off the hook

off the hook
adjective
freed from danger or blame or obligation
-

I let him off the hook with a mild reprimand

Similar to: ↑safe

* * *

1) informal no longer in difficulty or trouble

I lied to get him off the hook

2) (of a telephone receiver) not on its rest, and so preventing incoming calls

* * *

off the hook
1 informal — used to describe someone who has avoided trouble or punishment;
— usually used with get or let

He counted on his friends to get him off the hook. [=to protect him from trouble or punishment]

I wasn't going to let her off the hook so easily.

2 of a telephone : with the receiver not resting in its usual position

They took the phone off the hook so that it wouldn't ring.

• • •
Main Entry:hook

* * *

off the ˈhook idiom
if you leave or take the telephone off the hook, you take the ↑receiver (= the part that you pick up) off the place where it usually rests, so that nobody can call you
Main entry:hookidiom

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Off the hook — Hook Hook (h[oo^]k; 277), n. [OE. hok, AS. h[=o]c; cf. D. haak, G. hake, haken, OHG. h[=a]ko, h[=a]go, h[=a]ggo, Icel. haki, Sw. hake, Dan. hage. Cf. {Arquebuse}, {Hagbut}, {Hake}, {Hatch} a half door, {Heckle}.] 1. A piece of metal, or other… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • off the hook — {adv. phr.} Out of trouble; out of an awkward or embarrassing situation. * /Thelma found she had made two dates for the same night; she asked Sally to get her off the hook by going out with one of the boys./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • off the hook — {adv. phr.} Out of trouble; out of an awkward or embarrassing situation. * /Thelma found she had made two dates for the same night; she asked Sally to get her off the hook by going out with one of the boys./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • Off the Hook — may refer to: Off the Hook (radio program), hacker radio show Off the Hook (song),a 2006 single by Cansei de Ser Sexy Off the Hook (Xscape album),a 1995 album by Xscape Off the Hook (compilation album), a compilation album from the Now That s… …   Wikipedia

  • off the hook — ► having escaped from a difficult situation or punishment: be/get off the hook »Don t think you re off the hook on taxes just because you were paid in cash. get/let sb off the hook »The minister was last night under fire for letting the big banks …   Financial and business terms

  • Off the hook — can refer to: *A telephone left off its telephone hook* Off the Hook, a hacker radio show hosted primarily by Emmanuel Goldstein and others involved with * Off the Hook , a single by the Brazilian band Cansei de Ser Sexy (CSS) …   Wikipedia

  • off the hook — If someone is off the hook, they have avoided punishment or criticism for something they have done …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • off the hook — ► off the hook 1) informal no longer in trouble. 2) (of a telephone receiver) not on its rest. Main Entry: ↑hook …   English terms dictionary

  • Off the Hook² — Infobox Album Name = Off The Hook² Type = Album Artist = Various Artists Background = darkseagreen Released = 2003 Recorded = Various Times Genre = Pop Length = ? Label = Universal Music Reviews = Last album = Off The Hook This album = Off The… …   Wikipedia

  • off the hook — 1. mod. no longer in jeopardy; no longer obligated. □ I’ll let you off the hook this time, but never again. □ We’re off the hook. We don’t need to worry anymore. 2. mod. crazy. (Referring to the telephone disconnected.) □ She’s so ditzy really… …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

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