Meaning of hook In English

• 0 a curved device used for catching or holding things, especially one attached to a surface for hanging things on:

  • a coat/picture hook

  • a boat hook

  • a fish hook

• 1 a way of hitting in boxing, cricket, or golf:

  • a right/left hook

  • a hook shot

• 2 a repeated part of a song or piece of music that is particularly pleasing and easy to remember:

  • It has to be a great song, with a great hook, great lyrics, and a great melody.

• 3 to fasten something with a hook, hang something on a hook, or catch something with a hook:

  • He hooked the trailer (= joined it with a hook) to his car.

  • How many salmon did you hook (= catch) this afternoon?

  • She hooked the shoe (= lifted it with a hook) out of the water.

• 4 to have sex for money

• 5 a curved device used for catching hold of something or for hanging something on:

  • Hang your coat on one of the hooks in the hall.

  • I need to change the hook on my fishing line.

• 6 to use something like a hook, or to put something so that it is supported at one end and hangs:

  • She hooked her arm through his.

  • He hooked his cane over the back of the chair.

  • We hooked some bass.

• 7 something that is used to attract customers' attention, and encourage them to buy a product or service:

  • Special deals on bestsellers are used as hooks to sell volumes from publishers' back catalogues.

• 8 to owe money or be legally responsible for something:

  • The cleanup plan called for the companies, which are on the hook for cleanup costs, to dredge contaminated sediments from the river.

  • If the investment company fails, they are on the hook to pay the loan.

• 9 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 off the hook.

• 10 to attract someone's attention or encourage them to buy a product or service:

  • Financial marketers know that money-off deals hook customers and keep them loyal.

  • Once people have tried this product, they will be hooked for life.

• 11 to connect a machine to a power supply, or to another machine:

  • hook sth to sth The high-speed digital connector is used to hook all kinds of devices to your computer.