English idioms - Alphabetical list H

	Idiom	Meaning
H	Old habits die hard	This expression means that people are often reluctant to change the way they do something, especially if they have been doing it for a long time. "My grandfather refuses to use a mobile phone; old habits die hard!"
	Hair of the dog that bit you	This expression means that you use as a remedy a small amount of what made you ill, for example a drink of alcohol when recovering from drinking too much. "Here, have a drop of this. It's a little hair of the dog that bit you!"
	Half the battle	This expression refers to a significant part of the effort or work needed to achieve something. "We've already obtained a loan for the project - that's half the battle."
	Get in someone's hair	If you are getting in somebody's hair, you are annoying them so much that they can't get on with what they're doing. "I'd finish the report more quickly if my colleague wasn't getting in my hair all the time!"
	Let one's hair down.	If you suggest that someone should let their hair down, you are telling them to relax and enjoy themselves. "Come on! We' re not in the office now. You can let your hair down!"
	Not a hair out of place.	To say that someone does not have a hair out of place means that their appearance is perfect. "Angela is always impeccably dressed - never a hair out of place!"
	By a hair's breadth	If you avoid or miss something by a hair's breadth, you only just manage to escape from a danger. "A slate fell off the roof and missed the child by a hair's breadth."
	Split hairs	If you split hairs, you pay too much attention to differences that are very small or not important. "If we start splitting hairs, we'll never reach an agreement!"
	Hale and hearty	Someone, especially an old person, who is hale and hearty is in excellent health "My grandmother is still hale and hearty at the age of ninety."
	Hammer (something) home	If you hammer home a point or an argument, you repeat it often to make sure that it is fully understood. "The policeman hammered home the dangers of drinking and driving."
	Hammer and tongs	If people are going at it hammer and tongs, they are arguing fiercely, with a lot of energy and noise. "Our neighbours are going at it hammer and tongs again. They're constantly arguing!"
	Hand in glove	Two or more people who are in collusion, or work in close association, are said to be hand in glove. "After the match, it was discovered that he was hand in glove with the referee."
	Hand it to someone	If you hand it to someone, you admit, perhaps unwillingly, that they deserve credit or praise for their achievements. "You've got to hand it to Julie. She may be a snob, but her presentations are always excellent."
	One hand washes the other... (... and together they wash the face.)	This expression means that when people cooperate and work well together, there is a better chance of achieving results.
	The upper hand	If a person or organization gets or gains the upper hand, they take control over something.
	All hands on deck	When there is a need for all hands on deck, everyone must help, especially when there's a lot of work to be done in a short amount of time. "As the opening day approached, it was all hands on deck to have everything ready in time."
	In safe (good) hands	If something is in safe (or good) hands, it is being looked after by a reliable person or organization, and is therefore at no risk. "I'll look after Jamie while you go shopping. Don't worry - he'll be in safe hands."
	Have your hands full.	If you have your hands full, you are very busy or you have a lot to do.
	Have one's hands tied	If a person has their hands tied, something, such as an agreement or a rule, is preventing them from doing what they would like to do. "Mark deserves to earn more, but the manager's hands are tied by the recent salary agreement."
	A show of hands	A show of hands is a method of voting in which people give their opinion by raising a hand. "How many people agree? Could we have a show of hands please?"
	Wash your hands off something.	If you wash your hands off a problem or situation, you refuse to deal with it any longer.
	As much use as a handbrake on a canoe	This expression refers to something which is completely useless or serves no purpose. "With no electricity, a refrigerator would be as much use as a handbrake on a canoe. "
	Handle someone with kid gloves	If you handle someone with kid gloves, you treat them very carefully or tactfully, either because they are very important or because they are easily upset. "He is so determined to obtain her agreement that he is handling her with kid gloves."
	Get the hang of something	When you get the hang of an activity, you now know how to do it correctly. "The apprentice found the task difficult at first but he soon got the hang of it."
	Hang in there	This expression is used to encourage someone to persevere and not give up in spite of the difficult circumstances. "I know the atmosphere is very tense, but just hang in there and eventually things will calm down."
	Hang on for dear life	If you hang on for dear life, you grip something firmly so as not to fall. "Andy took his mother on the back of his motorbike where she hung on for dear life!"
	Hang up one's boots	When a sports player hangs up their boots, they stop playing and retire. This expression is often used to refer to retirement in general. "Dad says he's going to hang up his boots at the end of the year."
	Happy as a flea in a doghouse	If someone is (as) happy as a flea in a doghouse, they are very happy and contented. "Since she moved to a smaller apartment, my mother is (as) happy as a flea in a doghouse."
	(As) happy as Larry	If you are (as) happy as Larry, you are very happy indeed. "My dad's as happy as Larry at the week-end when we all arrive home.
	Happy-go-lucky	If you are a happy-go-lucky person, you are cheerful and carefree all the time. "He's a happy-go-lucky sort of guy - always in good humour."
	Hard of hearing	If you are hard of hearing, you can't hear very well. "You'll have to speak louder to Mr. Jones. He's a bit hard of hearing."
	Hard as nails	A person who is hard (or 'tough') as nails is unsentimental and shows no sympathy. "Don't expect any sympathy from him. He's as hard as hails."
	To be hard up	If you are hard up, you have very little money. "We were so hard up we had to sleep in the car."
	Hard and fast	Something which is hard and fast cannot be changed. "Unfortunately there are no hard and fast rules related to English spelling"
	Harp on (about) something	If you harp on (about) something, you tire others by talking continuously and tediously about it. "My parents are always harping on about my school results."
	Haul someone over the coals	If you haul someone over the coals, you reprimand them harshly because they have done something wrong or incorrectly. "He was hauled over the coals for the poor quality of his presentation.
	Have a hangover	To have a hangover means to suffer from the unpleasant after-effects of drinking too much alcohol.
	Have your head in the clouds	If you have your head in the clouds, you are so absorbed by your thoughts that you are not paying attention to what is happening around you. "He's doesn't listen to the teacher - he's got his head in the clouds all the time!"
	Have one's head screwed on	Someone who has their head screwed on is a sensible and realistic person. "Don't worry about him.. He's adventurous but he's got his head screwed on."
	Have one's heart in one's mouth	A person who has their heart in their mouth feels extremely anxious or nervous faced with a dangerous or unpleasant situation. "Emma had her heart in her mouth when she saw her 2 year-old son standing in front of the open window."
	Have one's heart in the right place	A person who has their heart in the right place has kind feelings and good intentions, even if the results are not too good. "The old lady's cake wasn't wonderful but she's got her heart in the right place."
	Have one's heart set on something	Someone who has their heart set on something wants it very much. "From an early age Tiger had his heart set on becoming a professional golfer."
	Have kittens	To say you're going to have kittens is a dramatic way of expressing worry, anxiety or fear. "His mother nearly had kittens when Alex announced that he wanted to be a trapeze artist."
	Have your back to the wall	If you have your back to the wall, you are in serious difficulty. "With his back to the wall, the supplier had to accept the deal."
	Have you gone out of your mind?	If you ask someone if they've gone out of their mind, you think they are crazy, foolish or insane. "You're going to ask for a 100% increase in salary? Have you gone out of your mind?"
	Have the makings of something	A person who has the makings of something has qualities and potential that could be developed. "The teacher says Sarah has the makings of an excellent journalist."
	Have the nerve (to do something)	If you do something rude, impudent or inappropriate, without any embarrassment or shyness, it is said that you have the nerve to do it. "She had the nerve to attend the ceremony wearing jeans!"
	Have something on the brain	If you have something on the brain, you think or talk about it constantly. "Stop talking about golf. You've got golf on the brain!"
	Have a stab at something	If you have a stab at something, you try something that you never had a chance to do before. "I had a stab at surfing once but I decided not to renew the experience!"
	Have a whale of a time	When people have a whale of a time, they enjoy themselves very much. "We had a whale of a time at the party last night."
	Run with the hare and hunt with the hounds	This expression refers to someone who wants to stay on friendly terms with both sides in a quarrel. "Bob always wants to keep everyone happy, but I'm afraid he can't run with the hare and hunt with the hounds this time - the issue is too important."
	Keep something under one's hat	To keep something under one's hat means to keep a secret. "My boss has promised me a promotion, but it's not official yet, so keep it under your hat."
	Take one's hat off to somebody	You say this to express admiration for something someone has done. "I take my hat off to the chef. The meal was wonderful."
	Bury the hatchet	The expression " bury the hatchet" is used when people who have had a disagreement decide to forget their quarrel and become friends again. "I don't get on well with my mother-in-law, but to keep my wife happy, I decided to bury the hatchet."
	Make hay while the sun shines	This expression is used as an encouragement to take advantage of a good situation which may not last. Successful sportsmen are advised to make hay while the sun shines.
	Bang your head against a brick wall	If you bang your head against a brick wall, you continue vainly to try and achieve something in spite of several unsuccessful attempts. "I've been banging my head against a brick wall trying to explain the internet to my grandmother."
	Be head and shoulders above	To say that a person or thing is head and shoulders above the others means that they are much better that the rest of their kind. "The award-winner was head and shoulders above the others."
	Bury one's head in the sand	If you bury your head in the sand, you refuse to face the unpleasant reality by pretending that it doesn't exist. "It's no good burying your head in the sand. We've got a problem on our hands."
	Old head on young shoulders	This expression is used to refer to a child or young person who thinks and expresses themselves like an older more-experienced person. "When she heard Emily warning her little brother to stay out of trouble, her mum thought : "That's an old head on young shoulders".
	In over your head	If you are in over your head, you are involved in something that is too difficult for you to handle. "I accepted to organize the festival, but I quickly realized that I was in over my head."
	Keep one's head above water	To keep one's head above water means to try to survive by staying out of debt, for example a small business.
	Off the top of your head	To say something off the top of your head means that you are giving an immediate reaction and not a carefully considered opinion, and so it might not be correct.
	Head over heels in love	When a person falls passionately in love with another, they are said to be head over heels in love. "Tony's only interest at the moment is Maria. He's head over heels in love with her!"
	A swelled/swollen head	Someone who has a swelled/swollen head has become proud or conceited, usually because of recent success. "Larry's promotion has given him a swelled head!"
	Like a headless chicken	If a person rushes about like a headless chicken, they act in a disorderly way, without thinking or analyzing the situation carefully. "As soon as the store opened, my mother started running around like a headless chicken, eager to find bargains."
	Look the picture of health	To look the picture of health means to look completely or extremely healthy.
	Hear a pin drop	To say that you could hear a pin drop means that it is so silent you could hear the slightest noise. "People were listening so intently, you could hear a pin drop."
	Heard it through the grapevine	If you hear of something through the grapevine, you learn about it informally, for example through friends, colleagues or acquaintances. "How did you hear that? Oh, through the grapevine as usual!"
	Heart of the matter	The most important part or aspect of a situation is called the heart of the matter. "We need to get to the heart of the matter - what was the cause of the accident?"
	Change of heart	If someone has a change of heart, they change their attitude or feelings, especially towards greater friendliness or cooperation. "He was against charity, but he had a change of heart when he saw the plight of the homeless."
	Heart in one's mouth	A person who has their heart in their mouth feels extremely anxious or nervous faced with a dangerous or unpleasant situation. "Emma had her heart in her mouth when she saw her 2 year-old son standing in front of the open window."
	Heart misses a beat	If your heart misses a beat, you have a sudden feeling of fear or excitement. "When the lights suddenly went out, her heart missed a beat."
	Heart on your sleeve	If you wear your heart on your sleeve, you allow others to see your emotions or feelings. "You could see she was hurt - she wears her heart on her sleeve."
	Heart set on something	Someone who has their heart set on something wants it very much. "From an early age Tiger had his heart set on becoming a professional golfer."
	Heart sinks	If your heart sinks, you feel very unhappy and despondent "My heart sank when I saw the amount of work waiting for me."
	Heart of stone	Someone who has a heart of stone is a cold person who shows others no understanding, sympathy or pity. "She's not the person to go to if you've got problems - she's got a heart of stone!"
	The heat is on	To say that the heat is on means that you are under a lot of pressure to get something done, usually within a time limit. "The project must be ready for next Friday, so the heat is on.
	Turn on/up (or pile on) the heat	If you turn on/up the heat on a person or organization, you put pressure on them in order to obtain what you want. "If the goods are not delivered this week, we'll have to turn on the heat."
	With a heavy hand	Dealing with or treating people with a heavy hand means acting with discipline and severity, with little or no sensitivity. "He ran the juvenile delinquent centre with a heavy hand."
	Hedge your bets	If you hedge your bets, you choose two or more courses of action in order to reduce the risk of loss or error. "The company hedged its bets by developing a second line of products."
	All hell broke loose	To say that all hell broke loose means that there was a sudden angry, noisy reaction to something. "All hell broke loose when it was announced that the plant was going to close down."
	Come hell or high water	To say that you will do do something come hell or high water means that you will do it in spite of difficulties involved. "Come hell or high water, I've got to be on time for the interview."
	(go to) Hell in a handcart	If someone or something is going to hell in a handcart, it is in a bad state and continues to deteriorate. "This used to be a nice place to live but now the area is going to hell in a handcart."
	Hell-bent on something	If you are hell-bent on doing something, you are recklessly determined to do it, even if it's dangerous or stupid. "Although he is still weak, he's hell-bent on playing the match."
	Help a lame dog over stile	If you help a lame dog over stile, you help someone who is in difficulty or trouble. "You can trust him - he always helps a lame dog over a stile."
	Hem and haw	When someone hems and haws, they are very evasive and avoid giving a clear answer. "Bobby hemmed and hawed when his parents asked him where he had spent the night."
	Herd mentality	People with the herd mentality tend to do what everyone else does, no matter how ridiculous or stupid. "One example of herd mentality is when people rush to get on the first bus when there are several empty ones waiting."
	Herding cats	This expression refers to the difficulty of coordinating a situation which involves people who all want to act independently. "Organizing an outing for a group of people from different countries is like herding cats!
	Here today, gone tomorrow	This expression is used to refer to something which appears and disappears very quickly, or does not last very long. "The shops in this area change very often - here today, gone tomorrow!"
	Neither here nor there.	Something which is neither here nor there is considered has no effect on the situation.
	Hide one's light under a bushel	If you hide your light under a bushel, you are modest or do not reveal a talent, quality or skill you possess. "So you play the saxophone in a club on Saturday nights - you really hide your light under a bushel, don't you!"
	Hide a multitude of sins	If something covers or hides a multitude of sins, it prevents people from seeing the less pleasant reality. "Loose-fitting clothes can cover a multitude of sins!"
	Hidden agenda	If a person or organization has a hidden agenda, they have hidden interests or ulterior motives. "I can guarantee that we have no hidden agenda. Our intentions have always been clear."
	High and dry	If you are left high and dry, you find yourself in a difficult situation without help or resources "When her husband walked out on her, Amanda was left high and dry with two kids to raise."
	High and mighty	Someone who is high and mighty behaves in a haughty manner, as if they were superior to others. "Don't you get all high and mighty!" said my grandmother to my cousin. "Everyone helps with the housework in this house."
	(Up) to the hilt	Something which is done to the hilt is done completely, fully or to the maximum degree. "He was involved in the conspiracy to the hilt."
	Hit the airwaves	When someone hits the airwaves, they go on radio and/or TV to be interviewed or to promote something. "The hospital was embarrassed when the patient hit the airways with his side of the story."
	Hit the ground running	If someone hits the ground running, they are ready to start work immediately on a new activity. "He intends to hit the ground running when he starts his new job."
	Hit the hay	When you hit the hay, you go to bed. "The boys were so exhausted that they hit the hay as soon as they reached the campsite."
	Hit the road	When you hit the road, you begin a journey. "It's getting late and we've got a long way to go. Let's hit the road."
	Hit the sack	To hit the sack (also hit the hay) means to go to bed.
	Hitch one's wagon to a star	Someone who hitches their wagon to a star has great ambitions and is very determined to reach their goal. "At an early age she decided to hitch her wagon to a star and become rich and famous."
	Hive of activity	hive of activity (also: a beehive) A place where there are lots of things happening, and everyone is very busy, is called a hive of activity. "When I went to offer my help, the kitchen was already a hive of activity."
	Go the whole hog	When you go the whole hog, you do something thoroughly or completely. "They put up a few decorations for Christmas, then they decided to go the whole hog and buy a tree and all the trimmings."
	Hold your breath	If someone is holding their breath, they are waiting excitedly or anxiously for something to happen. "I went for second interview today - now I'm holding my breath!"
	Hold your horses	If you tell someone to hold their horses, you think they are doing something too fast and should slow down and not rush into further action. "Hold your horses! Don't rush into this without giving it careful thought."
	Hold one's own	If you can hold your own, you are well able to defend yourself when under attack. "We should ask Jane to represent us; she can hold her own in any argument."
	Holier-than-thou	This expression is used to describe the attitude of people who consider themselves to be more virtuous or morally superior to others. "I can't stand the holier-then-thou attitude of some candidates."
	Hollow victory	A victory obtained in unsatisfactory conditions, which as a result seems worthless or without significance for the winner, is called a hollow victory. "Won in the absence of the major ski champions, his gold medal was a hollow victory."
	On the home stretch	To say that you're on the home stretch means that you are approaching the end of something such as a task, a race or a journey. "Don't give up - we're on the the home stretch now."
	Home truths	If you tell somebody some home truths, you tell them some unpleasant facts about themselves which are often difficult to accept. "David needs to be told a few home truths, whether he likes it or not!"
	The honeymoon is over	To say that the honeymoon is over means that the initial period of friendship and cooperation between people, groups or organizations has ended. "He was elected only six months ago but the honeymoon is already over."
	Honour among thieves	This expression means that even criminals have a sense of loyalty and they respect a certain code of behaviour. "The bank robber refused to reveal the names of his accomplices which shows that there is honour among thieves."
	By hook or by crook	If you say that you will do something by hook or by crook, you mean that you will succeed in doing it in whatever way is necessary, whether it is honest or not. "I'll get my revenge, by hook or by crook!"
	Get off the hook	If you do something wrong and manage to get off the hook, you avoid punishment or blame. "Barry was questioned by the police but his lawyer managed to get him off the hook."
	Hook, line and sinker	If you fall for a story or an explanation hook, line and sinker, you completely believe it. "I didn't think he'd believe my story, but he fell for it hook, line and sinker."
	Couldn't give a hoot!	To say that you don't or couldn't give a hoot, means that you don't care at all about something. "She wears eccentric clothes but she's couldn't give a hoot about what others think."
	A hop, skip and a jump	To say that a thing or place is only a hop, skip and a jump away from another means that they are very close to each other. "The school's just a hop, skip and a jump from our new house."
	Hope against hope	If you hope against hope, you continue to hope even when the situation looks bad "The whole building was destroyed by fire. John's parents are hoping against hope that he escaped in time."
	Horns of a dilemma	If you are on the horns of a dilemma, you are faced with a choice between two equally unpleasant options. "I'm on the horns of a dilemma; I have to choose between a boring job with a good salary or a more interesting job with a lower salary."
	Horse of a different colour	To describe a person or a problem as a horse of a different colour means either that the person does things differently from others or that the nature of the problem is a entirely different. "I expected to negotiate with the sales manager but the chairman turned up - now he's a horse of a different colour!"
	A dark horse	If you refer to a person as a dark horse, you mean that they are secretive, or that little is known about them.
	I could eat a horse.	To say that you could eat a horse means that you are very hungry. "Let's get something to eat. I'm starving. I could eat a horse!"
	Beat (or flog) a dead horse	To say that someone is beating a dead horse, you mean that they are wasting time and effort trying to do or achieve something that is not possible.. "Mark is beating a dead horse trying to get his money reimbursed. The company has gone bankrupt!"
	Straight from the horse's mouth	If you learn something straight from the horse's mouth, you hear about it directly from a person closely connected with the source of the information. "How do you know Jack has resigned?" "I got it straight from the horse's mouth - he told me himself!"
	Hot off the press	If a news article, for example, is hot off the press, it has just been published and contains the most recent information on the subject. "I just got it hot off the press; another bank has gone bankrupt!"
	Hot on the trail	If you are hot on the trail of someone or something, you are very close to finding them. "The police are hot on the trail of the bank robber."
	Hot under the collar	If you get hot under the collar, you feel annoyed, indignant or embarrassed. "If anyone criticizes his proposals, Joe immediately gets hot under the collar."
	Hot potato	To refer to a subject as a hot potato means that it is a very sensitive and controversial matter which is difficult to deal with. "The new Prime Minister hasn't been confronted with any hot potatoes yet."
	Get on like a house on fire	Two people who get on like a house on fire have similar interests and quickly become good friends.
	On the house	Something which is "on the house" is offered free of charge, usually in a bar or restaurant. "The new owner offered us a drink on the house."
	Household name/word	When the name of someone or something becomes very familiar because it is so often used, it is called a household name or word. "The product was so successful that its name became a household word in no time."
	Hue and cry	If there is a hue and cry about something, there is loud opposition to it. "There will no doubt be a great hue and cry when the reorganization is announced."
	Hunky dory	Using the expression 'hunky dory' is an informal way of saying that everything is satisfactory and there are no problems. "Need any help?" "Everything's hunky dory, thanks."
	Hustle and bustle	This expression is used to refer to busy energetic activity in an atmosphere of general excitement. "I prefer to live in the country. I hate the hustle and bustle of city life."