(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
A ~ is a bent piece of metal or plastic that is used for catching or holding things, or for hanging things up.
One of his jackets hung from a ~.
...curtain ~s...
N-COUNT
2.
If you ~ one thing to another, you attach it there using a ~. If something ~s somewhere, it can be ~ed there.
Paul ~ed his tractor to the car and pulled it to safety.
...one of those can openers that ~ed onto the wall.
VERB: V n to/onto n, V onto n, also V n prep, V prep
3.
If you ~ your arm, leg, or foot round an object, you place it like a ~ round the object in order to move it or hold it.
She latched on to his arm, ~ing her other arm around a tree...
VERB: V n prep
4.
If you ~ a fish, you catch it with a ~ on the end of a line.
At the first cast I ~ed a huge fish.
VERB: V n
5.
A ~ is a short sharp blow with your fist that you make with your elbow bent, usually in a boxing match.
Lewis desperately needs to keep clear of Ruddock’s big left ~.
N-COUNT: usu adj N
6.
If you are ~ed into something, or ~ into something, you get involved with it. (mainly AM)
I’m guessing again now because I’m not ~ed into the political circles...
Eager to ~ into a career but can’t find one right for you?
VERB: be/get V-ed into n, V into n
7.
If you ~ into the Internet, you make a connection with the Internet on a particular occasion so that you can use it.
...an interactive media tent where people will be able to ~ into the internet.
VERB: V into n
•
Hook up means the same as ~ .
...a UK firm that lets Britons ~ up to the Internet.
PHRASAL VERB: V P to n
8.
If someone gets off the ~ or is let off the ~, they manage to get out of the awkward or unpleasant situation that they are in. (INFORMAL)
His opponents have no intention of letting him off the ~ until he agrees to leave office immediately.
PHRASE: V inflects
9.
If you take a phone off the ~, you take the receiver off the part that it normally rests on, so that the phone will not ring.
PHRASE: PHR after v
10.
If your phone is ringing off the ~, so many people are trying to telephone you that it is ringing constantly. (AM)
Since war broke out, the phones at donation centers have been ringing off the ~.
PHRASE: V inflects
11.
by ~ or by crook: see crook
~, line, and sinker: see sinker