Commonly used english part 35 potx

They could buy a car of any colour but only if it was black hold Idioms hold a candle to someone or something - be in the same class or level as someone or something usually used with a

hire out (someone)

- accept/give a job/employment

He decided to hire himself out as a dancer while he was going to school

hire out (something)

- rent something to someone

We hired out our boat last summer because we were too busy to use it

hit Idioms

hit a plateau

- reach a certain level of activity/sales and then stop

The performance of the basketball team hit a plateau and then declined

hit a snag

- run into a problem

The negotiations to end the teachers' strike hit a snag last night

hit-and-miss

- unplanned/uncontrolled/aimless/careless

We are looking for a new apartment but it is hit-and-miss whether we can find a good one or not

hit-and-run

- an accident where the driver of the car drives away without stopping

My sister was involved in a hit-and-run accident last Sunday afternoon

- striking suddenly and leaving quickly

The army made a hit-and-run attack on the enemy soldiers

hit bottom

- be at the very lowest, not be able to go any lower

The economy hit bottom last year but is finally starting to improve

hit close to home

- affect one personally

The strike by the trash collectors hit close to home when we had no place to put our garbage

hit home

- make sense, make an impression on someone

The amount of damage from the storm hit home when we saw the houses on the beach

hit it off (with someone)

- get along well with someone

We really hit it off at the party

hit on/upon (something)

- think of something by chance

We hit upon the idea of going to the lake for our holiday after our airline reservations were cancelled

hit parade

- a list of songs arranged in order of popularity

We listened to all the songs on the hit parade last night

hit pay dirt

- discover something of value

The men hit pay dirt when they discovered oil in the farmer's field

hit (someone) below the belt

- do something unfair or unsporting to someone

The lawyer was hitting below the belt when he asked the woman very personal questions

hit (someone) hard

- affect someone strongly

The death of the woman's father hit her very hard

hit (someone) like a ton of bricks

- surprise or shock someone

When the small school went out of business it hit everyone like a ton of bricks

hit (someone) right between the eyes

- make a strong impression on someone, surprise someone

Her incredible performance really hit me between the eyes

hit (someone) up for (something)

- ask someone for something

My friend tried to hit me up for some money but I said no

hit the books

- study or prepare for class

He stayed home all weekend and hit the books

hit the bottle

- drink too much alcohol

She started to hit the bottle soon after her divorce

hit the bricks

- start walking, go out into the streets (on strike)

The post office workers hit the bricks and went on strike

hit the bull`s-eye

- go to the most important part of a matter, reach the main question

She hit the bull`s-eye when she suggested that decreasing costs was more important than increasing sales

hit the ceiling

- get angry

His wife is going to hit the ceiling when she sees the bill for the car repair

hit the deck

- get up from bed, start working

"Let`s hit the deck and get this work done before supper."

hit the dirt

- fall on the ground and take cover under gunfire

We were told to hit the dirt during the bank robbery

hit the hay

- go to bed

I decided to hit the hay early last night because I was very tired

hit the high spots

- consider or mention only the more important parts of something

He only had time to hit the high spots in his report but still it was very interesting

hit the jackpot

- be very lucky or successful

She hit the jackpot when she bought a lottery ticket last week

hit the nail on the head

- make a correct guess or analysis

He hit the nail on the head when he wrote the report about the bank`s problems

hit the road

- leave - usually in a car

We should hit the road early tomorrow morning if we want to reach the seashore before evening

hit the roof

- become very angry, go into a rage

He hit the roof when he found out that his son had wrecked the family car

hit the sack

- go to bed

I`m a little bit tired so I think that I will hit the sack now

hit the sauce

- drink alcohol heavily and regularly

He has been hitting the sauce recently although he says that he doesn`t drink

hit the skids

- decline, decrease in value

The prices of houses hit the skids recently in our city

hit the spot

- refresh or satisfy

Drinking the lemonade after the baseball game really hit the spot

.

hitch one`s wagon to a star

- aim high, follow a great ambition or purpose

He wants to hitch his wagon to a star and pursue his dreams of becoming an actor

hither and thither

- in one direction and then in another, here and there

He looked hither and thither when he discovered that he had lost his wallet

hive of activity

- a place where things are very busy

The school was a hive of activity during the school festival

Hobson's choice

- the choice between taking what is offered or getting nothing at all (Hobson owned a stable in the 17th century in England and always offered his customers the horse nearest the door)

The customer's were given a Hobson's choice They could buy a car of any colour but only if it was black

hold Idioms

hold a candle to (someone or something)

- be in the same class or level as someone or something (usually used with a negative) The new restaurant can`t hold a candle to the one that I usually go to

hold a grudge against (someone)

- not forgive someone for something

He has been holding a grudge against the company manager for many years

hold a meeting

- meet, have a meeting

The apartment owners decided to hold a meeting last week

hold all the trump cards/aces

- have the best chance of winning, have full control

It will be difficult to do well in the negotiations with him as he holds all the trump cards

hold back

- stay back or away, show unwillingness to do something

He always holds back during meetings and never says anything

hold back (someone)

- prevent someone from doing something

The police officers tried to hold back the angry woman

hold court

- act like a king or queen among his or her subjects

He always acts like he is holding court when I see him in his office

hold down a job

- keep a job

He has a serious drinking problem and is unable to hold down a job

hold down (someone or something)

- keep control of someone or something

The government was able to hold down the rate of inflation for many years

hold forth

- offer, propose

The company held forth a proposal to give all of the employees a bonus in the

summer

hold forth (on/about something)

- speak in public, talk about something

He was holding forth about taxes last night when I saw him in his office

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

hold one's end of the bargain up

- do one's part as you have agreed

The students were not holding their end of the bargain up when they didn't do 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."