Idioms Translator

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Base language: EN

Letter: h

Total idioms: 9858 - currently selected: 576 (50 per page)

(By a) Hair's breadth

Details:
If you avoid or miss something by a hair's breadth, you only just manage to escape from a danger.
A very small distance or amount.


Examples:
1. A slate fell off the roof and missed the child by a hair's breadth.
2. He missed me by a hair's breadth when he ran past me yesterday.
3. They came within a hair's breadth of contacting electrified water.



La mustata

Detalii:
Daca eviti sau ratezi ceva la mustata, atunci abia reusesti sa scapi dintr-un pericol.
O distanta sau cantitate mica.


Exemple:
1. O tigla a cazut de pe acoperis si a ratat copilul la mustata.
2. A alergat He missed me by a hair's breadth when he ran past me yesterday.
3. They came within a hair's breadth of contacting electrified water.

(have) Had one's chips

Details:

have had one's chips
1. (idiomatic) 
To say that someone has had their chips means that they have completely failed in what they set out to achieve.
To be dead or finished.



Examples:

After the second round, it looked as though Watson had had his chips.



Origin:

When you have Had Your Chips your luck has run out and you are close to failing altogether. Often this is thought to relate to gambling casinos and the gaming chips they use as stake money. 
This certainly does ring true and can illustrate a situation where a desperate gambler, trying to win back his losses, could be told, ‘You have had all your chips now.’ But there is an earlier suggestion. 
An old naval story indicates workers in a dockyard  were allowed to take home off-cuts of timber, known as chips, as a perk of the job. It was not uncommon for some men to fall out of favour with the foreman, perhaps for trying to take too many, and to have this privilege removed. In which cases they were told they had ‘had all their chips’
(Red herrings and white elephants - Albert Jack)






Detalii:


Exemple:

(Hit) Below the belt

Details:
An action or remark described as "below the belt" is considered to be unfair or cruel.
If you do something like that, you "hit below the belt".


Examples:
Politicians sometimes use personal information to hit their rivals below the belt.
Commenting on his bachelorhood in a debate on marital ethics was a bit below the belt, don't you think?



(A lovi) Sub centura

Detalii:
O actiune sau remarca descrisa ca "sub centura" este considerata a fi cruda sau incorecta.
Daca faci ceva de genul asta, atunci inseamna ca "lovesti sub centura".


Exemple:
Politicienii cateodata folosesc informatii personale ca sa isi loveasca rivalii sub centura.
Sa comentezi despre faptul ca e celibatar in cadrul unei discurii depre etica maritala a fost un pic sub centura, nu crezi?

(read the) handwriting on the wall

Details:
An alternative form of writing on the wall A divine prediction or sentence to fate. It means to anticipate what is going to happen by observing small hints and clues.


Examples:
I know I am going to be fired. I can read the handwriting on the wall. Can't you read the handwriting on the wall? Can't you see what they are planning?




Detalii:


Exemple:

Hack it

Details:
hack it (third-person singular simple present hacks it, present participle hacking it, simple past and past participle hacked it)
1. Used other than as an idiom: see hack,‎ it.
2. (idiomatic) To cope with, to be successful in.
? I don't know if I can hack it here, the work is too hard for me.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Had better

Details:
had better
1. (idiomatic, with bare infinitive, informal) Should; ought to; need to; must.
? You had better finish that homework on time, if you want to get a good grade.
? "Will we get it finished?" / "We had better."
? The project had better get finished by the current deadline.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Hair of the dog

Details:
Using as a remedy a small amount of what made you ill, for example a drop of alcohol when recovering from drinking too much, is called 'a hair of the dog that bit you'.


Examples:
Here, have a drop of this.  It's a hair of the dog that bit you!




Detalii:


Exemple:

Hair of the dog that bit you

Details:
Using as a remedy a small amount of what made you ill, for example a drop of alcohol when recovering from drinking too much, is called 'a hair of the dog that bit you'.


Examples:
Here, have a drop of this.  It's a hair of the dog that bit you!




Detalii:


Exemple:

Hair-splitting

Details:
hair-splitting (plural hair-splittings)
1. (idiomatic) the act of finding exceedingly small differences which are probably neither important nor noticeable to most people.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Hair-splittingly

Details:
hair-splittingly (comparative more hair-splittingly, superlative most hair-splittingly)
1. (idiomatic) With exceedingly small differences which are probably neither important nor noticeable to most people.
? Nobody expected the vote to be so hair-splittingly close.


Examples:





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Exemple:

Hairy at the heel

Details:
A person who is hairy at the heel is thought to be untrustworthy or even dangerous.


Examples:
Rumour has it that the owner of the club is a bit hairy at the heel.




Detalii:


Exemple:

Hairy molly

Details:
hairy molly (plural hairy mollies)
1. (Ireland, idiomatic) A hairy caterpillar.
2. (Ireland, idiomatic) The vulva.


Examples:





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Exemple:

Hal

Details:
1. (software) hardware abstraction layer
HAL
1. (idiomatic, fiction, computing) a homicidal computer, an artificial intelligence that acts similarly to the HAL 9000 featured in 2001: A Space Odyssey.


Examples:





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Exemple:

Halcyon days

Details:
halcyon days (plural only)
1. Period of calm during the winter, when storms do not occur.
2. (idiomatic) A period of calm, often nostalgic: “halcyon days of yore”, “halcyon days of youth”.


Examples:





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Exemple:

Hale and hearty

Details:
Someone, especially an old person, who is hale and hearty is in excellent health.


Examples:
My grandmother is still hale and hearty at the age of ninety.




Detalii:


Exemple:

Half a mind

Details:
If you have half a mind to do something, you are thinking seriously about it but have not yet reached a decision.
half a mind (uncountable)
1. (informal, idiomatic) A moderate inclination.
? His behaviour gives me half a mind to throw him out.


Examples:
I've half a mind to start up my own business but first I need some advice.




Detalii:


Exemple:

Half an eye

Details:
If you have or keep half an eye on something, you watch it without giving it your full attention.


Examples:
She kept half an eye on the TV screen while she was preparing dinner.




Detalii:


Exemple:

Half the battle

Details:
This expression refers to a significant part of the effort or work needed to achieve something.


Examples:
We've already obtained a loan for the project - that's half the battle!




Detalii:


Exemple:

Half-baked

Details:
half-baked (comparative more half-baked, superlative most half-baked)
1. Used other than as an idiom: Partially cooked by heating in an oven.
? When the casserole is half-baked, take it out and sprinkle the grated cheese on top.
2. (idiomatic, informal, frequently derisive) Incomplete; (of an idea or scheme


Examples:





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Exemple:

Half-heartedly

Details:


Examples:



In dorul lelii

Detalii:


Exemple:

Half-naked

Details:
half-naked (not comparable)
1. (idiomatic) With very few clothes on; revealing lots of one's body.
half-naked (not comparable)
1. With very few clothes on.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Half-pint

Details:
half-pint (plural half-pints)
1. A unit of volume used for liquids equal to half of a pint.
2. Half a pint of beer.
3. (idiomatic) A small child.


Examples:





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Exemple:

Halfway decent

Details:
halfway decent
1. No more than adequate.
2. (US, idiomatic) Good - better than expected.


Examples:





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Exemple:

Hallmark moment

Details:
Hallmark moment (plural Hallmark moments)
1. (idiomatic) A memorable moment or event, one which would make a poignant greeting card.


Examples:





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Exemple:

Ham it up

Details:
ham it up
1. (idiomatic, performing arts) To deliberately exaggerate one's emotions or movements, or to overact or act badly.
? You can count on him to ham it up for the camera.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Hammer and tongs

Details:
If people are going at it hammer and tongs, they are arguing fiercely, with a lot of energy and noise.
hammer and tongs (not comparable)
1. (idiomatic) With tools indicating seriousness of intent and capability of harm.
? When they had an argument they went at it hammer and tongs.


Examples:
Our neighbours are going at it hammer and tongs again. They're constantly arguing.




Detalii:


Exemple:

Hammer home

Details:
hammer home
1. (idiomatic) To repeatedly or continually emphasise (an opinion or idea) until or so that a person or group of people understands it.
? The politicians seem to think that they have to hammer home every policy for the public to understand it: I would have thought we're more intelligent than that.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Hammer something home

Details:
If you hammer home a point or an argument, you repeat it often to make sure that it is fully understood.


Examples:
The police hammered home the dangers of drinking and driving.




Detalii:


Exemple:

Hammer home

Details:
If you hammer home a point or an argument, you repeat it often to make sure that it is fully understood.


Examples:
The police hammered home the dangers of drinking and driving.




Detalii:


Exemple:

Hand down

Details:
hand down (third-person singular simple present hands down, present participle handing down, simple past and past participle handed down)
1. To transmit in succession, as from father to son, or from predecessor to successor.
? Fables are handed down from age to age.
2. To deliver (the decision of a court, etc.)
The jury handed down a verdict.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Hand in glove

Details:
Two or more people who are in collusion, or work in close association, are said to be hand in glove.
hand-in-glove (comparative: more hand in glove, superlative: most hand in glove)
1. (idiomatic) In very close cooperation.
The vendors were working hand in glove with our people.


Examples:
After the match, it was discovered that he was hand in glove with the referee.




Detalii:


Exemple:

Hand in hand

Details:
If two or more things go hand in hand, they are associated or often happen at the same time.


Examples:
In big cities, poverty and violence often go hand in hand.


Mana in mana

Detalii:
Daca doua sau mai multe lucruri merg mana in mana, ele sunt asociale sau deseori se intampla in acelasi timp.


Exemple:
In marile orase, saracia si violenta merg deseori mana in mana.

Hand it to someone

Details:
If  you hand it to someone, you admit, perhaps unwillingly, that they deserve credit or praise for their achievements.
hand it to someone
1. (idiomatic) To give somebody credit or praise.
? You have to hand it to him for finishing such a big project so quickly.


Examples:
You've got to hand it to Sophie. She may be a snob, but her presentations are always excellent.




Detalii:


Exemple:

Hand off

Details:
hand off (third-person singular simple present hands off, present participle handing off, simple past and past participle handed off)
1. (idiomatic, transitive) To pass or transfer.
? Before we hand off the project to him, let's make sure to write some instructions.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Hand on a platter/plate

Details:
If someone get something easily, without having to make an effort to obtain it, it is handed to them on a platter.


Examples:
He was appointed sales director in his father's company.  The job was handed to him on a platter.




Detalii:


Exemple:

Hand over

Details:
hand over (third-person singular simple present hands over, present participle handing over, simple past and past participle handed over)
1. (transitive, idiomatic) To relinquish control or possession of something to someone.
? I handed over the controls to the copilot.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Hand over fist

Details:
hand over fist (not comparable)
1. (idiomatic) Quickly or in great quantity, especially in reference to earning money.
? He didn't earn much, but the company seemed to rake in money hand over fist.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Hand waving

Details:
hand waving (plural hand wavings)
1. (idiomatic) Discussion or argumentation involving approximation, vagueness, educated guessing, or the attempt to explain or excuse vagaries.
? The sales pitch sounded good, but there was a lot of hand waving about the price.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Hand-in-glove

Details:
hand-in-glove (comparative more hand-in-glove, superlative most hand-in-glove)
1. (idiomatic) Closely cooperative.
hand-in-glove (comparative more hand-in-glove, superlative most hand-in-glove)
1. Alter


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Handbags at dawn

Details:
handbags at dawn (uncountable)
1. (UK, humorous, idiomatic) A catty squabble.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Handle with kid gloves

Details:
handle with kid gloves
1. (idiomatic) To treat something very delicately or carefully.
? The campaign staff cautioned the candidate to handle the issue with kid gloves.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Handle with kid gloves

Details:
If you handle someone with kid gloves, or treat them very carefully or tactfully, either because they are very important or because they are easily upset.


Examples:
He's so determined to obtain her agreement that he is handling her with kid gloves.




Detalii:


Exemple:

Hands down

Details:
hands down (comparative more hands down, superlative most hands down)
1. (idiomatic) without much effort; easily
2. (idiomatic) without question
hands down
1. third-person singular simple present indicative form of hand down


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Hands up

Details:
hands up!
1. (idiomatic) Put your hands up (if you wish to participate).
2. (idiomatic) Surrender (by raising your hands)!


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Hang a leg

Details:
hang a leg
1. (idiomatic) Hesitate; hang back.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Hang a louie

Details:
hang a Louie
1. (US, slang, idiomatic) Make a left turn while driving a vehicle.
? Hang a Louie up at the next stoplight.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Hang a ralph

Details:
hang a Ralph
1. (US, slang, uncommon, idiomatic) Make a right turn while driving a vehicle.
? Hang a Ralph up at the next stoplight.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Hang about

Details:
hang about (third-person singular simple present hangs about, present participle hanging about, simple past and past participle hung about)
1. (idiomatic) To stay, linger or loiter.
? If you hang about after the show, you can meet the cast.
2. (idiomatic) To spend time or be friends (especially to hang about with someone).
? My daughter likes


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Hang an arse

Details:
hang an arse
1. (idiomatic, obsolete, slang) to hang back, to be afraid to advance.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Hang around

Details:
hang around (third-person singular simple present hangs around, present participle hanging around, simple past and past participle hung around)
1. (idiomatic) to stay, linger or loiter
? If you hang around after the show, you can meet the cast.
2. (idiomatic) to spend time or be friends (especially to hang around with someone)
? My daughter l


Examples:





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Exemple: