Commonly used english part 30 ppsx

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.. hand over fist - quickly His new c

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

- 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