hammer

ham|mer1 [ `hæmər ] noun count *

1. ) a tool used for hitting things or forcing nails into wood, consisting of a handle and a heavy metal top with one flat side:

He smashed a hole in the window with a hammer.

take a hammer to something (=hit something hard using a hammer): She took a hammer to the headlights of his car.

2. ) the part of a gun that pushes against the bullet to make the explosion when you pull the TRIGGER with your finger

3. ) a part in a piano that hits the strings to make a sound

4. ) a heavy metal ball attached to a chain, thrown as a sport

a ) the hammer a sports event in which people throw a hammer as far as they can

come/go under the hammer

to be sold at an AUCTION (=a public sale in which objects are sold to the person who offers the most money)

hammer

ham|mer 2 [ `hæmər ] verb *

▸ 1 hit

▸ 2 defeat

▸ 3 criticize

▸ 4 fall with force

▸ 5 beat quickly

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) intransitive or transitive to hit something with a hammer:

Hammer the pegs into the holes.

Someone was hammering in the cellar.

a ) hammer on/at/into to hit something hard or many times:

Some of the patients were shouting and hammering on the walls.

Owen hammered the ball into the back of the net.

2. ) transitive INFORMAL to defeat an opponent easily: THRASH

3. ) transitive INFORMAL to criticize someone or something severely:

Her latest movie was hammered by the critics.

4. ) intransitive INFORMAL if rain hammers down, a lot of it falls with great force

5. ) intransitive if your heart hammers, it has a strong fast beat, especially because you are afraid or nervous: POUND:

He could feel his heart hammering in his chest.

=> HOME 2

,hammer a`way at phrasal verb transitive hammer away at something

1. ) INFORMAL to do something with great energy and with all your attention:

She spent all weekend hammering away at her novel.

2. ) to keep attacking someone or something:

Defense lawyers hammered away at the witness's credibility.

,hammer `out phrasal verb transitive

to reach a decision or agreement after discussing it or arguing about it for a long time:

A new deal was hammered out between the two banks.