hock

be in hock

Hock comes from hok, the Dutch word for "prison" or "debt."

1. To be in debt. I picked a smaller, more affordable school so I didn't have to be deep in hock with student loans for years after I graduated. You're going to be in hock if you keep up this freewheeling spending. My eyes went wide when I got my credit card bill and saw just how much I'm in hock.

2. To have been pawned (i.e. pledged to a pawnbroker in exchange for a loan). I really needed cash, so my guitars are in hock, unfortunately. He found himself in such dire straits that even his beloved pocket watch, bequeathed to him by his late grandfather, was now in hock. My engagement ring's been in hock ever since we learned how much our daughter's medical treatment would cost.

See also: hock

from soda to hock

From start to finish. The phrase comes from the card game faro. That team really dominated from soda to hock—their opponent was totally overwhelmed. That film was excellent from soda to hock! His whole speech was nothing but ridiculous lies from soda to hock.

See also: hock, soda, to

get out of hock

1. To get something one owns back from a pawnbroker or repossession. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "get" and "out." I have to get my car out of hock soon, or I won't be able to get to work! I sold my favorite necklace a week ago to pay my electricity bill. Thankfully my sister got it out of hock for me earlier today. I wonder how long it will be until I can get my engagement ring out of hock.

2. To no longer have a debt owed to one or more other people, corporations, banks, etc. It feels so good to finally get out of hock. Now I can finally start a meaningful savings account. I know that they've been struggling to get out of hock for years. How am I ever going to get out of hock on this meager income?

3. To do something that removes someone from a position of debt. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "get" and "out." His father offered to help get him out of hock, but Dave was too stubborn and proud to accept. If our newest product sells well, it should get us out of hock for rest of the financial year. Yeah, if I won the lottery, that would get me out of hock!

See also: get, hock, of, out

go into hock

To go into debt. "Hock" comes from hok, the Dutch word for "prison" or "debt." I picked a smaller, more affordable college so I didn't have to go into hock to get an education. With all his freewheeling spending, I knew he's go into hock eventually. My eyes went wide when I got my credit card bill and saw just how much I'd gone into hock.

See also: go, hock

hock

1. verb To pawn something. Things got so bad after I lost my job last summer that had to hock my guitar. I was forced to hock my car in order to pay my rent for the month. I couldn't bear the thought of hocking my jewelry, but I was left with no other alternative.

2. noun, slang A foot. Sit down and rest your hocks after that long run. A: "Geez, why do my hocks hurt so much?" B: "Well, we did walk eight miles today!" A: "Ouch! You just stepped on my hock!" B: "Did I? Sorry about that!"

hock a loogie

slang To cough up and spit out phlegm or saliva. Ew, did you seriously just hock a loogie in public? I'm sorry, I don't normally hock a loogie in front of people, but I can't seem to stop coughing up mucus on this antibiotic! It's so gross how the boys always hock loogies while we're outside at recess.

See also: hock

hock shop

A pawn shop. Things got so bad after I lost my job last summer that I took my guitar to the hock shop. Yeah, I don't think going to a hock shop and selling prized possessions is anyone's ideal way to solve a problem. I couldn't bear the thought of taking my jewelry to the hock shop, but I was left with no other alternative.

See also: hock, shop

in hock

1. In debt. I picked a smaller, more affordable school so I didn't have to be deep in hock with student loans for years after I graduated. You're going to be in hock if you keep up this freewheeling spending. My eyes went wide when I got my credit card bill and saw just how much I'm in hock.

2. Having been pawned. I really needed cash, so my guitars are in hock, unfortunately. He found himself in such dire straits that even his beloved pocket watch, bequeathed to him by his late grandfather, was now in hock. My engagement ring's been in hock ever since we learned how much our daughter's medical treatment would cost.

See also: hock

out of hock

1. Reacquired from a pawnbroker or after being repossessed. Adapted from the verb "hock" meaning to sell or pawn My car got repossessed yesterday. I have to get it out of hock soon, or I won't be able to get to work! I sold my favorite necklace a week ago to pay my electricity bill. Thankfully my sister got it out of hock for me earlier today.

2. No longer having a debt owed to one or more other people, corporations, banks, etc. It feels so good to finally be out of hock. Now I can finally start a meaningful savings account. I know that they've been struggling to get out of hock for years.

See also: hock, of, out

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

go into hock

go into debt. We will have to go into hock to buy a house. I go further into hock every time I use my credit card.

See also: go, hock

in hock

in debt. After buying the luxury car, Bob was in hock for years.

See also: hock

out of hock

 

1. Lit. [of something] bought back from a pawn shop. When I get my watch out of hock, I will always be on time.

2. Fig. out of debt; having one's debts paid. When I pay off my credit cards, I'll be out of hock for the first time in years.

See also: hock, of, out

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

in hock

1 having been pawned. 2 in debt.

Hock here comes from the Dutch word hok meaning ‘hutch’ or ‘prison’. Originally mid 19th-century US slang, this sense of hock is now found only in this phrase or, occasionally, in out of hock .

2 1998 Spectator Our conservatoires are still in hock to the Germano-Austrian symphonic tradition.

See also: hock

from soda to hock

from beginning to end. dated

In the card game faro, the soda is the exposed top card at the beginning of a deal, while the hock is the last card remaining in the box after all the others have been dealt.

See also: hock, soda, to

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

be in ˈhock (to somebody)

(informal) owe money: I’m in hock for about €5 000. Hock comes from the Dutch word for prison.

See also: hock

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

hock

1. tv. to pawn something. I tried to hock my watch to get some money.

2. n. a foot. My hocks are sore from all that walking.

hock a luggie

(ˈhɑk ɑ ˈlugi)

tv. to cough up and spit out phlegm. Tom suppressed the urge to hock a luggie over the bridge railing.

See also: hock, luggie

in hock

mod. pawned. My watch is already in hock.

See also: hock

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.