hook (redirected from got hooks into)

be off the hook

1. if a telephone is off the hook, the part that you speak into is not lying in the part that holds it so the telephone will not ring. He left the telephone off the hook because he didn't want to be disturbed.

2. get/let someone off the hook - to allow someone to escape from a difficult situation or to avoid doing something that they do not want to do. You're off the hook - someone else has volunteered to do the job.

by hook or by crook

if you intend to do something by hook or by crook, you are determined not to let anything stop you doing it and are ready to use any methods. I decided that I was going to get that job by hook or by crook.

fall for someone hook, line and sinker

to fall very much in love with someone. I'd never seen such a good-looking bloke - I just fell for him hook, line and sinker.

See also: fall, line, sinker

fall for something hook, line and sinker

to completely believe something someone tells you which is not true. I told him I needed the money for my baby, and he fell for it hook, line and sinker.

See also: fall, line, sinker

get your hooks into something/someone

to get control or influence over something or someone. We'll all be seeing a lot less of Robert if Joanna gets her hooks into him.

get/let someone off the hook

to allow someone to escape from a difficult situation or to avoid doing something that they do not want to do. John's agreed to go to the meeting in my place, so that lets me off the hook.

See also: let

off the peg (British, American & Australian)

if you buy clothes off the peg, you buy them in a standard size from a shop rather than having them made specially for you. If I buy trousers off the peg they're always too short.

See also: peg

on your own hook (American)

if you do something on your own hook, you do it without anyone else telling you or asking you to do it. Barbara took up painting on her own hook and developed into a talented artist.

ring off the hook (American, informal)

if your telephone rings off the hook, it rings a lot. The box office phones were ringing off the hook all day.

See also: ring

Sling your hook! (British, informal, old-fashioned)

an impolite way of telling someone to go away. When he couldn't pay the rent, she told him to sling his hook.

See also: sling

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by hook or by crook

using any method possible. Templeton was recruited to obtain the formula by hook or by crook.

hook up (with someone)

to meet someone and spend time together. I was traveling alone, but then I hooked up with another woman about my age.

hook, line, and sinker

completely. The public isn't swallowing the administration's policies hook, line, and sinker. They made up such a good story that we fell for it hook, line, and sinker.

Usage notes: often used in the forms fall for something hook, line, and sinker or swallow something hook, line, and sinker to be tricked into believing something without any doubts

Etymology: based on the idea of a fish so hungry it swallows the hook (= the part that catches the fish), the line (= the string) and the sinker (= a weight attached to the line to keep it under water)

See also: sinker

off the hook

having avoided a difficult situation. He's just happy to be off the hook on that harassment charge.

Usage notes: often used with the verbs get or let: She got him off the hook by lending him her class notes.

ring off the hook

to receive an extremely large number of telephone calls. The box office phones were ringing off the hook all day.

Etymology: based on the idea of having the telephone ring so much it causes the part you hold in your hand to fall off the part it rests on

See also: ring