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Off the hook   /ɔf ðə hʊk/   Listen
noun
Hook  n.  
1.
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.
2.
That part of a hinge which is fixed to a post, and on which a door or gate hangs and turns.
3.
An implement for cutting grass or grain; a sickle; an instrument for cutting or lopping; a billhook. "Like slashing Bentley with his desperate hook."
4.
(Steam Engin.) See Eccentric, and V-hook.
5.
A snare; a trap. (R.)
6.
A field sown two years in succession. (Prov. Eng.)
7.
pl. The projecting points of the thigh bones of cattle; called also hook bones.
8.
(Geog.) A spit or narrow cape of sand or gravel turned landward at the outer end; as, Sandy Hook in New Jersey.
9.
(Sports) The curving motion of a ball, as in bowling or baseball, curving away from the hand which threw the ball; in golf, a curving motion in the direction of the golfer who struck the ball.
10.
(Computers) A procedure within the encoding of a computer program which allows the user to modify the program so as to import data from or export data to other programs.
By hook or by crook, one way or other; by any means, direct or indirect. "In hope her to attain by hook or crook."
Off the hook, freed from some obligation or difficulty; as, to get off the hook by getting someone else to do the job. (Colloq.)
Off the hooks, unhinged; disturbed; disordered. (Colloq.) "In the evening, by water, to the Duke of Albemarle, whom I found mightly off the hooks that the ships are not gone out of the river."
On one's own hook, on one's own account or responsibility; by one's self. (Colloq. U.S.)
To go off the hooks, to die. (Colloq.)
Bid hook, a small boat hook.
Chain hook. See under Chain.
Deck hook, a horizontal knee or frame, in the bow of a ship, on which the forward part of the deck rests.
Hook and eye, one of the small wire hooks and loops for fastening together the opposite edges of a garment, etc.
Hook bill (Zool.), the strongly curved beak of a bird.
Hook ladder, a ladder with hooks at the end by which it can be suspended, as from the top of a wall.
Hook motion (Steam Engin.), a valve gear which is reversed by V hooks.
Hook squid, any squid which has the arms furnished with hooks, instead of suckers, as in the genera Enoploteuthis and Onychteuthis.
Hook wrench, a wrench or spanner, having a hook at the end, instead of a jaw, for turning a bolthead, nut, or coupling.


adjective
off the hook  adj.  No longer considered responsible; as, Jack admitted breaking the vase, so Jill is off the hook. Used in various situations, with reference to responsibility to perform an action, or guilt for some misdeed.





Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48


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"Off the hook" Quotes from Famous Books



... Government, had written to me saying that he was absolutely destitute and begging me to send him some money for the relief of his family and other Americans who were in dire need. The Tennessee was lying off the Hook of Holland at that time, and there were several of our splendid army officers ready and eager for any service. One of the best of them, Captain Williams, offered himself as messenger, and I sent him in to Antwerp, with three thousand dollars in gold in a belt around his waist, on ...
— Fighting For Peace • Henry Van Dyke
... I have one!" Bert suddenly shouted, and he, too, landed a good-sized fish. It was taken off the hook, and strung on a willow twig, and then, fastened so it could not swim away, it was put back into the water to keep fresh until it was time ...
— The Bobbsey Twins at Meadow Brook • Laura Lee Hope
... but Mr. Astor would not yet allow himself to pause in his undertaking. He determined to send the Enterprise to sea alone, and let her take the chance of making her unprotected way across the ocean. Just at this time, however, a British force made its appearance off the Hook; and the port of New York was effectually blockaded. To send a ship to sea under these circumstances, would be to expose her to almost certain capture. The Enterprise was, therefore, unloaded and dismantled, and Mr. Astor was obliged to comfort himself with the hope ...
— Astoria - Or, Anecdotes Of An Enterprise Beyond The Rocky Mountains • Washington Irving
... was perfectly delightful while it lasted. Was there ever a woman, since the world began, who did not know that sensation, either by experience or by wishing she might try it? What pleasure would there be in angling if the fish did not try to get off the hook, but stupidly swallowed it, fly and all? It might as well crawl out of the stream at once and lay itself meekly ...
— Whosoever Shall Offend • F. Marion Crawford
... parlor. It was still dark, although it was nearly eight o'clock, and nobody saw us go out together. Just as we left I heard the chef in the kitchen bawling out that he'd murder whoever put the kettle against the bell, and Tillie saying it must have dropped off the hook and landed there. ...
— Where There's A Will • Mary Roberts Rinehart


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