Commonly-Used Idioms, Sayings and phrasal verbs - "H" Idioms pdf

H had best (do something) - should something, ought to something I had best go home soon as I want to get up early tomorrow morning had better (do something) - should something, ought to something I had better go now or I will be late for class hail from (somewhere) - originally come from somewhere My father hails from a small farming community the hair of the dog that bit you - a drink of alcohol taken when one is recovering from drinking too much My friend got up early and had the hair of the dog that bit him to start the day (one's) hair stands on end - become frightened or afraid of something My hair stood on end when I saw the scene after the automobile accident (to be) hale and hearty - to be in very good health, to be well and strong My uncle is a hale and hearty fellow who never gets sick 289 Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com half-baked - an idea or plan that is not thought about carefully or not studied carefully I not like my supervisor's half-baked idea about the new delivery system (to be) half the battle - to be a large part of the work Writing the letters will be half the battle We can finish the rest of the work next week (to be) halfhearted about (someone or something) - (to be) unenthusiastic about someone or something I was halfhearted about joining the group to go hiking ham it up - something silly or try to exaggerate something in a funny way I was hamming it up with my friend in front of the principal's office hammer away at (someone or something) - be persistent in trying to something I worked all weekend to hammer away at my final essay for university hammer out (something) - work something out by discussion and debate The union and managers were able to hammer out an agreement before midnight last night 290 Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 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 291 Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 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 292 Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 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 293 Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 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 a left there 294 Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 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 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 295 Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 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 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 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 296 Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 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 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 up the telephone I left home to go to work 297 Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 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 298 Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com hold good - continue, endure, last The demand for air conditioners held good during July but decreased rapidly in August hold off - delay, not begin The concert will be held off until next week hold off - keep away by force The man was able to hold off the police for several hours before he was arrested Hold on! - wait a minute, stop, wait and not hang up the phone "Please hold on for a minute while I go back and lock the window." hold on to (someone or something) - continue to hold or keep something, hold tightly You should hold on to your bag when you are in the bus or someone may steal it hold one`s breath - stop breathing for a moment when you are excited or nervous I had to stop and hold my breath while I was waiting for the announcement of the winning name 349 Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com hold one's end of the bargain up - one's part as you have agreed The students were not holding their end of the bargain up when they didn't their homework hold one`s fire - keep back arguments or facts, keep from telling something I tried to hold my fire during the meeting and save the rest of the information until next week hold one's head up - keep one's dignity and pride The basketball players were able to hold their heads up even though they lost the game hold one`s horses - stop and wait patiently "Hold your horses for a minute while I return to get my wallet." hold one`s own (in an argument) - defend one`s position Although her boss is very aggressive she is able to hold her own in any dispute with him hold one`s peace - be silent and not speak against someone or something "Please try and hold your peace during the meeting as it will be to our disadvantage if we have a confrontation." 350 Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com hold one`s tongue - keep quiet He decided to hold his tongue rather than give his honest opinion a hold-out - someone who refuses to give something up, a non-conformist He was the last hold-out in our effort to make sure that everyone wore a necktie to work hold out for (something) - refuse to give up, insist on getting something The basketball star is holding out for a large salary increase hold out on (someone) - refuse to give something to someone, refuse to agree The players are holding out on the owners and will not sign their contract hold out (one's hand) - reach out, extend She held out her hand to help her mother climb up the stairs hold out the olive branch to (someone) - offer to end a dispute with someone The company decided to hold out the olive branch to the workers who were on strike hold over (something) - extend the engagement of something The movie was held over for another week 351 Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com hold (someone) down - try to keep someone from succeeding The president of the company is trying to hold down the manager so he doesn't challenge his position hold (someone) hostage - keep someone as a hostage The bank robbers were holding the woman hostage hold (someone) in high regard - have very great respect for someone All of the students hold the principal in high regard hold (someone's) attention - keep someone interested The man standing on the bridge held everyone's attention for over an hour hold (something) against (someone) - blame something on someone My friend forgot to give me my money but I don't hold it against him as he is a nice person hold (something) back - keep information or something to or for oneself Our boss is holding back the information about the new computer system 352 Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com hold still - to not move "Please hold still while I fix your jacket zipper." hold the fort - cope in an emergency, act as a temporary substitute He has been holding the fort at his company while his boss is on vacation hold the line at (something) - not yield to pressure, limit something Our company is holding the line on any salary increases hold the reins - be the most influential person He has been holding the reins in his company for many years hold true - be true It usually hold's true that the students who come late get the lowest marks hold up - lift, raise The students usually hold up their hands when they have a question hold up - support, carry The main beams in the house hold up the total weight of the house 353 Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com hold up - stop, delay The accident held up traffic for over three hours at the border crossing hold up - rob at gunpoint The criminal was able to hold up three people before he was caught hold up - keep up one`s courage or spirits Her spirits are holding up quite well even though she does not have a job now hold up - remain good, not get worse Sales during the first six months of the year are holding up very well compared to last year hold up - prove true Her story held up during the questioning by the police a hold-up - a robbery I was involved in a hold-up when I was in the supermarket last weekend hold up (someone or something) as an example of (something) - point to someone or something as a good example The student was held up as an example of an honest and good person 354 Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com hold water - be a sound idea His proposal for a new work scheduling system doesn`t hold water hole in the wall - a small place to live/work/visit, a small hidden (often inferior) place We went for a drink at a hole in the wall near the university last night hole up (somewhere) - hide somewhere I passed the weekend holed up in my bedroom with a good book holier-than-thou - acting as if one is better than others in goodness or character etc I not like him because he takes a holier-than-thou attitude toward everyone else holy cats - used to express strong feelings of astonishment, pleasure or anger "Holy cats, the water is rising over the river bank." holy cow - used to express strong feelings of astonishment, pleasure or anger "Holy cow! There are over one hundred people standing in front of our house." 355 Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com holy mackerel - used to express strong feelings of astonishment, pleasure or anger "Holy mackerel," cried the little boy when he saw the new bicycle that he got for his birthday present holy Moses - used to express strong feelings of astonishment, pleasure or anger "Holy Moses! It is already noon and I haven`t even started work yet." a holy terror - a very disobedient or unruly child The little boy is a holy terror and his parents never want to take him anywhere the honeymoon is over - the initial period of friendship and cooperation between two groups is over The honeymoon was over for the new President after several months a honky-tonk - a cheap night-club or dance hall We went to a honky-tonk in the small town where we stopped last night honor a check - accept someone's personal check The store refused to honor the check that I tried to give them hook, line and sinker - without question or doubt, completely She fell in love with her new boyfriend hook, line and sinker 356 Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com to hook up (something) - connect or fit something together After we moved into our new apartment we had to hook up the phone a hook-up - a connection The new hook-up for the computer is not working very well hooked on (something) - addicted to a drug or someting similar, enthusiastic about something The man has been hooked on drugs since he was a teenager a hop, skip and a jump - a short distance The hospital was a hop, skip, and a jump from our new apartment hop to it - get started, start a job We must hop to it and try to finish this job before dinner to hope against hope - to continue to hope when things look very bad The rescue team hoped against hope that the lost hikers would be found alive (to be) hopeless at (doing something) - incapable of doing something well My sister is hopeless at mathematics 357 Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com (to be) hopped up on (something) - to be high on a drug or on alcohol The man who tried to rob the store was hopped up on some kind of drug to horn in on (someone) - to come in without an invitation or welcome, interfere The man horned in on our conversation although he knows that nobody likes him to horse around - to play around, to join in rough teasing The children were horsing around in the school yard when the bell rang for class a horse of a different color - something totally separate and different We should not be talking about that issue now It is a horse of a different color horse sense - good judgement, wisdom in making decisions He has good horse sense so you can expect him to make an intelligent decision to horse trade - to make a business agreement after hard negotiations We had to horse trade but we were finally able to reach an agreement to buy the antique car 358 Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com hot Idioms hot air - nonsense, exaggerated talk He is full of hot air and you can`t trust what he says (to be) hot and bothered - excited and worried, displeased I don`t know what is wrong with her but she is hot and bothered about something hot and heavy - serious passion or emotions The love scenes in the movie were hot and heavy hot on (someone or something) - enthusiastic about someone or something Recently, I am hot on some kinds of classical music a hot potato - a situation that is likely to cause trouble to the person handling it The issue of the non-union workers is a hot potato that we must deal with a hot rod - an automobile that is changed so that it can go very fast He has always loved cars and was a member of his local hot rod club when he was a teenager 359 Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com hot under the collar - very angry Our boss is hot under the collar today because three of the staff came late (to be) in hot water - to be in trouble He has been in hot water at work since he took a week off with no excuse a house of cards - something badly put together and easily knocked down, a poorly made plan/action The peace agreement between the two countries was like a house of cards and fell apart as soon as a minor problem occurred How about? - will you have something or will you agree to something? "How about some coffee before we go to work?" How about? - what is your feeling/thought/desire regarding something? "She is not interested in the job but how about one of her friends?" How come? - why? "How come you don`t telephone her if you want to talk to her?" 360 Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com How`s that? - what did you say? "How`s that? I couldn`t hear you because the radio was too loud." How so? - how is it so? "I know that you think that the answer is wrong but how so?" a hue and cry - an excited protest/alarm/outcry The bank raised a hue and cry when we failed to notify them about our financial problems to huff and puff - to breathe very hard I was huffing and puffing after I walked up several floors in our apartment building (to be) up on (someone or something) - to be obsessed or devoted to someone or something My friend is up on one of his colleagues at work to hunger for (something) - to have a strong desire for something The men were hungering for adventure when they began their tour of Africa (to be) hungry for (something) - to desire something I was hungry for some different food so I went to a new restaurant 361 Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com hunt high and low for (someone or something) - carefully look everywhere for something I have been hunting high and low for my house keys but I can't find them hurl an insult (at someone) - direct/make an insult to someone The young boys stopped to hurl an insult at the older boy hush-hush - something kept secret or hidden "Why the big hush-hush? Everyone is very quiet this morning." hush money - money paid to persuade someone to be silent about certain information The politician was arrested for trying to pay hush money to a victim of the scandal to hush up - keep news of something from getting out, prevent people from knowing about something The government tried to hush up the bad economic news but the media soon discovered the facts to hush up - to be or make quiet, to stop talking/crying/making noise The mother told her child to hush up when they were in the department store 362 Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com hustle and bustle - a large amount of activity and work that is usually done in a noisy and busy place There is a lot of hustle and bustle downtown every Saturday morning (to be) hyped-up - to have an excess of energy, to be excited She has been hyped up all morning because she will go to Italy for a holiday next week 363 Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com ... 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... 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... high Idioms high and dry - stranded, abandoned They left the manager high and dry when they moved the company to Europe 338 Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com high and low - everywhere We looked high and