AMERICAN IDIOMS (H)
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Idioms starting with H
Here is our list of popular "H" idioms that are used in American English:
(I've/he's/you've, etc...) had it: Said when you've had enough of a situation, when you're endured all that you could.
Example: "I've had it with their daily parties. I haven't been able to sleep well for weeks!"
Half-baked (adj.):
Foolish.
Example: "He came up with a half-baked plan to win back his girlfriend."
Hand-me-down (adj.):
Usually said of clothing that has been passed on from one person to another.
Example: "A hand-me-down dress"
Hands down:
Easily; by far.
Example: "She is hands down the most beautiful girl in class."
Hang in there!: This basically means "don't give up!"
Hang on:
To wait (for a short time); to hold on.
Example: "Hang on. Let me just finish this email and I'll be right with you."
(To) hang on someone's every word:
To listen very carefully to someone.
Example: "Grandpa was telling a story and the kids were hanging on his every word."
Hassle (n.): A problem; Something that is inconvenient, problematic for you.
Example: "I had to go back to that office three times to get things done... What a hassle!"
Hassle (v.): To bother; To nag.
Example: "Stop hassling him about that!"
(To) hate someone's guts:
To hate someone very much.
Hate (someone/something) with a passion: To hate (someone/something) very much.
(To) have a big mouth:
To be a gossiper. To be a person who can't keep a secret.
Example: "Don't tell my cousin any secrets. She has a big mouth."
(To) have a lot going for (someone):
To have a lot of good things in one's life; to have many things working to one's benefit.
Example: "She has a lot going for her: she's smart, she's attractive, and she has a good job."
(To) have a sweet tooth:
To love to eat candy or other sweets.
(To) have an edge:
To have an advantage.
Example: "When it comes to speed, he has an edge over the other players."
(To) have mixed feelings (about something):
To be unsure or uncertain about something.
Example: "Some of the partners had mixed feelings about the merger."
(To) have one's hands full:
To be busy, occupied with some kind of activity, work, etc.
Example: "I have my hands full with my three children."
(To) have one's heart set on something:
To really want (and/or expect) something to happen.
Example: "Julie has her heart set on going to London this summer."
Have the hots for (someone): To be physically attracted to (someone);
Example: "She's got the hots for her new co-worker."
Hick (n.): A redneck; a backwards, ignorant person with a very limited intelligence.
High (adj.): Intoxicated on drugs.
Example: "He looked and behaved like he was high."
(A) hit:
A popular song or film. A success.
Example: "Every song they put out becomes a hit."
(To) hit the spot:
To satisfy a need exactly. To be exactly right (often said about food or drinks).
Example: "That was a delicious meal. It hit the spot."
(To) hit bottom:
To reach the lowest point.
Example: "Two years after he started to abuse alcohol, he hit bottom."
(To) hit the road:
To leave, start on a trip, etc.
Example: "It's already 9:00 AM. We have to hit the road!"
(To) hit a snag:
To run into a problem.
Example: "The project hit a snag when testing failed to produce favorable results."
Hit on (someone) (v.) : To try to seduce (someone); To put the moves on (someone).
Example: "Bob was hitting on me last night."
Hit the sack (v.) : To go to bed.
Example: "I'm going to hit the sack. I'm really beat."
Hold on!
Wait.
Example: "Hold on, I'll be with you in just a moment."
(To be) homesick
To miss one's home, country, city, etc.
Example: "Francesca is really homesick. She really wants to go back to Italy."
Hoodie: A hooded sweatshirt.
Example: "My mom bought me a black hoodie at the GAP."
Hooker (n.): Prostitute.
Hoopla (n.): see "Hype" below.
Hot (adj.): Physically attractive.
Hottie (n.): Very attractive man or woman.
Example: "Lisa is such a hottie."
How on earth...? How in the world...?
When asking a question, "How on earth..." and "How in the world..." emphasize the fact that something incredible or very hard to believe happened.
Example: "How on earth did you get that job? (it was very hard to get)"; "How on earth did you fix that car!? (it was impossible to fix)".
(To be) hung up on (v.): (to be) obsessed/ overly interested in something.
Example: "He's really hung up on his looks." (He's really obsessed with the way he looks.)
Hype (n.): Extreme promotion and the commotion that follows; Hoopla.
Example: "That CD doesn't live up to the hype." (That CD isn't as good as they're promoting it to be/ as good as everything says it is).
Hyped (adj.): Really excited.
Example: "We're all hyped about the concert next weekend."
