The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

by Christine Ammer

  hold out on → See HOLD OUT, def. 4.

  hold over 1. Postpone or delay, as in Let’s hold this matter over until the next meeting. [Mid-1800s] 2. Keep something in a position or state beyond the normal period, as in The film was to be held over for another week. [First half of 1900s] 3. Continue in office past the normal period, as in The committee chair held over until they could find a suitable replacement. [Mid-1600s] 4. hold something over someone. Have an advantage or use a threat to control someone. For example, They knew he’d been caught shoplifting and were sure to hold it over him. [Second half of 1800s]

  hold someone’s feet to the fire Also, keep someone’s feet to the fire. Pressure someone to consent to or undertake something, as in The only way you’ll get him to agree is to hold his feet to the fire. This idiom alludes to an ancient test of courage or form of torture in which a person’s feet were so placed. It began to be used figuratively in the second half of the 1900s. Also see HOLD A GUN TO SOMEONE’S HEAD.

  hold someone’s hand Comfort or support someone in a time of trouble. Although the gesture is surely much older, the term dates only from the first half of the 1900s. Christopher Isherwood used it in Mr. Morris Changes Trains (1935), “I shall need your moral support. You must come and hold my hand” (cited by OED).

  hold still for Also, stand still for. Accept or tolerate something, as in Do you think he’ll hold still for your decision? These terms are often put negatively, as in The town won’t hold still for another increase in property taxes, or The teacher won’t stand still for this kind of behavior. The first expression employs hold in the sense of “sustain a particular position or attitude,” a usage dating from about 1300.

  hold sway over Dominate, have a controlling influence over, as in He held sway over the entire department. This idiom uses the noun sway in the sense of “power” or “dominion,” a usage dating from the late 1500s.

  hold the bag → See LEAVE HOLDING THE BAG.

  hold the fort Assume responsibility, especially in another’s absence; also, maintain a secure position. For example, Harry did a good job of holding the fort until his boss recovered, or Can you hold the fort in the kitchen? This expression has been traced to an order given by General William Tecumseh Sherman in 1864, which was repeated as “Hold the fort [against the enemy at Allatoona] at all costs, for I am coming.”

  hold the line Maintain the existing position or state of affairs. For example, We’ll have to hold the line on spending until our profits rise. This term alludes to former military tactics, in which a line of troops was supposed to prevent an enemy breakthrough. Eventually, it was transferred to civilian enterprises. [Mid-1900s]

  hold the purse strings → See PURSE STRINGS.

  hold to Remain loyal or faithful to, abide by, as in She held to her resolutions, or He held to his view that the interest rate should be lowered. [c. 1200] Also see STICK BY; STICK TO.

  hold true → See under HOLD GOOD.

  hold up 1. Offer or present as an example, as in The teacher held Bernie’s essay up as a model for the class to follow. [c. 1600] 2. Obstruct or delay, as in We were held up in traffic. [c. 1900] 3. Rob, as in He was held up in a dark alley, with no help nearby. This usage, which gave rise to the noun holdup for a robbery, alludes to the robbers’ demand that the victims hold their hands high. [Late 1800s] 4. Also, hold out. Continue to function without losing force or effectiveness, endure. For example, We held up through that long bitter winter, or The nurse was able to hold out until someone could relieve her. [Late 1500s] 5. See HOLD ONE’S HEAD HIGH.

  hold water Stand up to critical examination, be sound and valid, as in This argument just won’t hold water, or Her reasons for quitting don’t hold water. This metaphoric expression alludes to a container that can hold water without leaking. [c. 1600]

  hold with Agree with, support, as in I don’t hold with that view of the situation. [c. 1300]

  hold your → See under HOLD ONE’S.

  hole → In addition to the idioms beginning with HOLE, also see ACE IN THE HOLE; BLACK HOLE; IN A BIND (HOLE); IN THE HOLE; MONEY BURNS A HOLE IN ONE’S POCKET; NEED LIKE A HOLE IN THE HEAD; PICK HOLES IN; SQUARE PEG IN A ROUND HOLE.

  hole in one A perfect achievement, as in Tim scored a hole in one on that test. The term alludes to a perfect stroke in golf, where one drives the ball from the tee into the hole with a single stroke. [c. 1900]

  hole in the wall A small, modest, or obscure place, as in My new apartment is just a hole in the wall, or Believe it or not, that little hole in the wall is a great restaurant. This graphic term is often used disparagingly. [First half of 1800s]

  hole up Take refuge or shelter, hide, as in I spent most of the cruise holed up in my cabin. This usage alludes to animals hibernating in winter or hiding from attack in caves or holes. [Late 1800s]

  holiday → See BUSMAN’S HOLIDAY.

  holier than thou Pretending moral superiority. The term originally appeared in the Bible’s Book of Isaiah (65:5), in which sinners are said to declare “Come not near me, for I am holier than thou.” The expression is often used as an adjective, with or without hyphens. Theodore Dreiser had it in The Financier (1912): “The ‘holier than thou’ attitude, intentional or otherwise, is quite the last and most deadly offense within prison walls” (cited by OED). Or, Her holier-than-thou position offends all her colleagues.

  hollow → See BEAT THE PANTS OFF (HOLLOW).

  holy cow Also, holy mackerel or Moses or moly or smoke. An exclamation of surprise, astonishment, delight, or dismay, as in Holy cow, I forgot the wine, or Holy mackerel, you won! or Holy Moses, here comes the teacher! or Holy smoke, I didn’t know you were here too. The oldest of these slangy expletives uses mackerel, dating from about 1800; the one with Moses dates from about 1850 and cow from about 1920. None has any literal significance, and moly is a neologism devised to rhyme with “holy” and possibly a euphemism for “Moses.”

  holy of holies A place of awe or sacredness, as in The corporate board room is the holy of holies here. This expression is a translation of the Hebrew term for the sanctuary inside the tabernacle of God, where the sacred Ark of the Covenant was kept (Exodus 26:33). Its figurative use dates from the second half of the 1800s.

  holy terror An exasperating individual, as in He was only five, but he was a holy terror, running wild through the house and throwing whatever he could lay his hands on. The adjective holy here is an intensifier. [Late 1800s]

  home → In addition to the idioms beginning with HOME, also see AT HOME; BRING HOME; BRING HOME THE BACON; CHICKENS COME HOME TO ROOST; CLOSE TO HOME; DRIVE HOME; EAT SOMEONE OUT OF HOUSE AND HOME; MAKE ONESELF AT HOME; NOBODY HOME; NOTHING TO WRITE HOME ABOUT; TILL THE COWS COME HOME.

  home free In a secure or comfortable position, especially because of being certain to succeed. For example, Once I meet the schedule I’ll be home free, or I think we have enough support for this meas­ure—we’re home free. This expression probably alludes to safely reaching baseball’s home plate, meaning one has scored a run. [Mid-1900s]

  home in on Move toward or focus on a goal, as in He began with a couple of jokes before homing in on the main subject of his talk. This expression originally alluded to a vessel, aircraft or missile being guided to its target by a radio beam or some other means. [c. 1920]

  home run A highly successful achievement; also, doubling one’s profits. For example, We scored a home run with that drug stock, buying it at 15 and selling at 30. This expression originated in the mid-1800s in baseball, where it refers to a pitched ball batted so far that the batter can round all three bases and reach home plate, scoring a run. Its figurative use dates from the mid-1900s.

  home truth A key or basic truth, especially one that is discomforting to acknowledge. For example, It’s time you told a few home truths here, such as where your campaign finances actually came from. This expression uses home in the sense of “the very heart of a matter.” [c. 1700]

  homework → See DO ONE’S HOMEWORK.

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sp; honest → In addition to the idiom beginning with HONEST, also see COME BY (HONESTLY); OPEN (HONEST) AND ABOVEBOARD.

  honest to God Also, honest to goodness or Pete; honest Injun. Truly, really, as in Honest to God, I didn’t know it was yours, or Honest to goodness, we had exactly the same experience, or I promise I’ll finish in time, honest to Pete, or Honest Injun, I didn’t take your wallet. These colloquial assertions date from about 1900, except for honest Injun, dating from the late 1800s and today considered offensive.

  honeymoon is over, the The initial harmonious period in a new relationship has ended, as in After the first ninety days, the honeymoon between the new President and the press was over. The figurative use of honeymoon (literally referring to the first month of marriage) dates from the late 1500s.

  honor → In addition to the idiom beginning with HONOR, also see DO THE HONORS; IN HONOR OF; ON ONE’S HONOR; WORD OF HONOR.

  honor bound Obliged by one’s personal integrity, as in She was honor bound to admit that it was her work and not her sister’s. Also see ON ONE’S HONOR.

  hoof it 1. Go on foot, as in The car’s being repaired—we’ll have to hoof it. [First half of 1600s] 2. Dance, as in He was always a good dancer, and he’s still able to hoof it. [Slang; 1920s]

  hook → In addition to the idioms beginning with HOOK, also see BY HOOK OR CROOK; OFF THE HOOK; ON ONE’S OWN ACCOUNT (HOOK).

  hook, line, and sinker Without reservation, completely, as in He swallowed our excuse hook, line, and sinker. This expression, first recorded in 1865, alludes to a fish swallowing not only the baited hook but the leaden sinker and the entire fishing line between them.

  hook or crook → See BY HOOK OR CROOK.

  hook up 1. Assemble or wire a mechanism, as in Dick helped us hook up the stereo system. [1920s] 2. Connect a mechanism with a main source, as in The computer had not yet been hooked up to the mainframe. [1920s] 3. Form a tie or association, as in She had hooked up with the wrong crowd. [Slang; mid-1900s] 4. Engage in a casual sexual encounter, as in John hooked up with Mary last night, but they were only petting. [Slang; late 1900s]

  hooky → See PLAY HOOKY.

  hoop → See JUMP THROUGH HOOPS.

  hoot → See NOT GIVE A DAMN (HOOT).

  hop → In addition to the idioms beginning with HOP, also see MAD AS A HORNET (HOPS).

  hope → In addition to the idioms beginning with HOPE, also see GREAT WHITE HOPE; IN HOPES OF; LIVE IN (HOPE OF); NOT A HOPE IN HELL; PIN ONE’S HOPES ON; WHILE THERE’S LIFE THERE’S HOPE.

  hope against hope Hope or wish for with little reason or justification, as in I’m hoping against hope that someone will return my wallet. This expression, based on the biblical “Who against hope believed in hope” (Romans 4:18), was first recorded in 1813.

  hope springs eternal People will keep on hoping, no matter what the odds. For example, I keep buying lottery tickets—hope springs eternal. This expression was coined by Alexander Pope (An Essay on Man, 1732) and quickly became proverbial.

  hopped up 1. Relating to a motor, especially a car engine, whose power has been increased. For example, Kids loved to ride around in hopped-up cars. [Slang; mid-1900s] Also see SOUP UP. 2. Stimulated with, or as if with, a narcotic. For example, Their idea of a good time is to get all hopped up on marijuana or worse. This slangy usage dates from the 1920s but may be related to the late 19th-century use of the noun hop for a narcotic, especially opium.

  hopping mad Enraged, furious, as in I was hopping mad when they left my name off the list. This expression conjures up an image of jumping up and down with rage. [Colloquial; early 1800s]

  hop, skip, and a jump A short distance, as in It’s just a hop, skip, and a jump from my house to yours. This expression, dating from the early 1700s, originally referred to an exercise or game involving these movements, but by the mid-1800s was also being used figuratively for the short distance so covered.

  hop to it Begin to do something quickly and energetically, as in We’ve got to hop to it and get our shopping done. [Colloquial; first half of 1900s]

  hop up → See HOPPED UP.

  horizon → See ON THE HORIZON.

  horn → In addition to the idioms beginning with HORN, also see BLOW ONE’S OWN HORN; LOCK HORNS; PULL IN ONE’S HORNS; TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS.

  hornet → See MAD AS A HORNET; STIR UP A HORNET’S NEST.

  horn in on Intrude, join without being invited. For example, She has a rude way of horning in on our conversations. This expression alludes to an ox or bull pushing in with its horns. [c. 1900]

  horns of a dilemma, on the Faced with two equally undesirable alternatives. For example, I’m on the horns of a dilemma: if I sell the house now I have no place to live, but if I wait I may not get as good a price. This term was first recorded about 1600, but the idea of being caught on either one horn or the other (of an animal) was already expressed in Roman times.

  horse → In addition to the idioms beginning with HORSE, also see BACK THE WRONG HORSE; BEAT A DEAD HORSE; CART BEFORE THE HORSE; CHANGE HORSES IN MIDSTREAM; CHARLEY HORSE; DARK HORSE; EAT LIKE A BIRD (HORSE); FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH; HOLD ONE’S HORSES; IF WISHES WERE HORSES; LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH; ONE-HORSE TOWN; ON ONE’S HIGH HORSE; WAR HORSE; WILD HORSES COULDN’T DRAG ME; WORK LIKE A BEAVER (HORSE); YOU CAN LEAD A HORSE TO WATER BUT YOU CAN’T MAKE IT DRINK.

  horse around Indulge in frivolous activity or play. For example, The boys were horsing around all afternoon. This term presumably alludes to horseplay, which has meant “rough or boisterous play” since the late 1500s. [First half of 1900s]

  horse of a different color, a Also, a horse of another color. Another matter entirely, something else. For example, I thought that was her boyfriend but it turned out to be her brother—that’s a horse of a different color. This term probably derives from a phrase coined by Shakespeare, who wrote “a horse of that color” (Twelfth Night, 2:3), meaning “the same matter” rather than a different one. By the mid-1800s the term was used to point out difference rather than likeness.

  horse sense Sound practical sense, as in She’s got too much horse sense to believe his story. The exact allusion in this term, which dates from the mid-1800s, is disputed, since some regard horses as rather stupid. However, they tended to be viewed more positively in the American West, where the term originated.

  horse trading Negotiation marked by hard bargaining and shrewd exchange. For example, The restaurant owner is famous for his horse trading; he’s just exchanged a month of free dinners for a month of free television commercials. This expression alludes to the notorious shrewdness of horse traders, who literally bought and sold horses. [c. 1820]

  hot → In addition to the idioms beginning with HOT, also see BLOW HOT AND COLD; LIKE A CAT ON HOT BRICKS; LIKE HOT CAKES; MAKE IT HOT FOR; PIPING HOT; STRIKE WHILE THE IRON IS HOT.

  hot air Empty, exaggerated talk, as in That last speech of his was pure hot air. It is also put as full of hot air, as in Pay no attention to Howard—he’s full of hot air. This metaphoric term transfers heated air to vaporous talk. [Late 1800s]

  hot and bothered In a state of agitated excitement, flustered, as in She was all hot and bothered before her big opening. [c. 1920]

  hot and heavy 1. Very enthusiastic and excited, as in That was a hot and heavy debate. This slangy expression employs hot in the sense of “characterized by intense feeling,” a usage dating from the tenth century A.D., and heavy in the sense of “serious.” 2. Passionate, lustful, as in They were awfully young to be so hot and heavy about their romance. This slangy term employs hot in the sense of “sexually aroused,” a usage dating from about 1500. A newer slangy usage is have the hots for, meaning to have sexual desire for. It is occasionally used for other kinds of longing, as in The kids have the hots for pizza. [c. 1940]

  hot as blazes Also, hot as hell. Extremely warm, as in It was hot as blazes in that room, or I’m hot as hell and would love a cold shower. The first of these hyperbolic similes dates from the mid-1800s, the secon
d from the early 1900s.

  hot dog A person who performs showy, often dangerous stunts, especially but not exclusively in sports; also, a showoff. For example, He was a shameless hot dog on the tennis court, smashing every ball, or She was a hot dog behind the wheel, screeching her wheels at every turn. The relation of this term to the edible hot dog is unknown. [Colloquial; c. 1900] 2. Also, hot diggety dog; hot diggety. An interjection expressing delight or enthusiasm, as in Hot dog! What a great gift, or Hot diggety! We got the best concert tickets after all. [Slang; c. 1900]

  hotfoot it Go in haste, walk fast or run. For example, I’ll have to hotfoot it to the airport if I’m to meet them. [Slang; c. 1900]

  hot line A telephone line that gives quick and direct access to a source of information or help. For example, Our state has an AIDS hot line in every country. This term was originally (and is still) used for a direct link between heads of government for use during a crisis, but was quickly extended to wider applications. [1950s]

  hot number Also, hot stuff. Someone or something that is currently popular or fashionable; also, someone or something unconventional or daring. For example, That new song is going to be a hot number, or He really thinks he’s hot stuff. These slangy expressions use hot in the sense of “recent” or “fresh,” a usage dating from the 1300s, although hot stuff dates from the 1700s and hot number from about 1900.

  hot off the press Newly printed; sensational and exciting. For example, I’ve got it hot off the press—he’s resigning, or This design is hot off the press. [c. 1900]

  hot on 1. Also, hot for. Enthusiastic about, as in She’s really hot on golf, or He’s hot for another skiing vacation. This seemingly modern slangy usage was first recorded in 1667. Also see MAKE IT HOT FOR. 2. Also, hot at. Very good, impressive, as in He’s hot at anything involving numbers. This expression, first recorded in 1573, is frequently used in the negative, as in I’m not so hot at new computer programs. Several elaborations of “hot on” signify close pursuit of something or someone. They include hot on the scent of, alluding to hunting dogs (1600s); hot on the heels of, usually pursuing a person or persons (1830); and hot on the trail (later 1800s). They also may be used figuratively, as in After many hours of researching data bases, the scholar felt he was hot on the trail of a definitive quotation. See also ON THE HEELS OF.