Off the hook

Off the hook
Hook Hook (h[oo^]k; 277), n. [OE. hok, AS. h[=o]c; cf. D. haak, G. hake, haken, OHG. h[=a]ko, h[=a]go, h[=a]ggo, Icel. haki, Sw. hake, Dan. hage. Cf. {Arquebuse}, {Hagbut}, {Hake}, {Hatch} a half door, {Heckle}.] 1. A piece of metal, or other hard material, formed or bent into a curve or at an angle, for catching, holding, or sustaining anything; as, a hook for catching fish; a hook for fastening a gate; a boat hook, etc. [1913 Webster]

2. That part of a hinge which is fixed to a post, and on which a door or gate hangs and turns. [1913 Webster]

3. An implement for cutting grass or grain; a sickle; an instrument for cutting or lopping; a billhook. [1913 Webster]

Like slashing Bentley with his desperate hook. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

4. (Steam Engin.) See {Eccentric}, and {V-hook}. [1913 Webster]

5. A snare; a trap. [R.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]

6. A field sown two years in succession. [Prov. Eng.] [1913 Webster]

7. pl. The projecting points of the thigh bones of cattle; -- called also {hook bones}. [1913 Webster]

8. (Geog.) A spit or narrow cape of sand or gravel turned landward at the outer end; as, Sandy Hook in New Jersey. [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]

9. (Sports) The curving motion of a ball, as in bowling or baseball, curving away from the hand which threw the ball; in golf, a curving motion in the direction of the golfer who struck the ball. [PJC]

10. (Computers) A procedure within the encoding of a computer program which allows the user to modify the program so as to import data from or export data to other programs. [PJC]

{By hook or by crook}, one way or other; by any means, direct or indirect. --Milton. ``In hope her to attain by hook or crook.'' --Spenser.

{Off the hook}, freed from some obligation or difficulty; as, to get off the hook by getting someone else to do the job. [Colloq.]

{Off the hooks}, unhinged; disturbed; disordered. [Colloq.] ``In the evening, by water, to the Duke of Albemarle, whom I found mightly off the hooks that the ships are not gone out of the river.'' --Pepys.

{On one's own hook}, on one's own account or responsibility; by one's self. [Colloq. U.S.] --Bartlett.

{To go off the hooks}, to die. [Colloq.] --Thackeray.

{Bid hook}, a small boat hook.

{Chain hook}. See under {Chain}.

{Deck hook}, a horizontal knee or frame, in the bow of a ship, on which the forward part of the deck rests.

{Hook and eye}, one of the small wire hooks and loops for fastening together the opposite edges of a garment, etc.

{Hook bill} (Zo["o]l.), the strongly curved beak of a bird.

{Hook ladder}, a ladder with hooks at the end by which it can be suspended, as from the top of a wall.

{Hook motion} (Steam Engin.), a valve gear which is reversed by V hooks.

{Hook squid}, any squid which has the arms furnished with hooks, instead of suckers, as in the genera {Enoploteuthis} and {Onychteuthis}.

{Hook wrench}, a wrench or spanner, having a hook at the end, instead of a jaw, for turning a bolthead, nut, or coupling. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • off the hook — {adv. phr.} Out of trouble; out of an awkward or embarrassing situation. * /Thelma found she had made two dates for the same night; she asked Sally to get her off the hook by going out with one of the boys./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • off the hook — {adv. phr.} Out of trouble; out of an awkward or embarrassing situation. * /Thelma found she had made two dates for the same night; she asked Sally to get her off the hook by going out with one of the boys./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • Off the Hook — may refer to: Off the Hook (radio program), hacker radio show Off the Hook (song),a 2006 single by Cansei de Ser Sexy Off the Hook (Xscape album),a 1995 album by Xscape Off the Hook (compilation album), a compilation album from the Now That s… …   Wikipedia

  • off the hook — ► having escaped from a difficult situation or punishment: be/get off the hook »Don t think you re off the hook on taxes just because you were paid in cash. get/let sb off the hook »The minister was last night under fire for letting the big banks …   Financial and business terms

  • Off the hook — can refer to: *A telephone left off its telephone hook* Off the Hook, a hacker radio show hosted primarily by Emmanuel Goldstein and others involved with * Off the Hook , a single by the Brazilian band Cansei de Ser Sexy (CSS) …   Wikipedia

  • off the hook — If someone is off the hook, they have avoided punishment or criticism for something they have done …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • off the hook — ► off the hook 1) informal no longer in trouble. 2) (of a telephone receiver) not on its rest. Main Entry: ↑hook …   English terms dictionary

  • off the hook — adjective freed from danger or blame or obligation I let him off the hook with a mild reprimand • Similar to: ↑safe * * * 1) informal no longer in difficulty or trouble I lied to get him off the hook 2) (of a telephone receiver) not on its rest,… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Off the Hook² — Infobox Album Name = Off The Hook² Type = Album Artist = Various Artists Background = darkseagreen Released = 2003 Recorded = Various Times Genre = Pop Length = ? Label = Universal Music Reviews = Last album = Off The Hook This album = Off The… …   Wikipedia

  • off the hook — 1. mod. no longer in jeopardy; no longer obligated. □ I’ll let you off the hook this time, but never again. □ We’re off the hook. We don’t need to worry anymore. 2. mod. crazy. (Referring to the telephone disconnected.) □ She’s so ditzy really… …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

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