Текст книги "Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц"

Автор книги: Adam Makkai

Соавторы: Maya Glinberg
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[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./