English Reference:Common Idioms-Idioms -H
had better
- should do something

I`d better go now or I`ll be late for class.
hair stand on end
- become frightened or afraid of something

My hair stood on end when I saw the aftermath of the automobile accident.
hale and hearty
- in very good health, well and strong

My uncle is a hale and hearty fellow who never gets sick.
half-baked
- foolish

I didn`t really like his half-baked idea about the new delivery system.
half the battle
- a large part of the work

Sending the letters out will be half the battle. We can finish the rest of the work next week.
hammer out
- remove, work out by discussion and debate

The union and managers were able to hammer out an agreement before midnight last night.
hand down
- arrange to give something to someone after your death

My grandmother handed down her silver jewellery to my mother.
hand in
- give to someone, hand to someone

went to the company early to hand in my job application.
hand it to (someone)
- give credit or praise to someone

You have to hand it to him - he worked hard and was very successful with his business.
handle with kid gloves
- be very careful handling someone or something

He is very sensitive so you have to handle him with kid gloves when you speak to him.
hand-me-down
- something given away after another person doesn`t need it (especially clothing)

She was very poor when she was a child and always wore hand-me-down clothing.
hand out
- give things of the same kind to several people

The teacher decided not to hand out the tests until everyone in the class stopped talking.
hand-out
- a gift - usually from the government

The government stopped giving hand-outs to the university students as they said they had no money.
hand-out
- sheet of paper given to students or people who attend a meeting etc.

Everyone at the meeting was given a hand-out on how to save and invest money.
hand over
- give control or possession to someone, give something to another person

The criminals were forced to hand over the stolen money to the police.
hand over fist
- rapidly

His new company is making money hand over fist.
(one`s) hands are tied
- unable to help

I`m sorry that I can`t help you with the job but my hands are tied at the moment.
hands down
- easy, unopposed

They won the game hands down over the other team.
hands off
- leave alone, don`t interfere

The government decided to take a hands-off approach to the teachers during the strike.
hand something to someone on a silver platter
- give a person something that has not been earned

He was handed a great job on a silver platter and never had to make any effort at all.
hand to mouth
- having only enough money for basic living

He was living a hand to mouth existence until he was finally able to find a job.
handwriting on the wall
- a sign that something bad will happen

The handwriting is on the wall. Business conditions are bad so probably nobody will get a pay raise this year.
handy
- can easily fix things

He is very handy around the house and is always fixing or building something.
hang around
- pass time or stay someplace without any real purpose or aim

We decided to stay home and hang around on Sunday rather than go out to the game.
hang back
- stay some distance behind or away, hesitate or be unwilling to do something

He lacks self-confidence and always hangs back when his boss asks for volunteers.
hang by a thread
- be in doubt, depend on a very small thing

The outcome of the election hung by a thread until the last two or three hours.
hang in the balance
- have two equally possible results, be uncertain

After the opposition party won the election whether or not the new highway will be built hangs in the balance.
hang in (there)
- persevere, don`t give up

You should hang in there and don`t quit your job just because you don`t like the supervisor.
Hang it!
- a rather old expression used to express annoyance or disappointment

“Hang it”, he said when he hit his finger with the hammer.
hang on
- continue

Although business was very bad he decided to hang on and fight to keep his business going.
hang on
- wait, continue listening on the telephone

Hang on for a minute while I go and get some paper and a pen.
hang one on
- get very drunk

He really hung one on last night after he heard about his promotion.
hang on to
- hold tightly, keep firmly

Please hang on to your hats or the strong wind will blow them off.
hang out
- spend one`s time idly or lounging about, spend time with someone or a group of people

Recently his brother has been hanging out with a group of people who are not a good influence on him.
hang out one`s shingle
- notify the public of the opening of an office - especially a doctor`s or lawyer`s office

He has decided to hang out his own shingle now that he has graduated from law school.
hang up
- place on a hook, peg or hangar

Everyone was forced to hang up their jackets before they entered the room.
hang up
- place a telephone receiver back on the telephone and break the connection

After he hung up the telephone he left to go to work.
hang-up
- a delay in some process

There was a hang-up in the construction of the office tower because of the fire.
hang-up
- an inhibition, a neurotic reaction to some life situation

She has a serious hang-up about the dark and is afraid to go out alone at night.
happy hour
- a time in bars or restaurants when drinks are served at a discount

We stopped at the restaurant during happy hour and had a couple of drinks.
hard and fast rule
- rules that cannot be altered to fit special cases

There is no hard and fast rule that says you can`t use a cellular phone in the train.
hard as nails
- physically very fit and strong, rough, stern

He is as hard as nails and is not a good person to have an argument with.
hard feelings
- anger or bitterness

I don`t have any hard feelings toward him even though he fired me.
hard-nosed
- not weak or soft, stubborn - especially in a fight, contest or negotiations

The company had a hard-nosed attitude while bargaining with the union.
hard nut to crack
- a person or thing not easily understood or influenced

He is a hard nut to crack and is not close to many people.
hard on (someone/something)
- treat something/someone roughly

His son is very hard on shoes.
hard pressed
- burdened with urgent business

I am a little hard pressed for time. Can we meet later?
hard sell
- selling something very aggressively and with great eagerness

I didn`t like their hard sell attitude at the car dealership so I went to another dealer.