Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 291 hammer (something) home - try hard to make someone understand something The speaker tried to hammer home the importance of treating the customers with respect. hand Idioms hand down a decision - announce a legal decision The judge handed down his decision early in the afternoon. hand down (something) - arrange to give something to someone after your death My grandmother handed down her silver jewellery to my mother. hand in (something) - give something to someone, hand something to someone I went to the company early to hand in my job application. (work) hand in glove with (someone) - (work) very close to someone The supervisor and manager work hand in glove to create a good atmosphere in the company. be hand in hand - be holding hands I walked to the movie hand in hand with my girlfriend. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 292 to hand it to (someone) - to give credit or praise to someone You have to hand it to our manager for working hard and being successful with his business. a hand-me-down - something given away after another person doesn`t need it (especially clothing) She was very poor when she was a child and always wore hand-me-down clothing. a hand-out - a gift (usually from the government) The government stopped giving hand-outs to the university students because they had no money. a hand-out - a sheet of paper given to students or people who attend a meeting etc. Everyone at the meeting was given a hand-out on how to invest money. to hand out (something) - to give something of the same kind to several people The teacher decided not to hand out the tests until everybody in the class stopped talking. hand over fist - quickly His new company is making money hand over fist. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 293 hand over (someone or something) to (someone) - give control or possession of something to someone, give something to another person The criminals were forced to hand over the stolen money to the police. hand (something) down to (someone) - give something to a younger person The girl always handed her old clothes down to her younger sister. hand (something) to (someone) on a silver platter - give a person something that has not been earned The man handed a job to his son on a silver platter and he never had to make any effort at all. (live) hand-to-mouth - have only enough money for basic living He was living a hand-to-mouth existence until he was finally able to find a job. (one's) hands are tied - one is unable to help I am sorry that I can`t help you but my hands are tied at the moment. hands down - easy, unopposed They won the game hands down over the other team. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 294 hands off - leave alone, don`t interfere The government decided to take a hands-off approach to the teachers during the strike. . handle with kid gloves - be very careful handling someone or something He is very sensitive so you have to handle him with kid gloves when you speak to him. the handwriting is on the wall - a sign that something bad or significant will happen The handwriting is on the wall. Business conditions are bad so nobody will get a pay raise this year. handy - can easily fix things He is very handy around the house and is always fixing or building something. hang Idioms hang a left - turn to the left We drove to the end of the block and hung a left there. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 295 hang a right - turn to the right We decided to hang a right when we came to the main street. hang around - pass time or stay someplace without any real purpose or aim We decided to stay home and hang around rather than go to the game. hang back - stay some distance behind or away, hesitate or be unwilling to do something He lacks self-confidence and always hangs back when his boss asks for volunteers. hang by a thread/hair - be in doubt, depend on a very small thing The outcome of the election was hanging by a thread until late at night. hang in the balance - have two equally possible results, be uncertain After the opposition party won the election whether or not the new highway will be built hangs in the balance. hang in (there) - persevere, don`t give up "You should hang in there and not quit your job even if you hate the supervisor." Hang it! - a rather old expression used to express annoyance or disappointment "Hang it", the man said when he hit his finger with the hammer. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 296 hang loose - relax, remain calm I want to stay at home this weekend and hang loose. hang on - continue Although conditions were very bad he decided to hang on and fight to keep his business going. hang on - wait, continue listening on the telephone "Hang on for a minute while I go and get some paper and a pen." hang on (someone's) every word - listen with complete attention to everything someone says The audience hung on every word of the speaker. hang on to (something) - hold tightly, keep firmly "Please hang on to your hats or the strong wind will blow them off." hang one on - get very drunk He hung one on last night after he heard about his promotion. hang one's hat (somewhere) - live or take up residence somewhere I want to move and hang my hat in a small town somewhere. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 297 hang out one`s shingle - notify the public of the opening of an office - especially an office of a doctor, lawyer or other professional He has decided to hang out his shingle now that he has graduated from law school. hang out (somewhere/with someone) - spend one`s time with no great purpose, spend leisure time with friends Recently my friend has been hanging out with a group of people who are not a good influence on him. hang (someone) in effigy - hang a dummy of a hated person The demonstrators hung the dishonest politician in effigy. hang tough - stick to one's position I decided to hang tough and stop negotiating with the lawyer. hang up (something) - place something on a hook/peg/hangar Everyone was forced to hang up their jackets before they entered the room. hang up (the telephone) - place a telephone receiver back on the telephone and end the call After I hung up the telephone I left home to go to work. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 298 a hang-up - a delay in some process There was a hang-up in the construction of the office tower because of the fire. a hang-up - an inhibition, a neurotic reaction to some life situation The girl has a serious hang-up about the dark and is afraid to go out at night. . happen upon (someone or something) - meet someone or find something unexpectedly I happened upon a very valuable book when I was cleaning up my grandfather's house. happy hour - a time in bars or restaurants when drinks are served at a discount We stopped at the restaurant during happy hour and had a drink. hard Idioms a hard-and-fast rule - a rule that cannot be altered to fit special cases There is no hard-and-fast rule that says you can`t use a cellular phone in the train. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 299 as hard as nails - physically very fit and strong, rough He is as hard as nails and is not a good person to have an argument with. hard feelings - angry or bitter feelings I don`t have any hard feelings toward my boss even though he fired me. hard-nosed - not weak or soft, stubborn - especially in a fight or contest or negotiations The company had a hard-nosed attitude while bargaining with the union. a hard nut to crack - a person or thing not easily understood or influenced He is a hard nut to crack and is not close to many people. hard of hearing - unable to hear well The man is hard of hearing so you must speak loudly when talking to him. hard on (someone or something) - treat someone or something roughly His son is very hard on shoes. (to be) hard on (someone's) heels - to be following someone very closely The police officer was hard on the heels of the criminal. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 300 hard-pressed - burdened with urgent business "I am hard-pressed for time. Can we meet later?" a hard sell - an attitude where you pressure someone to buy something The car dealer gave me a hard sell on the new car so I went to another dealer. be hard up - be short of money I am hard up for money at the moment so I can`t go to the movie. . harken back to (something) - have started out as something The new building harkens back to a style that appeared over 100 years ago. to harp on (something) - to talk repeatedly and tediously about something He has been harping on his lack of money for several weeks now. hash (something) over - discuss something in great detail We stayed after school to hash over the new contract. . hang in the balance - have two equally possible results, be uncertain After the opposition party won the election whether or not the new highway will be built hangs in the balance. hang. not quit your job even if you hate the supervisor." Hang it! - a rather old expression used to express annoyance or disappointment "Hang it", the man said when he hit his finger. closely The police officer was hard on the heels of the criminal. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 300 hard-pressed - burdened with urgent business "I am hard-pressed for time. Can we