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.
- A curved or sharply bent device, usually of metal, used to catch, drag, suspend, or fasten something else.
- A fishhook.
- Something shaped like a hook, especially:
- A curved or barbed plant or animal part.
- A short angled or curved line on a letter.
- A sickle.
- A sharp bend or curve, as in a river.
- A point or spit of land with a sharply curved end.
- A means of catching or ensnaring; a trap.
- Slang A means of attracting interest or attention; an enticement: a sales hook.
- Music Slang A catchy motif or refrain: "sugary hard rock melodies [and] ear candy hooks” ( Boston Globe).
- Sports A short swinging blow in boxing delivered with a crooked arm.
- 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.
- Sports A stroke that sends a ball on such a course.
- Sports A ball propelled on such a course.
- Sports In surfing, the lip of a breaking wave.
- Baseball A curve ball.
- Basketball A hook shot.
- To catch, suspend, or connect with a hook.
- Informal To snare.
- Slang To steal; snatch. See Synonyms at steal.
- To fasten by or as if by a hook.
- To pierce or gore with or as if with a hook.
- Slang To take strong hold of; captivate: a novel that hooked me on the very first page.
- Slang To cause to become addicted.
- To make (a rug) by looping yarn through canvas with a type of hook.
- Sports To hit with a hook in boxing.
- Sports To hit (a golf ball) in a hook.
- Baseball To pitch (a ball) with a curve.
- Basketball To shoot (a ball) in a hook shot.
- 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.
- To bend like a hook.
- To fasten by means of a hook or a hook and eye.
- Slang To work as a prostitute.
- hook up To assemble or wire (a mechanism).
- hook up To connect a mechanism and a source of power.
- hook up To meet or associate: We agreed to hook up after class. He hooked up with the wrong crowd.
- hook up To become romantically or sexually involved with someone.
- hook up To marry or get married.
- by hook or by crook By whatever means possible, fair or unfair.
- get the hook Slang To be unceremoniously dismissed or terminated.
- hook, line, and sinker Informal Without reservation; completely: swallowed the excuse hook, line, and sinker.
- off the hook Informal Freed, as from blame or a vexatious obligation: let me off the hook with a mild reprimand.
- on (one's) own hook By one's own efforts.