hob

hobnob with (someone)

To interact with someone, typically someone who has more power, fame, or success than oneself. I can't hobnob with those ladies—they're executives at the biggest company in town! I hate having to hobnob with rich people at these pretentious parties. Look at her, hobnobbing with the rich and refusing to come talk to us. Just when did she start thinking she's better than us?

See also: hobnob

play hob (with someone or something)

slang To cause disruptions (for someone or something). "Hob" is short for "hobgoblin," a type of imp or elf that causes mischief. This wonky Internet connection is playing hob with my work day. The nasty weather played hob with our plans for the weekend.

See also: hob, play, someone

raise hob (with someone or something)

slang To cause disruptions (for someone or something). "Hob" is short for "hobgoblin," a type of imp or elf that causes mischief. This wonky Internet signal is raising hob with my work day. The nasty weather raised hob with our plans for the weekend.

See also: hob, raise, someone

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

raise hob with someone or something

 and play hob with someone or something

to do something devilish to someone or something; to cause trouble for someone or something. (A hob is a hobgoblin, a wicked little elf.) Your sudden arrival is going to play hob with my dinner plans. Sorry, I didn't mean to raise hob with you.

See also: hob, raise

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

play (or raise) hob

cause mischief; make a fuss. North American

Hob is short for hobgoblin and is used in this mid 19th-century expression to mean the devil . Compare with raise Cain (at Cain) and raise the devil (at devil).

1993 Canadian Living When rain finally came, it wouldn't stop and played hob with the lentils that were growing there for the first time in a big way.

See also: hob, play

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017