American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

Be extremely frightened or anxious, as in When the plane was about to take off, my heart was in my mouth. This usage alludes to the heart beating so violently that it appears to leap upward. [Mid-1500s]

heart in the right place, have one's

Be well-intentioned, Her plan to reconcile them didn't succeed, but she had her heart in the right place. [Early 1800s]

heart is set on

hand. see SET ONE'S HEART ON.

heart misses a beat, one's Also, one's heart skips a beat or stands still. One is startled, frightened, or very excited. For example, Her heart missed a beat when she heard her name called out in the list of finalists, or When the bear appeared in front of us, my heart skipped a beat, or My heart stands still at the very thought of flying through a thunderstorm. All these hyperbolic expressions can also be used with make, meaning "to cause one to be startled" as in That blast from the ship's whistle made my heart skip a beat.

heart not in it

hand. see under HEART IN IT.

heart of gold

A very kind and good nature, as in Bill is very generous; he has a heart of gold. This expression alludes to gold in the sense of "something valued for its goodness." [Late 1500s]

heart of stone

A very cold and unfeeling nature, as in You'll get no sympathy from her; she has a heart of stone.

This idea dates from ancient times and in English appeared in the Bible (Job 41:24). [Early 1600s]

heart of the matter

hand. see CRUX OF THE MATTER.

heart on one's sleeve

hand. see WEAR ONE'S HEART ON ONE'S SLEEVE.

heart's content

hand. see TO ONE'S HEART'S CONTENT.

heart sinks, one's

One's courage or hope fails; one is very disappointed or dejected. For example, An hour before the picnic I heard thunder and my heart sank. This expression was first recorded in 1605 but was preceded in the 15th century by one's heart is at one's heels, or in one's hose, or in one's

shoes. The present (and only surviving) usage was first recorded in 1605.

heart stands still

see HEART MISSES A BEAT.

heart to heart

Candidly, sincerely, as in We need to talk heart to heart about her coming marriage. This expression is nearly always applied to a conversation of some kind. [Mid-1900s]

hearty

hand. see HALE AND HEARTY.

heat

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with HEAT, also see DEAD HEAT; IN HEAT;

IN THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT; TAKE THE HEAT OUT OF; TURN UP THE HEAT.

heat up

Become acute or intense, as in If inflation heats up, the interest rate will surely rise, or The debate over the budget was heating up. [Early 1200s]

heave-ho, give the

hand. see under GET THE AX; GIVE SOMEONE THE AIR.

heave into sight

Rise or seem to rise into view. For example, We waited and waited, and finally the rest of our party heaved into sight. This expression was at first used for ships rising over the horizon. [Late 1700s]

heaven

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with HEAVEN, also see FOR ONE'S

(HEAVEN'S) SAKE; GOD (HEAVEN) FORBID; GOD (HEAVEN) KNOWS; IN SEVENTH HEAVEN; IN THE NAME OF (HEAVEN); MANNA FROM HEAVEN; MOVE HEAVEN AND EARTH; PENNIES FROM HEAVEN; SEVENTH HEAVEN; STINK TO HIGH HEAVEN; THANK GOD (HEAVEN).

heaven knows

hand. see GOD KNOWS.

heavenly days An exclamation similar to for heaven's sake. See under FOR ONE'S

SAKE, def. 3.

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with HELL, also see (ALL HELL) BREAK

LOOSE; DEVIL (HELL) OF A; FOR THE HELL OF IT; GIVE SOMEONE HELL; GO TO HELL; HOT AS HELL; LIKE A BAT OUT OF HELL; LIKE HELL; MAD AS A HORNET (HELL); NOT A HOPE IN HELL; RAISE CAIN (HELL); ROAD TO HELL IS PAVED WITH GOOD INTENTIONS; SHOT TO HELL; SNOWBALL'S CHANCE IN HELL; TILL HELL FREEZES OVER; TO HELL AND GONE; TO HELL WITH; WHAT THE HELL.

hell-bent for leather

Moving recklessly fast, as in Out the door she went, hell-bent for leather. The use of hell-bent in the sense of "recklessly determined" dates from the first half of the 1800s. Leather alludes to a horse's saddle and to riding on horseback; this colloquial expression may be an American version of the earlier British army jargon hell for leather, first recorded in 1889.

hell has no fury like a woman scorned

No anger is worse than that of a jilted woman. For example, Nancy has nothing good to say about Tom?

hell has no fury, you know. This term is a shortening of William Congreve's lines, "Heav'n has no rage, like love to hatred turn'd, nor Hell a fury like a woman scorn'd" (The Mourning Bride, 1697). Similar lines appear in several plays of the same period. Today the proverb is often shortened even more, as in the example.

hell of a Also, one hell of a 1. See DEVIL OF A. 2. This phrase is used as an intensive to emphasize certain qualities about the noun it modifies. By itself the idiom is ambiguous, for its exact meaning depends on the context. For example, He is a hell of a driver can mean either that he is very skillful or that he is a terrible driver. Similarly, We had one hell of a time can mean either that we enjoyed ourselves greatly or that we had an awful or difficult time. [Second half of 1700s]

hell on wheels

Tough, aggressive, wild, or mean, as in Watch out for the boss?

he's hell on wheels this week. This expression originated with the building of the Union Pacific Railroad in the 1860s, when it denoted the last town on the line, which was carried on freight cars as the track was extended. The town consisted mainly of tents occupied by construction gangs, liquor dealers, gamblers, and other camp followers known for their rough and often vicious ways.

hell or high water, come Also, in spite of hell or high water. No matter what difficulty or obstacle, as in I'm going to finish this week, come hell or high water. This colloquial expression, alluding to the destructive forces of hellfire or flood, was first recorded in 1915 but is thought to be older.

hell to pay

Great trouble, as in If we're wrong there'll be hell to pay. [c. 1800]

helm

hand. see AT THE HELM.

help

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with HELP, also see CAN'T HELP BUT; EVERY

LITTLE BIT HELPS; NOT IF ONE CAN HELP IT; SO HELP ME.

helping hand

hand. see under LEND A HAND.

help oneself

1. Make an effort on one's own behalf. Shakespeare used this expression in 2 Henry IV (3:2): "She is old, and cannot help herself," and it also appears in the old proverb, God (or heaven) helps those who help themselves. [First half of 1500s] Also see CAN'T HELP. 2. Serve oneself, as

in The food's in the kitchen; just help yourself. When it takes an object this phrase is put as help oneself to, as in I helped myself to more meat. It also is used as a euphemism for stealing, as in She simply helped herself to the hotel towels and left. The first usage dates from the late 1600s; the second, a colloquialism, from the mid-1800s.

help out

Give additional assistance, as in I offered to help out with the holiday rush at the store. [Early 1600s]

hem and haw

Be hesitant and indecisive; avoid committing oneself, as in When asked about their wedding date, she hemmed and hawed, or The President hemmed and hawed about new Cabinet appointments.

This expression imitates the sounds of clearing one's throat. [Late 1700s]

hem in

hand. see FENCE IN.

hen

hand. see MAD AS A HORNET (WET HEN); SCARCE AS HEN'S TEETH.

herd

hand. see RIDE HERD ON.

here

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with HERE, also see BUCK STOPS HERE;

DOWNHILL ALL THE WAY (FROM HERE); HAVE HAD IT (UP TO HERE); NEITHER HERE NOR THERE; SAME HERE; WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE.

here and now

1. At this moment, as in We must reach a decision here and now. [Early 1800s] 2. the here and now. This life, the present, as in We'd better think of the here and now before worrying about future generations. [Early 1900s]

here and there

1. In various places, as She's lived here and there, never for more than a year in one city. [c. 1300] 2. In various directions, hither and thither, as in She turned her eyes here and there, looking

for him in the audience. [Late 1200s] Also see HERE, THERE, AND EVERYWHERE.

here goes

1. An expression or exclamation declaring one's resolution to do something, as in This hill is steeper than any I've skied before, but here goes! This usage is sometimes amplified to here goes nothing, meaning one is starting something that one doubts will succeed, as in I've never tried this before, but here goes nothing. [Early 1800s] 2. here one goes again. Someone is repeating the same action or speech, especially an undesirable one. For example, Here he goes again, criticizing all his colleagues, or The power's out?

here we go again. [Colloquial; mid-1900s]

here's to

One salutes someone or something. For example, Here's to Bill on his retirement, or Here's to the new project. This phrase, nearly always used as a toast to someone or something, is a shortening of here's a health to and has been so used since the late 1500s. Shakespeare had it in Romeo and Juliet (5:3): "Here's to my Love."

here, there, and everywhere

In every possible place. For example, Flags hung here, there, and everywhere, making it a colorful occasion. [Late 1500s]

here today, gone tomorrow

Lacking permanence, fleeting. For example, His book attracted a great deal of attention but quickly went out of print?

here today and gone tomorrow. Originally alluding to the briefness of the human lifespan, this phrase was first recorded in John Calvin's Life and Conversion of a Christian Man (1549): "This proverb that man is here today and gone tomorrow."

here to stay

Permanent or established, as in I'm afraid the uncertainty about energy costs is here to stay. [First

half of 1900s]

herring

hand. see DEAD AS A DOORNAIL (HERRING); RED HERRING.

he who hesitates is lost

One who cannot come to a decision will suffer for it, as in I couldn't make up my mind, and now the offer has expired?

he who hesitates is lost. Although the idea is undoubtedly older, the present wording is a misquotation or an adaptation from Joseph Addison's play Cato (1712): "The woman that deliberates is lost."

hide

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with HIDE, also see COVER ONE'S ASS

(HIDE); TAN ONE'S HIDE.

hide and seek

hand. see PLAY HIDE AND SEEK.

hide nor hair, neither Also, hide or hair. No trace of something lost or missing. For example, I haven't seen hide nor hair of the children. This expression alludes to the entire outer coat of an animal. [Mid-1800s]

hide one's face Also, hide one's head. Feel shame or embarrassment. For example, You needn't hide your face?

you're not to blame, or Whenever the teacher singled her out for something, shy little Mary hid her head. This idiom

alludes to the gesture indicative of these feelings. [Late 1500s]

hide one's head in the sand Also, bury one's head in the sand. Refuse to face something by pretending not to see it. For example,

For years we have been hiding our heads in the sand, refusing to admit that the store is losing money, or When it comes to a family quarrel, Dean just buries his head in the sand. This expression, transferred to human behavior in the early 1600s, alludes to the belief that ostriches burrow in sand thinking they will not be seen because they cannot see. In fact, however, when they do this, they are consuming sand and gravel to aid their digestive system.

hide one's light under a bushel

Show extreme modesty, as in Even after Paul won the scholarship he went on hiding his light under a bushel. This expression, which does not necessarily express approval of this behavior, has its origin in the New Testament (Matthew 5:15): ''Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick." [Early 1600s]

Playful or rowdy activity, often involving mischievous pranks. For example, All sorts of high jinks go on at summer camp after "lights out." About 1700 this term denoted a gambling game accompanied by much drinking, but by the mid-1800s it acquired its present meaning.

high off the hog, eat Also, live high on the hog. Prosper, live luxuriously, as in When Aunt Ida dies and they inherit her estate, they'll be eating high off the hog, or Since their loan was approved, they've been living high on the hog. It alludes to the choicest cuts of meat,

which are found on a pig's upper flanks. [Late 1800s]

high on

1. Under the influence of alcohol or a drug. For example, I think he got high on marijuana before he came to the party. [c. 1930] 2. Very enthusiastic about, as in They were high on video games.

[1940s]

high places, friends in

hand. see under FRIEND IN COURT.

high seas

Open waters of an ocean or sea, beyond the territorial jurisdiction of a country. For example,

Commercial fishermen are being forced to go out on the high seas in order to make a living. [c. 1100]

high sign

A secret signal intended to warn or inform, as in Dad gave us the high sign when it was time to leave. This expression presumably alludes to a gesture such as a hand wave. [c. 1900]

hightail it

Go as fast as possible, especially in leaving; rush off. For example, With the police now searching for them, they hightailed it out of town, or When Jane remembered it was his birthday, she hightailed it to the bakery for a cake. This expression alludes to the raised tail of a rabbit or other animal that is fleeing. [Colloquial; late 1800s]

high time

The appropriate time for something; also, past the appropriate time. For example, It's high time we did something about Martha's dog, or It's high time you children were in bed. The precise meaning of this term depends on the tone of voice and/or the context. For a synonym, see ABOUT TIME.

high-water mark

The peak of something, especially an achievement. For example, This composition is the high-water mark of his entire output. This expression alludes to the highest mark left on shore by the tide. [Mid1800s]

highway robbery

The exaction of an exorbitantly high price or fee. For example, You paid ten dollars for that meat? That's highway robbery. This term, used figuratively since the late 1800s, alludes to literal robbery of travelers on or near a public road.

high-wire act

A risky job or operation, as in The university press is not allowed to either make or lose money?

that's a high-wire act. This expression alludes to the aerialist performing on a tightrope stretched high above the ground. [Colloquial; mid-1900s]

hike

hand. see TAKE A HIKE.

hill

hand. see DOWNHILL ALL THE WAY; GO DOWNHILL; HEAD FOR (THE HILLS); MAKE A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLEHILL; NOT WORTH A DIME (HILL OF BEANS); OLD AS ADAM (THE HILLS); OVER THE HILL.

hilt

hand. see TO THE HILT.

hindmost

hand. see DEVIL TAKE THE HINDMOST.

hinge on Also, hinge upon. Depend or be contingent on, as in This plan hinges on her approval. This expression employs the verb hinge in the sense of "to hang," as a door would hang on a hinge, a usage dating from the early 1700s.

hint

hand. see TAKE A HINT.

hip

hand. see SHOOT FROM THE HIP.

hired gun

1. A person, especially a professional killer, employed to kill someone, as in They thought the murder had been done by a hired gun. The noun gun has been slang for a professional criminal since the mid1800s. 2. A person with special knowledge or expertise who is employed to resolve a complex problem. For example, The legal team was looking for a hired gun to handle the antitrust angle of the case. [Slang; 1960s] hired hand Also, hired man or girl. A person engaged to assist with farm or domestic chores, as in We need extra hired hands during the harvest, or She was looking for a hired girl to do the laundry. This use of hired dates from the 1200s and referred to