Off The Hook

Pronunciation: /ɔf ðə hʊk/

Definitions of off the hook

adjective Describes a situation where someone is no longer in trouble or no longer responsible for something.

Example Sentences

A1 The fisherman's phone fell off the hook into the water.

A2 I forgot to call my friend back, so I left her hanging off the hook.

B1 The party last night was off the hook - it was so much fun!

B2 The new restaurant in town is off the hook - the food is amazing!

C1 The movie premiere was off the hook, with celebrities walking the red carpet.

C2 The concert was off the hook, with the band playing all their hit songs.

preposition Shows the relationship between 'off' and 'hook', indicating that the hook is the object from which someone is being released.

Example Sentences

A1 I hung my coat off the hook by the door.

A2 She took the phone off the hook so it wouldn't ring.

B1 The restaurant was so busy that the staff were off the hook all night.

B2 The team worked hard to get the project off the hook before the deadline.

C1 The lawyer managed to get his client off the hook with a plea deal.

C2 The company's CEO was off the hook for any wrongdoing after the investigation.

article The word 'the' is an article used before a noun to specify or limit it.

Example Sentences

A1 I forgot to do my homework, but my teacher let me off the hook.

A2 My boss was angry at me for being late, but he let me off the hook this time.

B1 The police caught the thief, so I'm off the hook for the stolen items.

B2 I thought I would have to pay a fine for the parking ticket, but I got off the hook.

C1 The company's CEO was caught embezzling money, but his connections helped him get off the hook.

C2 Despite the overwhelming evidence against him, the politician managed to get off the hook.

Examples of off the hook in a Sentence

formal The suspect's lawyer argued that the evidence presented was not enough to prove his client's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, thus suggesting that he should be let off the hook.

informal I can't believe I got off the hook for forgetting my friend's birthday thanks to her forgiving nature.

slang I thought I was going to get in trouble for missing curfew, but my parents let me off the hook this time.

figurative Her creative excuse got her off the hook for being late to the meeting.

Grammatical Forms of off the hook

• past tense: got off the hook
• plural: off the hooks
• comparative: more off the hook
• superlative: most off the hook
• present tense: is off the hook
• future tense: will be off the hook
• perfect tense: has been off the hook
• continuous tense: is being off the hook
• singular: off the hook
• positive degree: off the hook
• infinitive: to be off the hook
• gerund: being off the hook
• participle: having been off the hook

Origin and Evolution of off the hook

First Known Use: 1806 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The origin of the phrase 'off the hook' can be traced back to the use of actual hooks in fishing. When a fish is caught on a hook, it is 'on the hook' and when it is released or freed, it is 'off the hook'.

Evolution of the word: Originally used in a literal sense related to fishing, the phrase 'off the hook' has evolved to be used in a figurative sense to mean being released from a difficult or troublesome situation.