Hook

English Meaning

A piece of metal, or other hard material, formed or bent into a curve or at an angle, for catching, holding, or sustaining anything; as, a hook for catching fish; a hook for fastening a gate; a boat hook, etc.

1. A curved or sharply bent device, usually of metal, used to catch, drag, suspend, or fasten something else.
2. A fishhook.
3. Something shaped like a hook, especially:
4. A curved or barbed plant or animal part.
5. A short angled or curved line on a letter.
6. A sickle.
7. A sharp bend or curve, as in a river.
8. A point or spit of land with a sharply curved end.
9. A means of catching or ensnaring; a trap.
10. Slang A means of attracting interest or attention; an enticement: a sales hook.
11. Music Slang A catchy motif or refrain: "sugary hard rock melodies [and] ear candy hooks” ( Boston Globe).
12. Sports A short swinging blow in boxing delivered with a crooked arm.
13. Sports The course of a ball that curves in a direction away from the dominant hand of the player propelling it, as to the left of a right-handed player.
14. Sports A stroke that sends a ball on such a course.
15. Sports A ball propelled on such a course.
16. Sports In surfing, the lip of a breaking wave.
17. Baseball A curve ball.
18. Basketball A hook shot.
19. To catch, suspend, or connect with a hook.
20. Informal To snare.
21. Slang To steal; snatch. See Synonyms at steal.
22. To fasten by or as if by a hook.
23. To pierce or gore with or as if with a hook.
24. Slang To take strong hold of; captivate: a novel that hooked me on the very first page.
25. Slang To cause to become addicted.
26. To make (a rug) by looping yarn through canvas with a type of hook.
27. Sports To hit with a hook in boxing.
28. Sports To hit (a golf ball) in a hook.
29. Baseball To pitch (a ball) with a curve.
30. Basketball To shoot (a ball) in a hook shot.
31. Sports To impede the progress of (an opponent in ice hockey) by holding or restraining the player with one's stick, in violation of the rules.
32. To bend like a hook.
33. To fasten by means of a hook or a hook and eye.
34. Slang To work as a prostitute.
35. hook up To assemble or wire (a mechanism).
36. hook up To connect a mechanism and a source of power.
37. hook up To meet or associate: We agreed to hook up after class. He hooked up with the wrong crowd.
38. hook up To become romantically or sexually involved with someone.
39. hook up To marry or get married.
40. by hook or by crook By whatever means possible, fair or unfair.
41. get the hook Slang To be unceremoniously dismissed or terminated.
42. hook, line, and sinker Informal Without reservation; completely: swallowed the excuse hook, line, and sinker.
43. off the hook Informal Freed, as from blame or a vexatious obligation: let me off the hook with a mild reprimand.
44. on (one's) own hook By one's own efforts.