. A tunnel. •/Let’s get through this hole in the wall, then we’ll change seats./

[hole out]{v.} To finish play in golf by hitting the ball into the cup. •/The other players waited for Palmer to hole out before they putted./

[hole up] also [hole in] {v.}, {slang} To take refuge or shelter; put up; lodge. •/After a day’s motoring, Harry found a room for rent and holed up for the night./ •/The thief holed up at an abandoned farm./ •/"Let’s hole in," said Father as we came to a motel that looked good./

[holiday] See: HALF-HOLIDAY.

[holier-than-thou]{adj.} Acting as if you are better than others in goodness, character, or reverence for God; acting as if morally better than other people. •/Most people find holier-than-thou actions in others hard to accept./ •/After Mr. Howard stopped smoking, he had a holier-than-thou manner toward his friends who still smoked./

[holistic health]{n.}, {informal}, {semi-technical} The maintenance of health and the avoidance of disease through such psychogenic practices and procedures as biofeedback, meditation, alternative methods of childbirth, and avoidance of drugs. •/The Murgatroyds are regular holistic health freaks — why, they won’t even take aspirin when they have a headache./

[holler before one is hurt] See: CRY BEFORE ONE IS HURT.

[hollow] See: BEAT ALL HOLLOW also BEAT HOLLOW.

[hollow out]{v.} To cut or dig out or to cut or dig a hole in; make a cut or cave in; excavate. •/The soldier hollowed out a foxhole in the ground to lie in./ •/The Indians used to hollow out a log to make a canoe./ •/Joe’s father hollowed out a pumpkin to make a jack-o-lantern./

[holy cats] or [holy cow] or [holy mackerel] or [holy Moses] {interj.}, {informal} — Used to express strong feeling (as astonishment, pleasure, or anger); used in speech or when writing conversation. •/"Holy cats! That’s good pie!" said Dick./ •/"Holy cow! They can’t do that!" Mary said when she saw the boys hurting a much smaller boy./

[holy terror]{n.}, {informal} A very disobedient or unruly child; brat. •/All the children are afraid of Johnny because he’s a holy terror./

[home] See: AT HOME, BRING HOME, BRING HOME THE BACON, CHICKENS COME HOME TO ROOST, CLOSE TO HOME, CONVALESCENT HOME or NURSING HOME or REST HOME, KEEP THE HOME FIRES BURNING, MAKE ONESELF AT HOME, NOBODY HOME, WRITE HOME ABOUT.

[home brew]{n. phr.} A beer or other malt liquor made at home, not in a brewery. •/Home brew reached its greatest popularity in America during national prohibition./

[home on] or [home in on] {v.} To move toward a certain place by following a signal or marker. •/The airplane homed in on the radio beacon./ •/The ship homed on the lights of New York harbor./

[home plate]{n.} The base in baseball where the batter stands and that a runner must touch to score. •/The runner slid across home plate ahead of the tag to score a run./

[home run]{n.} A hit in baseball that allows the batter to run around all the bases and score a run. •/Frank hit a home run over the left field wall in the second inning./

[honest broker]{n. phr.} A person hired or appointed to act as an agent in a legal, business, or political situation where impartial advice is needed in order to settle a dispute. •/Michael has been asked to act as an honest broker to settle the argument between the employees and the management./

[honestly] See: COME BY HONESTLY.

[honest to goodness] or [honest to God] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Really; truly; honestly. — Used to emphasize something said. •/When we were in Washington, we saw the President, honest to goodness./ •/"Honest to goodness, Jane, I think you are the messiest girl in the world," said Mother./

[bonest-to-goodness] or [honest-to-God] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Real; genuine. — Used for emphasis. •/She served him honest-to-goodness deep dish apple pie./ •/It was the first honest-to-goodness baseball game he’d seen since going abroad./

[honeymoon is over] The first happy period of friendship and cooperation between two persons or groups is over. •/A few months after a new President is elected, the honeymoon is over and Congress and the President begin to criticize each other./ •/The honeymoon was soon over for the new foreman and the men under him./

[honky-tonk]{n.} A cheap nightclub or dance hall. •/There were a number of honky-tonks near the army camp./

[honor] See: DO THE HONORS, IN HONOR OF, ON ONE’S HONOR.

[hook] See: BY HOOK OR BY CROOK, GET THE HOOK at GET THE BOUNCE(2), GIVE THE HOOK at GIVE THE BOUNCE(2), OFF THE HOOK.

[hooked on]{adj.} 1. Addicted to a substance such as cigarettes, coffee, tea, drugs, or alcohol. •/Fred is hooked on grass, but Tim is only hooked on tea./ 2. Enthusiastic or very supportive of something. •/I am hooked on the local symphony./

[hookey] See: PLAY HOOKEY.

[hook, line and sinker]{adv. phr.}, {informal} Without question or doubt; completely. •/Johnny was so easily fooled that he fell for Joe’s story, hook, line and sinker./ •/Mary was such a romantic girl that she swallowed the story Alice told her about her date, hook, line and sinker./ •/Bobby trusted Jim so he was taken in by his hard-luck story hook, line and sinker./

[hookup]{n.} A connection, electrical or otherwise, between two instruments or two individuals. •/Edwin and Hermione are a perfect couple; they have got the right hookup./

[hook up]{v. phr.} To connect or fit together. •/The company sent a man to hook up the telephone./ •/They could not use the gas stove because it had not been hooked up./

[hoop] See: JUMP THROUGH A HOOP.

[hop] See: MAD AS A HORNET Or MAD AS HOPS.

[hop, skip and a jump] See: STONE’S THROW.

[hope] See: CROSS ONE’S HEART or CROSS ONE’S HEART AND HOPE TO DIE, IN HOPES.

[hope against hope]{v. phr.} To try to hope when things look black; hold to hope in bad trouble. •/The mother continued to hope against hope although the plane was hours late./ •/Jane hoped against hope that Joe would call her./

[hop to it]{v. phr.}, {slang} To get started; start a job; get going. •/"There’s a lot to do today, so let’s hop to it," the boss said./

[hopped up]{adj.}, {slang} 1. Doped with a narcotic drug. •/Police found Jones hiding in an opium den, among other men all hopped up with the drug./ 2. Full of eagerness; excited. •/Fred was all hopped up about going over the ocean./

[horn] See: BLOW ONE’S OWN HORN or TOOT ONE’S OWN HORN, PULL IN ONE’S HORNS or DRAW IN ONE’S HORNS, TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS.

[hornet] See: MAD AS A HORNET or MAD AS HOPS or MAD AS A WET HEN, STIR UP A HORNET’S NEST.

[horn in]{v.}, {slang} To come in without invitation or welcome; interfere. Often used with "on". •/Jack would often horn in on conversations discussing things he knew nothing about./ •/Lee horned in on Ray and Annie and wanted to dance with Annie./ Compare: BUTT IN.

[horns of a dilemma]{n. phr.} Two choices possible in a situation in which neither is wanted. Usually used after "on". •/Joe found himself on the horns of a dilemma; if he went to work, he’d miss seeing Mary; if he stayed out, he’d he too broke to take her anywhere./

[horror] See: THROW UP ONE’S HANDS IN HORROR.

[horse] See: BET ON THE WRONG HORSE, CART BEFORE THE HORSE, CHANGE HORSES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREAM or CHANGE HORSES IN MIDSTREAM, EAT LIKE A HORSE, HOLD ONE’S HORSES. IRON HORSE, LOCK THE BARN DOOR AFTER THE HORSE IS STOLEN, LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH, OFF ONE’S HIGH HORSE, ON ONE’S HIGH HORSE, PUT ONE’S MONEY ON A SCRATCHED HORSE, STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH.

[horsefeathers!]{n. phr.}, {slang} 1. Not true; I don’t believe what you’re saying. •/"Horsefeathers!" Brad cried. "I can’t believe a word of what you said about Jessica."/ 2. Exclamation of disgust. •/"Horsefeathers!" Fred cried. "We’ve just missed the bus."/ Compare: FIDDLESTICKS, BULLSHIT.

[horselaugh]{n. phr.} A loud, sarcastic, and derisive laugh. •/When the speaker praised politics as one of the oldest and noblest professions, his audience of college students gave him a horselaugh./

[horse around]{v.}, {slang} To join in rough teasing; play around. •/They were a hunch of sailors on shore leave, horsing around where there were girls and drinks./ •/John horsed around with the dog for a while when he came in from school./

[horse of a different color] or [horse of another color] {n. phr.}, {informal} Something altogether separate and different. •/Anyone can be broke, but to steal is a horse of a different color./ •/Do you mean that the boy with that pretty girl is her brother? I thought he was her boyfriend. Well, that’s a horse of another color./

[horse opera]{n. phr.} A Western movie in which cowboys and horses play a major part. •/John Wayne played in many horse operas./

[horseplay]{n.} Rough, practical joking. •/The newlyweds couldn’t get a wink of sleep all night because there was a lot of yelling and screaming outside of their window — the usual horseplay./

[horse sense]{n.}, {informal} A good understanding about what to do in life; good judgment; wisdom in making decisions. •/Bill had never been to college, but he had plenty of horse sense./ •/Some people are well educated and read many books, but still do not have much horse sense./

[horse trade]{n.} 1. The sale of a horse or the exchange of two horses. •/It was a horse trade in which the owner of the worse animal gave a rifle to make the trade equal./ 2. {informal} A business agreement or bargain arrived at after hard and skillful discussion. •/Party leaders went around for months making horse trades to get support for their candidate./ •/The horse trade finally called for a new car for the radio station in exchange for several weeks of advertising for the car dealer./

[hot] See: BLOW HOT AND COLD, MAKE IT HOT.

[hot air]{n.}, {informal} Nonsense, exaggerated talk, wasted words characterized by emotion rather than intellectual content. •/That was just a lot of hot air what Joe said./

[hot and bothered]{adj.}, {informal} Excited and worried, displeased, or puzzled. — A hackneyed phrase. •/Fritz got all hot and bothered when he failed in the test./ •/Leona was all hot and bothered when her escort was late in coming for her./ •/Jerry was hot and bothered about his invention when he couldn’t get it to work./ •/It is a small matter; don’t get so hot and bothered./

[hot and heavy]{adv. phr.}, {informal} Strongly; vigorously; emphatically. •/Fred got it hot and heavy when his wife found out how much he had lost at cards./ •/The partners had a hot and heavy argument before deciding to enlarge their store./

[hot dog]{n. phr.}, {informal} A frankfurter or wiener in a roll. •/The boys stopped on the way home for hot dogs and coffee./

[hot dog]{interj.}, {informal} Hurrah! — A cry used to show pleasure or enthusiasm. •/"Hot dog!" Frank exclaimed when he unwrapped a birthday gift of a small record player./

[hot dog roast] See: WIENER ROAST.

[hot number]{n.}, {slang} A person or thing noticed as newer, better, or more popular than others. •/The boys and girls thought that song was a hot number./ •/The new car that Bob is driving is a real hot number./ •/John invented a new can opener that was a hot number in the stores./

[hot off the press]{adj. phr.} Just appeared in print. •/This is the latest edition of the Chicago Tribune; it’s hot off the press./

[hot one]{n.}, {slang}, {informal} Something out of the ordinary; something exceptional, such as a joke, a person whether in terms of looks or intelligence. •/Joe’s joke sure was a hot one./ •/Sue is a hot one, isn’t she?/

[hot potato]{n.}, {informal} A question that causes strong argument and is difficult to settle. •/Many school boards found segregation a hot potato in the 1960s./

[hot rod]{n.}, {informal} An older automobile changed so that it can gain speed quickly and go very fast. •/Hot rods are used by young people especially in drag racing./

[hot seat]{n.}, {slang} 1. The electric chair used to cause death by electrocution in legal executions. •/Many a man has controlled a murderous rage when he thought of the hot seat./ 2. {informal} A position in which you can easily get into trouble. •/A judge in a beauty contest is on the hot seat. If he chooses one girl, the other girls will be angry with him./

[hot stuff]{n.}, {slang}, {citizen’s band radio jargon} Coffee. •/Let’s stop and get some hot stuff./

[hot under the collar]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Angry. •/Mary gets hot under the collar if you joke about women drivers./ •/Tom got hot under the collar when his teacher punished him./

[hot water]{n.}{informal} Trouble. — Used with "in", "into", "out", "of". •/John’s thoughtless remark about religion got John into a lot of hot water./ •/It was the kind of trouble where it takes a friend to get you out of hot water./

[hound] See: ROCK HOUND, RUN WITH THE HARE AND HUNT (RIDE) WFTH THE HOUNDS.

[hour] See: AFTER HOURS, ALL HOURS, COFFEE HOUR, ON THE HOUR, ZERO HOUR.

[house] See: BOARDING HOUSE REACH, BRING DOWN THE HOUSE, PUN HOUSE, HASH HOUSE, KEEP HOUSE, ON THE HOUSE, PARISH HOUSE, PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT THROW STONES, PLAGUE ON BOTH YOUR HOUSES or PLAGUE O' BOTH YOUR HOUSES, PUT ONE’S HOUSE IN ORDER or SET ONE’S HOUSE TN ORDER.

[housebroken]{adj.} Trained to go outside to relieve themselves (said of domestic pets, primarily dogs). •/All young puppies must eventually be housebroken./

[house detective]{n.} A detective employed by a hotel, store, or other business to watch for any trouble. •/The one-armed man sweeping the bank floor was really the house detective./

[house of cards]{n. phr.} Something badly put together and easily knocked down; a poorly founded plan, hope, or action. •/John’s business fell apart like a house of cards./

[house of ill fame] or [of ill repute] {n. phr.} A bordello; a brothel. •/At the edge of town there is a house of ill repute run by a Madame who used to be a singer in a bar./

[housetop] See: SHOUT FROM THE HOUSETOPS or SHOUT FROM THE ROOFTOPS.

[hover over]{v. phr.} 1. To remain close or above. •/The rescue helicopter was carefully hovering above the stranded rock climbers./ 2. To watch over; supervise. •/"Mother!" Phillip cried, "if you don’t stop hovering over me, I’ll go bananas!"/

[how] See: AND HOW!

[how about] or [what about] {interrog.} — Used to ask for a decision, action, opinion, or explanation. 1. Will you have or agree on? •/How about another piece of pie?/ •/What about a game of tennis?/ •/How about going to the dance with me Saturday?/ 2. Will you lend or give me? •/How about five dollars until Friday?/ •/What about a little help with these dishes?/ 3. What is to be done about? •/What about the windows? Shall we close them before we go?/ 4. How do you feel about? What do you think about? What is to be thought or said? •/What about women in politics?/ •/How about this button on the front of the typewriter?/

[how about that] or [what about that] {informal} An expression of surprise, congratulation, or praise. •/When Jack heard of his brother’s promotion, he exclaimed, "How about that!"/ •/Bill won the scholarship! What about that!/

[how come]{informal} also {nonstandard} [how’s come] {interrog.} How does it happen that? Why? •/How come you are late?/ •/You’re wearing your best clothes today. How come?/ Compare: WHAT FOR.

[how do you do]{formal} How are you? — Usually as a reply to an introduction; it is in the form of a question but no answer is expected. •/"Mary, I want you to meet my friend Fred. Fred, this is my wife, Mary." "How do you do, Mary?" "How do you do, Fred?"/

[how goes it?]{v. phr.}, {interrog.} How are you and your affairs in general progressing? •/Jim asked Bill, "how goes it with the new wife and the new apartment?"/

[howling success]{n.}, {informal} A great success; something that is much praised; something that causes wide enthusiasm. •/The party was a howling success./ •/The book was a howling success./

[how’s come] See: HOW COME.

[how so]{interrog.} How is that so? Why is it so? How? Why? •/I said the party was a failure and she asked. "How so?"/ •/He said his brother was not a good dancer and I asked him, "How so? "/

[how’s that]{informal} What did you say? Will you please repeat that? •/"I’ve just been up in a balloon for a day and a half." "How’s that?"/ •/"The courthouse is on fire." "How’s that again?"/

[how the land lies] See: LAY OF THE LAND.

[how the wind blows] See: WAY THE WIND BLOWS.

[huddle] See: GO INTO A HUDDLE.

[hue and cry]{n.} 1. An alarm and chase after a supposed wrongdoer; a pursuit usually by shouting men. •/"Stop, thief," cried John as he ran. Others joined him, and soon there was a hue and cry./ 2. An excited mass protest, alarm, or outcry of any kind. •/The explosion was so terrible that people at a distance raised a great hue and cry about an earthquake./

[hug the road]{v. phr.} To stay firmly on the road; ride smoothly without swinging. •/A heavy car with a low center of gravity will hug the road./ •/At high speeds a car will not hug the road well./

[huh-uh] or [hum-um] or [uh-uh] {adv.}, {informal} No. — Used only in speech or to record dialogue. •/Did Mary come? Huh-uh./ •/Is it raining out? Uh-uh./ Contrast: UH-UH.

[humble] See: EAT HUMBLE PIE.

[hump] See: OVER THE HUMP.

[hundred] See: BY THE DOZEN or BY THE HUNDRED or BY THE THOUSAND.

[hunky-dory]{adj.} OK; satisfactory; fine. •/The landlord asked about our new apartment and we told him that so far everything was hunky-dory./

[hunt] See: RUN WITH THE HARE AND HUNT (RIDE) WITH THE HOUNDS.

[hunt and peck]{n. phr.}, {informal} Picking out typewriter keys by sight, usually with one or two fingers; not memorizing the keys. •/Many newspaper reporters do their typing by hunt and peck./ — Often used, with hyphens, as an adjective. •/Mr. Barr taught himself to type, and he uses the hunt-and-peck system./

[hunt down]{v.} 1. To pursue and capture; look hard for an animal or person until found and caught. •/The police hunted down the escaped prisoner./ Compare: TRACK DOWN. 2. To search for (something) until one finds it. •/Professor Jones hunted down the written manuscript in the Library of Congress./ Syn.: TRACK DOWN.

[hunting] See: HAPPY HUNTING GROUND.

[hunt up]{v.} To find or locate by search. •/When John was in Chicago, he hunted up some old friends./ •/The first thing Fred had to do was to hunt up a hotel room./

[hurry on with] or [make haste with] {v. phr.} To make rapid progress in an undertaking. •/Sue promised to hurry on with the report and send it out today./

[hurry up]{v. phr.} To rush (an emphatic form of hurry). •/Hurry up or we’ll miss our plane./

[hurt] See: CRY BEFORE ONE IS HURT or HOLLER BEFORE ONE IS HURT.

[hush-hush]{adj.}, {informal} Kept secret or hidden; kept from public knowledge; hushed up; concealed. •/The company had a new automobile engine that it was developing, but kept it a hush-hush project until they knew it was successful./

[hush up]{v.} 1. To keep news of (something) from getting out; prevent people from knowing about. •/It isn’t always easy to hush up a scandal./ 2. {informal} To be or make quiet; stop talking, crying, or making some other noise. — Often used as a command. •/"Hush up," Mother said, when we began to repeat ugly gossip./