get hammered
slang To get very drunk. After the long week I had, all I want to do is go to the bar and get hammered. I'm only having one beer. I don't want to get hammered tonight. Ugh, my head is pounding. I need to remember this feeling the next time I think it's a good idea to go out and get hammered.
hammer
slang
1. To attack (someone) relentlessly and aggressively. Their offense has been hammering the opposition all game long. The enemy has been hammering us with bombardments for two days straight. Your opponent is going to hammer you about these polarizing issues during the debate.
2. To defeat (someone) very thoroughly or decisively. They ended up hammering the other team 45–10. That senator's extremely popular, so I'm not surprised she hammered her opponent and beat him in a landslide. We thought we were the better team going into the game, but those guys sure hammered us.
3. In cycling, to pedal very quickly and aggressively, especially in higher gears. I hammered for the last two hours to Lyon in an attempt to make up lost time. I would hoping to really hammer and make up the difference, but a leg cramp did me in. Luckily, she wasn't hammering when she crashed her bike—otherwise, her injuries would be far more severe.
hammer (something) home
To make something extremely clear; to make someone understand or realize something, especially through forceful repetition. (Can also be constructed as "hammer home (something).") John hammers their financial difficulties home whenever his wife suggests they buy something new. She needs to hammer home the fact that she was cleared of all charges before the election began. No playing ball in the house! What do I have do to hammer that home to you kids?
hammer (something) onto (something)
To attach something onto something else by striking it repeatedly (not necessarily with an actual hammer). We need to hammer this board onto the frame. Hey, can you hammer the lid back onto this can of paint? Come on, can't you just hammer the bumper back onto my car before Mom gets home and sees it?
hammer a beer
slang To drink a glass, can, or bottle of beer very quickly. He can hammer some beers and not feel a thing. And those two are belligerent drunks. If they've already been hammering beers, we're in for a long night. Whoa, I need to hammer a beer or two before I do something that scary!
hammer at (something)
1. To strike something repeatedly The mechanic hammered at the dent in my door. I hammered at the beef with a meat tenderizer. They're still hammering at that bed frame? Wow, I didn't realize it came in that many pieces!
2. To talk about something at length, often to the listener's annoyance. Quit hammering at that topic—no one wants to hear about it anymore. OK, Tom, you've made your point. No need to hammer away at it any longer. Come on, I said I was sorry! Why are you still hammering at this?
hammer away
To work hard on something persistently over time. Yes, we're still trying to hammer away the details of this contract. Management had better hammer away a new deal before the workers' union goes on strike. Remodeling a house is a long-term project that you hammer away at slowly, over time. That's why I want to buy a place that's move-in ready!
hammer away at (something)
1. To strike something repeatedly The mechanic hammered away at the dent in my door. I hammered away at the beef with a meat tenderizer. They're still hammering away at that bed frame? Wow, I didn't realize it came in that many pieces!
2. To work hard on something persistently over time. Yes, we're still hammering away at the details of this contract. Management and the workers' union still don't have a new deal? They've been hammering away at that for weeks! Remodeling a house is a long-term project that you hammer away at slowly, over time. That's why I want to buy something that's move-in ready!
3. To talk about something at length, often to the listener's annoyance. Quit hammering away at that topic—no one wants to hear about it anymore. OK, Tom, you've made your point. No need to hammer away at it any longer. Come on, I said I was sorry! Why are you still hammering away at this?
hammer down
To use a hammer to fix something in place or make it even with the area around it. A noun or pronoun can be used between "hammer" and "down." Hey, hammer down these tiles before someone trips! They're predicting high winds, so I better go out and hammer down that tarp. We're almost done with the deck, we just have a few more planks to hammer down.
hammer on
1. verb To strike someone or something repeatedly. Quit hammering on your little brother, Billy! Who's hammering on the front door at this ungodly hour? The rain has been hammering down on our roof for hours, and I'm starting to worry that we'll have a leak.
2. verb To secure something onto something else by striking it repeatedly (not necessarily with an actual hammer). In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "hammer" and "on." We need to hammer on this board now. Hey, can you take this can of paint and hammer on the lid? OK, so we've put the bed frame together. Do we hammer on the headboard next?
3. verb When playing a stringed instrument (typically a guitar), to pick a note and then bring one's finger down upon another note on the fingerboard, in order to change the original note. In this usage, the phrase is usually hyphenated. Hammer-on that note—it'll sound better. It's OK, you just don't have the dexterity to hammer-on yet. You'll get there. A: "What am I doing wrong here?" B: "You need to hammer-on that last note."
4. noun The act of doing this with the fingers while playing a stringed instrument. In this usage, the phrase is usually hyphenated. No, you need to do a hammer-on here—that's why it's not sounding quite right. A: "I've got my guitar, and I've got the sheet music, but I don't know what this 'H' stands for." B: "That stands for 'hammer-on.'" You want to practice your hammer-ons? Try "Over the Hills and Far Away" by Led Zeppelin—the intro's full of 'em.
hammer out
1. To strike something repeatedly in order to remove a dent from it. A noun or pronoun can be used between "hammer" and "out." I'm sure my mechanic could hammer out that dent in your door. One day, I need to hammer out all the dents the kids have put in the storm door. Can you help me hammer out this dent in my bumper? I backed into a stone planter while going faster than I'd like to admit.
2. To strike something, typically a metal, repeatedly in order to stretch it out and make it thinner. A noun or pronoun can be used between "hammer" and "out." We need to hammer out the iron before we can use it in this project. If you're going to make a sword out of that metal, you certainly need to hammer it out more. Has anyone hammered out the bronze yet?
3. To come to an agreement after lengthy deliberation or discussion. A noun or pronoun can be used between "hammer" and "out." We're still trying to hammer out the details of this contract. Management and the workers' union still don't have a new deal? They've been trying to hammer that out for weeks! Sounds like the jury's hammered out a decision—we're being called back to the courtroom.
4. To play something on the piano. A noun or pronoun can be used between "hammer" and "out." I wonder how many lessons I'll need before I can hammer out an actual song. A: "I didn't know Jon could play the piano." B: "Me neither, until he hammered out song after song before my very eyes!" A: "What is that racket?" B: "I think your sister is trying to hammer out 'Hot Cross Buns' on the piano."
hammer some beers
slang To drink glasses, cans, or bottles of beer very quickly. I'd rather just hang out at home and hammer some beers while I watch the game. He can hammer some beers and not feel a thing. Whoa, I need to hammer some beers before I do something that scary!
hammered
slang Very drunk. I just can't go out and get hammered like I used to when I was in college. She was so hammered she could barely say her own name. A: "Wait, you were at the bar last night too? Why don't remember seeing you?" B: "Probably because you were hammered by the time I got there!"
the nail that sticks out gets hammered down
proverb Someone who attracts attention in a group for being different is liable to be criticized, reproached, or otherwise brought into conformity with the others. Individuality is not welcome at that company. The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.