Topic: OTHER SPORTS
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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | hoc |
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hook1 S3
[countable]
[countable]1 a curved piece of metal or plastic that you use for hanging things on [↪ peg]: 
Tom hung his coat on the hook behind the door.
hanging things
DTom hung his coat on the hook behind the door.
2 a curved piece of thin metal with a sharp point for catching fish
catching fish
DSOTA3 to allow someone or help someone to get out of a difficult situation : I wasn't prepared to let her off the hook that easily.
let/get somebody off the hook
I wasn't prepared to let her off the hook that easily.4 to leave or take the telephone receiver (=the part you speak into) off the part where it is usually placed so that no one can call you
leave/take the phone off the hook
5 if your telephone is ringing off the hook, a lot of people are calling you
be ringing off the hook
American English6 something that is attractive and gets people's interest and attention [= draw]: You always need a bit of a hook to get people to go to the theatre.
interest
You always need a bit of a hook to get people to go to the theatre.7 if you are going to do something by hook or by crook, you are determined to do it, whatever methods you have to use : The police are going to get these guys, by hook or by crook.
by hook or by crook
The police are going to get these guys, by hook or by crook.8 a way of hitting your opponent in boxing, in which your elbow is bent [↪ punch, jab]
hitting somebody
DSO9 if someone believes something hook, line, and sinker, they believe a lie completely
hook, line, and sinker
➔ boat hook, curtain hook
