English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - H, page 9
from: 'hit the dust running'
to: 'hold the fort'
- hit the dust running
- If someone hits the ground running, they are ready and
eager to start immediately on a new activity.
"He intends to hit the ground running when he starts his new job."
- If someone hits the ground running, they are ready and
eager to start immediately on a new activity.
- hit the hay (or sack)
- When you hit the hay (or hit the sack), you go to bed.
"The boys were so exhausted that they hit the hay as soon as they reached the campsite."
- When you hit the hay (or hit the sack), you go to bed.
- hit the nail on the head
- When you hit the nail on the head, you are absolutely
right about something or have guessed the exact nature of a problem or situation.
"You hit the nail on the head when you said Mark had money problems. He's lost his job."
- When you hit the nail on the head, you are absolutely
right about something or have guessed the exact nature of a problem or situation.
- hit/strike pay dirt
- If you hit pay dirt, you are lucky and suddenly find
yourself in a successful money-making situation.
"Charlie finally hit pay dirt with his latent invention."
- If you hit pay dirt, you are lucky and suddenly find
yourself in a successful money-making situation.
- hit the panic button
- When you hit or press the panic button, you raise the
alarm too quickly or react too hastily in a difficult or stressful situation.
"Calm down! There's no need to hit the panic button yet!"
- When you hit or press the panic button, you raise the
alarm too quickly or react too hastily in a difficult or stressful situation.
- hit the road
- When you hit the road, you begin a journey.
"It's getting late and we've got a long way to go. Let's hit the road."
- When you hit the road, you begin a journey.
- hit the roof / go through the roof
- If you hit the roof, you are furious or become extremely angry.
“Their parents will hit the roof if they catch them smoking!”
- If you hit the roof, you are furious or become extremely angry.
- hit the spot
- If something hits the spot, it is exactly what is
needed or wanted.
"On such a hot day, a cool drink would really hit the spot!"
- If something hits the spot, it is exactly what is
needed or wanted.
- hitch one's wagon to a star
- Someone who hitches their wagon to a star has great
ambitions and is very determined to reach their goal.
"At an early age she decided to hitch her wagon to a star and become famous."
- Someone who hitches their wagon to a star has great
ambitions and is very determined to reach their goal.
- hive of activity
- A place where there are lots of things happening, and everyone
is very busy, is called a hive of activity.
"I thought I should lend a helping hand, but when I got there, the kitchen was already a hive of activity."
- A place where there are lots of things happening, and everyone
is very busy, is called a hive of activity.
- go the whole hog
- When you go the whole hog, you do something thoroughly or completely.
"They put up a few decorations for Christmas, then they decided to go the whole hog and buy a tree and all the trimmings."
- When you go the whole hog, you do something thoroughly or completely.
- hold all the aces
- A person who holds all the aces is in a very strong
position because they have more advantages than anyone else.
"Given the high unemployment rates today, employers hold all the aces."
- A person who holds all the aces is in a very strong
position because they have more advantages than anyone else.
- hold your breath
- If someone is holding their breath, they are waiting
anxiously or excitedly for something to happen or be announced.
"I went for a second interview today - now I'm holding my breath!"
- If someone is holding their breath, they are waiting
anxiously or excitedly for something to happen or be announced.
- hold (or hang) on for dear life
- If you hold (or hang) on for dear life, you grip
something firmly so as not to fall.
"Andy took his mother on the back of his motorbike where she held on for dear life!"
- If you hold (or hang) on for dear life, you grip
something firmly so as not to fall.
- hold the field
- If something holds the field, it has not been
replaced and remains valid or is still in use.
"The founder's management principles still hold the field today."
- If something holds the field, it has not been
replaced and remains valid or is still in use.
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