hook

hook1 [ huk ] noun count **

1. ) a curved piece of metal or plastic for hanging things on:

He hung his coat on a hook on the back of the door.

a ) a small curved piece of metal or plastic used for catching fish at the end of a LINE

b ) a curved piece of metal or plastic fixed to a pole or with a handle at the other end, used for catching hold of something:

a meat hook

a boat hook

2. ) a hit that a BOXER (=someone who fights as a sport) makes with their arm bent:

a left/right hook: a left hook to the jaw

3. ) INFORMAL a method used for getting people interested in and attracted to something, especially something you are selling

by hook or by crook

in whatever way is possible

get your hooks into someone INFORMAL

to get someone and keep them in a situation that is bad for them

hook, line, and sinker

believing something completely, usually something that is not true

off the hook

1. ) if a telephone is off the hook, the RECEIVER (=the part you speak into) has not been put into its place, so you cannot receive any calls

2. ) INFORMAL having avoided a duty, an unpleasant situation, or a punishment:

I don't believe his boss has let him off the hook again.

hook

hook 2 [ huk ] verb *

▸ 1 fix/hang something to something else

▸ 2 put body part around something

▸ 3 catch fish with hook

▸ 4 make ball move in curve

▸ 5 attract and keep someone

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) intransitive or transitive to fix or hang something to something else, or to be fastened to something else, especially by a hook or by a similar part:

He hooked the umbrella over his arm and went outside.

hook (something) over/onto something: a ladder that hooks over the edge of the roof

2. ) transitive to put your arm, finger, leg, etc. around something to hold it or bring it closer to you:

hook something into something: He stood with his thumbs hooked in his pants pockets.

hook something through something: Kathy hooked her arm through Peter's.

3. ) transitive to catch a fish with a hook

4. ) transitive to hit, kick, or throw a ball so that it moves in a curved direction, especially in golf or soccer

5. ) transitive INFORMAL to attract someone and keep their interest or loyalty:

What's the best way to hook customers?

,hook `up phrasal verb

1. ) transitive to connect two pieces of electric or electronic equipment together, or to connect a piece of equipment to a computer or power supply:

hook up to: He hooked the microphone up to a tape recorder.

a ) intransitive or transitive if you hook up to a place or to the Internet, or if you hook something up, you become connected to it through your computer:

hooking up classrooms to the Internet

hook up to: I can hook up to the library from my computer.

2. ) intransitive INFORMAL if two people hook up, they start a relationship together or start doing something together

3. ) transitive to connect something to a piece of equipment, especially using a hook