I. hitch 1 /hɪtʃ/ BrE AmE verb
1 . [intransitive and transitive] informal to get free rides from the drivers of passing cars by standing at the side of the road and putting a hand out with the thumb raised SYN hitchhike
hitch across/around/to
He plans to hitch right round the coast of Ireland.
hitch a ride/lift (with somebody)
We hitched a ride with a trucker.
2 . [transitive] ( also hitch up ) to move a piece of clothing you are wearing so that it is higher than it was before:
She hitched her skirt above her knees and knelt down.
3 . get hitched informal to get married:
They got hitched without telling their parents.
4 . [transitive] ( also hitch up ) to lift yourself into a higher position by pushing with your hands
hitch yourself (up) onto/on something
Gail hitched herself up onto the high stool.
5 .
a) [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to fasten something to something else, using a rope, chain etc
hitch something to something
He hitched our pickup to his trailer.
a goat hitched to a fence
b) [transitive] ( also hitch up ) to fasten an animal to something with wheels so that the animal can pull it forwards:
I hitched up the horse and drove out into the fields.
II. hitch 2 BrE AmE noun [countable]
1 . a small problem that makes something difficult or delays it for a short time
technical/slight/last-minute hitch
In spite of some technical hitches, the first program was a success.
The whole show went without a hitch.
REGISTER
In written English, people usually prefer to use (small/minor) problem rather than hitch , which sounds slightly informal:
▪
There were some minor technical problems when the product was first released.
2 . a type of knot:
a half hitch
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ setback a problem that stops you from making progress:
The space program suffered a major setback when the space shuttle, Discovery, exploded.
▪ snag informal a problem, especially one that you had not expected:
There’s a snag – I don’t have his number.
▪ hitch a small problem that delays or prevents something:
There have been a few last-minute hitches.
▪ trouble when something does not work in the way it should:
The plane developed engine trouble.
▪ hassle spoken a situation that is annoying because it causes problems:
Just trying to store all this stuff is a hassle.
III. hitch ‧ hike /ˈhɪtʃhaɪk/ BrE AmE ( also hitch ) verb [intransitive]
to travel to places by getting free rides from drivers of passing cars
hitchhike around/to/across etc
She spent her gap year hitchhiking around the world.
—hitchhiker noun [countable] :
I picked up a hitchhiker on our way back.