American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

hand. see BEAT THE PANTS OFF (HOLLOW).

holy cow Also, holy mackerel or Moses or moly or smoke. An exclamation of surprise, astonishment, delight, or dismay, as in Holy cow, I forgot the wine, or Holy mackerel, you won! or Holy Moses, here comes the teacher! or Holy smoke, I didn't know you were here too. The oldest of these slangy expletives uses mackerel, dating from about 1800; the one with Moses dates from about 1850 and cow from about 1920. None has any literal significance, and moly is a neologism devised to rhyme with "holy" and possibly a euphemism for "Moses."

holy of holies

A place of awe or sacredness, as in The corporate board room is the holy of holies here. This expression is a translation of the Hebrew term for the sanctuary inside the tabernacle of the Temple of Jerusalem, where the sacred Ark of the Covenant was kept (Exodus 26:34). Its figurative use dates from the second half of the 1800s.

holy terror

An exasperating individual, as in He was only five, but he was a holy terror, running wild through the house and throwing whatever he could lay his hands on. The adjective holy here is an intensifier. [Late 1800s]

home

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with HOME, also see AT HOME; BRING

HOME; BRING HOME THE BACON; CHICKENS COME HOME TO ROOST; CLOSE TO HOME; DRIVE HOME; EAT SOMEONE OUT OF HOUSE AND HOME; MAKE ONESELF AT HOME; NOBODY HOME; NOTHING TO WRITE HOME ABOUT; TILL THE COWS COME HOME.

home free

In a secure or comfortable position, especially because of being certain to succeed. For example,

Once I meet the schedule I'll be home free, or I think we have enough support for this measure?

we're home free. This expression probably alludes to safely reaching baseball's home plate, meaning one has scored a run. [Mid-1900s]

home in on

Move toward or focus on a goal, as in He began with a couple of jokes before homing in on the main subject of his talk. This expression originally alluded to a vessel, aircraft or missile being guided to its target by a radio beam or some other means. [c. 1920]

home run

A highly successful achievement; also, doubling one's profits. For example, We scored a home run with that drug stock, buying it at 15 and selling at 30. This expression originated in the mid-1800s in baseball, where it refers to a pitched ball batted so far that the batter can round all three bases and reach home plate, scoring a run. Its figurative use dates from the mid-1900s.

quickly became proverbial.

hopped up

1. Relating to a motor, especially a car engine, whose power has been increased. For example, Kids loved to ride around in hopped-up cars. [Slang; mid-1900s] Also see

with, or as if with, a narcotic. For example, Their idea of a good time is to get all hopped up on marijuana or worse. This slangy usage dates from the 1920s but may be related to the late 19th-century use of the noun hop for a narcotic, especially opium.

hopping mad

Enraged, furious, as in I was hopping mad when they left my name off the list. This expression conjures up an image of jumping up and down with rage. [Colloquial; early 1800s]

hop, skip, and a jump

A short distance, as in It's just a hop, skip, and a jump from my house to yours. This expression, dating from the early 1700s, originally referred to an exercise or game involving these movements, but by the mid-1800s was also being used figuratively for the short distance so covered.

hop to it

Begin to do something quickly and energetically, as in We've got to hop to it and get our shopping done. [Colloquial; first half of 1900s]

hop up

hand. see HOPPED UP.

horizon

hand. see ON THE HORIZON.

horn

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with HORN, also see BLOW ONE'S OWN

HORN; LOCK HORNS; PULL IN ONE'S HORNS; TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS.

hornet

hand. see MAD AS A HORNET; STIR UP A HORNET'S NEST.

horn in on

Intrude, join without being invited. For example, She has a rude way of horning in on our conversations. This expression alludes to an ox or bull pushing in with its horns. [c. 1900]

horns of a dilemma, on the

Faced with two equally undesirable alternatives. For example, I'm on the horns of a dilemma: if I sell the house now I have no place to live, but if I wait I may not get as good a price. This term was first recorded about 1600, but the idea of being caught on either one horn or the other (of an animal) was already expressed in Roman times.

horror

hand. see under THROW UP ONE'S HANDS.

horse

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with HORSE, also see BACK THE WRONG

HORSE; BEAT A DEAD HORSE; CART BEFORE THE HORSE; CHANGE HORSES IN MIDSTREAM; CHARLEY HORSE; DARK HORSE; EAT LIKE A BIRD (HORSE); FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH; HOLD ONE'S HORSES; IF WISHES WERE HORSES; LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH; ONE-HORSE RACE; ON ONE'S HIGH HORSE; WAR HORSE; WILD HORSES COULDN'T DRAG; WORK LIKE A BEAVER (HORSE); YOU CAN LEAD A HORSE TO WATER.

horse around

Indulge in frivolous activity or play. For example, The boys were horsing around all afternoon. This term presumably alludes to horseplay, which has meant "rough or boisterous play" since the late 1500s. [First half of 1900s]

horse of a different color, a Also, a horse of another color. Another matter entirely, something else. For example, I thought that was her boyfriend but it turned out to be her brother?

that's a horse of a different color. This term probably derives from a phrase coined by Shakespeare, who wrote "a horse of that color" (Twelfth Night, 2:3), meaning "the same matter" rather than a different one. By the mid-1800s the term was used to point out difference rather than likeness.

horse sense

Sound practical sense, as in She's got too much horse sense to believe his story. The exact allusion in this term, which dates from the mid-1800s, is disputed, since some regard horses as rather stupid. However, they tended to be viewed more positively in the American West, where the term originated.

horse trading

Negotiation marked by hard bargaining and shrewd exchange. For example, The restaurant owner is famous for his horse trading; he's just exchanged a month of free dinners for a month of free television commercials. This expression alludes to the notorious shrewdness of horse traders, who literally bought and sold horses. [c. 1820]

hot

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with HOT, also see BLOW HOT AND COLD;

LIKE A CAT ON HOT BRICKS; LIKE HOT CAKES; MAKE IT HOT FOR; PIPING HOT; STRIKE WHILE THE IRON'S HOT.

hot air Empty, exaggerated talk, as in That last speech of his was pure hot air. It is also put as full of hot air, as in Pay no attention to Howard?

he's full of hot air. This metaphoric term transfers heated air to vaporous talk. [Late 1800s]

hot and bothered

In a state of agitated excitement, flustered, as in She was all hot and bothered before her big opening.

[c. 1920]

hot and heavy

1. Very enthusiastic and excited, as in That was a hot and heavy debate. This slangy expression employs hot in the sense of "characterized by intense feeling," a usage dating from the tenth

century A. D., and heavy in the sense of "serious." 2. Passionate, lustful, as in They were awfully young to be so hot and heavy about their romance. This slangy term employs hot in the sense of "sexually aroused,'' a usage dating from about 1500.

hot as blazes Also, hot as hell. Extremely warm, as in It was hot as blazes in that room, or I'm hot as hell and would love a cold shower. The first of these hyperbolic similes dates from the mid-1800s, the second from the early 1900s.

hot dog

A person who performs showy, often dangerous stunts, especially but not exclusively in sports; also, a showoff. For example, He was a shameless hot dog on the tennis court, smashing every ball, or She was a hot dog behind the wheel, screeching her wheels at every turn. The relation of this term to the edible hot dog is unknown. [Colloquial; c. 1900] 2. Also, hot diggety dog; hot diggety. An interjection expressing delight or enthusiasm, as in Hot dog! What a great gift, or Hot diggety! We got the best concert tickets after all. [Slang; c. 1900]

hotfoot it

Go in haste, walk fast or run. For example, I'll have to hotfoot it to the airport if I'm to meet them.

[Slang; c. 1900]

hot line

A telephone line that gives quick and direct access to a source of information or help. For example,

Our state has an AIDS hot line in every county. This term was originally (and is still) used for a direct link between heads of government for use during a crisis, but was quickly extended to wider applications. [1950s]

hot number Also, hot stuff. Someone or something that is currently popular or fashionable; also,

someone or something unconventional or daring. For example, That new song is going to be a hot number, or He really thinks he's hot stuff. These slangy expressions use hot in the sense of "recent" or "fresh," a usage dating from the 1300s, although hot stuff dates from the 1700s and hot number from about 1900.

hot off the press

Newly printed; sensational and exciting. For example, I've got it hot off the press?

he's resigning, or This design is hot off the press. [c. 1900]

hot on

1. Also, hot for. Enthusiastic about, as in She's really hot on golf, or He's hot for another skiing vacation. This seemingly modern slangy usage was first recorded in 1667. Also see

HOT FOR. 2. Also, hot at. Very good, impressive, as in He's hot at anything involving numbers. This expression, first recorded in 1573, is frequently used in the negative, as in I'm not so hot at new computer programs.

hot potato

A problem so controversial and sensitive that it is risky to deal with. For example, Gun control is a political hot potato. This term, dating from the mid-1800s, alludes to the only slightly older expression drop like a hot potato, meaning "to abandon something or someone quickly" (lest one be burned). The idiom alludes to the fact that cooked potatoes retain considerable heat because they contain a lot of water.

hot rod

An automobile modified to increase its speed and acceleration, as in Kids love to tinker with cars and try to convert them into hot rods. [Mid-1900s] Also see HOPPED UP.

hot seat, in the

In a position of extreme stress or discomfort, as when subjected to harsh criticism. For example,

When merger negotiations broke down, he was in the hot seat with the stockholders. This expression extends hot seat in the sense of "the electric chair" (for effecting an execution) to wider use. [c. 1930]

hot stuff

hand. see HOT NUMBER.

hot to trot

1. Ready and willing, eager. For example, We should let them start putting up posters; they're hot to trot. 2. Sexually avid, lascivious, as in He's hot to trot and asked her out almost as soon as he met her. Both slangy usages allude to a horse eager to get going.

hot under the collar

[Colloquial; first half of 1900s]

how are you?

hand. see HOW DO YOU DO?

how come? How is it that, as in How come you're not attending the conference? Sometimes how come follows a statement and asks the question "why" or "in what way," as in You're not going? How come? The related phrase how so? functions the same way, as in You say she's changed her mind?

how so? How come is short for how did it come about that and dates from the mid-1800s; how so, short for how is it so or how is it that, dates from about 1300.

how does that grab you?

What do you think of that? For example, They want to put his name at the top of the masthead?

how does that grab you? This expression employs the verb grab in the sense of "excite one's interest or attention." [Slang; early 1900s]

how do you do?

A conventional greeting used mostly after being introduced to someone, as in And this is our youngest?

say "How do you do" to Mr. Smith. Although it is a question, it requires no reply. Originally, in the 1600s, this expression was an inquiry after a person's health or standing, how do you do meaning "how do you fare?" Today we usually express this as How are you? or How are you doing? or How goes it? or How's it going? Even more general are the slangy locutions How are things? or How's tricks? All of these greetings date from the first half of the 1900s.

however much

hand. see AS MUCH AS, def. 2.

how goes it

hand. see HOW DO YOU DO?

howling success

A tremendous triumph, as in Their first play was a howling success. This colloquial expression employs howling in the sense of "very pronounced" or "glaring," a usage dating from the mid-1800s.

how so?

hand. see under HOW COME?

how's that Also, how's that again. What did you say? Please repeat it. For example, How's