ALL meanings of off the hook
off the hook
O o - noun off the hook a curved or angular piece of metal or other hard substance for catching, pulling, holding, or suspending something. 1
- noun off the hook a fishhook. 1
- noun off the hook anything that catches; snare; trap. 1
- noun off the hook something that attracts attention or serves as an enticement: The product is good but we need a sales hook to get people to buy it. 1
- noun off the hook something having a sharp curve, bend, or angle at one end, as a mark or symbol. 1
- noun off the hook a sharp curve or angle in the length or course of anything. 1
- noun off the hook a curved arm of land jutting into the water; a curved peninsula: Sandy Hook. 1
- noun off the hook a recurved and pointed organ or appendage of an animal or plant. 1
- noun off the hook a small curved catch inserted into a loop to form a clothes fastener. 1
- noun off the hook Sports. the path described by a ball, as in baseball, bowling, or golf, that curves in a direction opposite to the throwing hand or to the side of the ball from which it was struck. a ball describing such a path. 1
- noun off the hook Boxing. a short, circular punch delivered with the elbow bent. 1
- noun off the hook Music. Also called flag, pennant. a stroke or line attached to the stem of eighth notes, sixteenth notes, etc. an appealing melodic phrase, orchestral ornament, refrain, etc., often important to a popular song's commercial success. 1
- noun off the hook Metalworking. an accidental short bend formed in a piece of bar stock during rolling. 1
- noun off the hook hooks, Slang. hands or fingers: Get your hooks off that cake! 1
- noun off the hook Underworld Slang. a pickpocket. 1
- noun off the hook Also called deck hook. Nautical. a triangular plate or knee that binds together the stringers and plating at each end of a vessel. 1
- verb with object off the hook to seize, fasten, suspend from, pierce, or catch hold of and draw with or as if with a hook. 1
- verb with object off the hook to catch (fish) with a fishhook. 1
- verb with object off the hook Slang. to steal or seize by stealth. 1
- verb with object off the hook Informal. to catch or trick by artifice; snare. 1
- verb with object off the hook (of a bull or other horned animal) to catch on the horns or attack with the horns. 1
- verb with object off the hook to catch hold of and draw (loops of yarn) through cloth with or as if with a hook. 1
- verb with object off the hook to make (a rug, garment, etc.) in this fashion. 1
- verb with object off the hook Sports. to hit or throw (a ball) so that a hook results. 1
- verb with object off the hook Boxing. to deliver a hook with: The champion hooked a right to his opponent's jaw. 1
- verb with object off the hook Rugby. to push (a ball) backward with the foot in scrummage from the front line. 1
- verb with object off the hook to make hook-shaped; crook. 1
- verb without object off the hook to become attached or fastened by or as if by a hook. 1
- verb without object off the hook to curve or bend like a hook. 1
- verb without object off the hook Sports. (of a player) to hook the ball. (of a ball) to describe a hook in course. 1
- verb without object off the hook Slang. to depart hastily: We'd better hook for home. 1
- idioms off the hook by hook or by crook, by any means, whether just or unjust, legal or illegal. Also, by hook or crook. 1
- idioms off the hook get / give the hook, Informal. to receive or subject to a dismissal: The rumor is that he got the hook. 1
- idioms off the hook hook it, Slang. to run away; depart; flee: He hooked it when he saw the truant officer. 1
- idioms off the hook hook, line, and sinker, Informal. entirely; completely: He fell for the story—hook, line, and sinker. 1
- idioms off the hook off the hook, out of trouble; released from some difficulty: This time there was no one around to get him off the hook. free of obligation: Her brother paid all her bills and got her off the hook. Slang. extremely or shockingly excellent: Wow, that song is off the hook! 1
- idioms off the hook on one's own hook, Informal. on one's own initiative or responsibility; independently. 1
- idioms off the hook on the hook, Slang. obliged; committed; involved: He's already on the hook for $10,000. subjected to a delaying tactic; waiting: We've had him on the hook for two weeks now. 1
- adjective off the hook freed from blame 1
- adjective off the hook freed from punishment 1
- phrase off the hook If you take a phone off the hook, you take the receiver off the part that it normally rests on, so that the phone will not ring. 0
- noun off the hook out of danger; free from obligation or guilt 0
- noun off the hook (of a telephone receiver) not on the support, so that incoming calls cannot be received 0
- noun off the hook out of trouble, embarrassment, or a state of burdensome responsibility 0