- hook
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hook1
—hookless, adj. —hooklike, adj./hook/, n.1. a curved or angular piece of metal or other hard substance for catching, pulling, holding, or suspending something.2. a fishhook.3. anything that catches; snare; trap.4. 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.5. something having a sharp curve, bend, or angle at one end, as a mark or symbol.6. a sharp curve or angle in the length or course of anything.7. a curved arm of land jutting into the water; a curved peninsula: Sandy Hook.8. a recurved and pointed organ or appendage of an animal or plant.9. a small curved catch inserted into a loop to form a clothes fastener.10. Sports.a. 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.b. a ball describing such a path.11. Boxing. a short, circular punch delivered with the elbow bent.12. Music.a. Also called pennant. a stroke or line attached to the stem of eighth notes, sixteenth notes, etc.b. an appealing melodic phrase, orchestral ornament, refrain, etc., often important to a popular song's commercial success.13. Metalworking. an accidental short bend formed in a piece of bar stock during rolling.15. Underworld Jargon. a pickpocket.16. Also called deck hook. Naut. a triangular plate or knee that binds together the stringers and plating at each end of a vessel.17. by hook or by crook, by any means, whether just or unjust, legal or illegal. Also, by hook or crook.18. get or give the hook, Informal. to receive or subject to a dismissal: The rumor is that he got the hook.19. hook, line, and sinker, Informal. entirely; completely: He fell for the story - hook, line, and sinker.20. off the hook,a. out of trouble; released from some difficulty: This time there was no one around to get him off the hook.b. free of obligation: His brother paid all his bills and got him off the hook.21. on one's own hook, Informal. on one's own initiative or responsibility; independently.22. on the hook, Slang.a. obliged; committed; involved: He's already on the hook for $10,000.b. subjected to a delaying tactic; waiting: We've had him on the hook for two weeks now.v.t.23. to seize, fasten, suspend from, pierce, or catch hold of and draw with or as if with a hook.24. to catch (fish) with a fishhook.25. Slang. to steal or seize by stealth.26. Informal. to catch or trick by artifice; snare.27. (of a bull or other horned animal) to catch on the horns or attack with the horns.28. to catch hold of and draw (loops of yarn) through cloth with or as if with a hook.29. to make (a rug, garment, etc.) in this fashion.30. Sports. to hit or throw (a ball) so that a hook results.31. Boxing. to deliver a hook with: The champion hooked a right to his opponent's jaw.32. Rugby. to push (a ball) backward with the foot in scrummage from the front line.33. to make hook-shaped; crook.v.i.34. to become attached or fastened by or as if by a hook.35. to curve or bend like a hook.36. Sports.a. (of a player) to hook the ball.b. (of a ball) to describe a hook in course.37. Slang. to depart hastily: We'd better hook for home.38. hook it, Slang. to run away; depart; flee: He hooked it when he saw the truant officer.39. hook up,a. to fasten with a hook or hooks.b. to assemble or connect, as the components of a machine: to hook up a stereo system.c. to connect to a central source, as of power or water: The house hasn't been hooked up to the city's water system yet.d. Informal. to join or become associated with: He never had a decent job until he hooked up with this company.[bef. 900; 1830-40, Amer. for def. 19; ME hoke (n. and v.), OE hoc (n.); c. D hoek hook, angle, corner; akin to G Haken, ON haki]hook2/hook/, v.i.Slang. to work as a prostitute.[back formation from HOOKER1]
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Universalium. 2010.
