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off the hook

adj — 5 senses

off the hook

adj

Etymology An allusion to a fish caught on the hook of a fishing line.

1

Idiomatic Relieved of a duty, burden, responsibility, or pressure.

  • When the boss assigned the project to Tom, the rest of us were relieved to be off the hook.
  • Without any evidence, the police had to let the suspect off the hook.
1 more example
  • Dom (David Jonsson): Tempting, but I think it's actually something I need to do. Like, I get what they did was peak, but I have to take some responsibility, you know? Yas (Vivian Oparah): Like, not at all. You're gonna let them off the hook after how they treated you?2023, Nathan Bryon, Tom Melia, directed by Raine Allen-Miller, Rye Lane:
Derived terms
off the heezy

off the hook

adj

Etymology Referring to the candlestick phone, which in order to hang up, the receiver must be hung on a hook. Leaving the receiver off the hook would prevent it from being able to receive calls.

1

Of a telephone, having an open connection; not hung up.

  • I think he left the phone off the hook so that nobody would call him.
2

Of a telephone, ringing frequently.

  • The phone was ringing off the hook all night.

off the hook

adj

Etymology Unknown.

1

Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports Idiomatic, Informal Performing extraordinarily well.

  • That's five three-pointers in a row! Smith is off the hook!
2

Idiomatic, Informal, Slang Fresh, cool, trendy, excellent, incredible.

  • That party was off the hook!
Derived terms
off the hizzle
Related terms
off the chain, off the hooks, ring off the hook

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.