hock
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Related to hocks: sore hocks
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be in hock
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
hock
1. verb To pawn something. Things got so bad after I lost my job last summer that had to hock my guitar.
2. noun, slang A foot. Sit down and rest your hocks after that long run.
hock a loogie
slang To cough up and spit out phlegm or saliva. Ew, did you seriously just hock a loogie in public?
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.
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.
2. Having been pawned. I really needed cash, so my guitars are in hock, unfortunately.
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.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 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.
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.
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. datedIn 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.
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.
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.