[holistic health]{n.}, {informal}, {semi-technical} Themaintenance of health and the avoidance of disease through such psychogenicpractices and procedures as biofeedback, meditation, alternative methods ofchildbirth, and avoidance of drugs. •/The Murgatroyds are regular holistichealth freaks — why, they won’t even take aspirin when they have aheadache./

[holler before one is hurt] See: CRY BEFORE ONE IS HURT.

[hollow] See: BEAT ALL HOLLOW also BEAT HOLLOW.

[hollow out]{v.} To cut or dig out or to cut or dig a hole in; make acut or cave in; excavate. •/The soldier hollowed out a foxhole in the groundto lie in./ •/The Indians used to hollow out a log to make a canoe./•/Joe’s father hollowed out a pumpkin to make a jack-o-lantern./

[holy cats] or [holy cow] or [holy mackerel] or [holy Moses]{interj.}, {informal} — Used to express strong feeling (asastonishment, pleasure, or anger); used in speech or when writing conversation.•/"Holy cats! That’s good pie!" said Dick./ •/"Holy cow! They can’t dothat!" Mary said when she saw the boys hurting a much smaller boy./

[holy terror]{n.}, {informal} A very disobedient or unruly child;brat. •/All the children are afraid of Johnny because he’s a holy terror./

[home] See: AT HOME, BRING HOME, BRING HOME THE BACON, CHICKENS COME HOMETO ROOST, CLOSE TO HOME, CONVALESCENT HOME or NURSING HOME or REST HOME, KEEPTHE HOME FIRES BURNING, MAKE ONESELF AT HOME, NOBODY HOME, WRITE HOME ABOUT.

[home brew]{n. phr.} A beer or other malt liquor made at home, not ina brewery. •/Home brew reached its greatest popularity in America duringnational prohibition./

[home on] or [home in on] {v.} To move toward a certain place byfollowing a signal or marker. •/The airplane homed in on the radio beacon./•/The ship homed on the lights of New York harbor./

[home plate]{n.} The base in baseball where the batter stands and thata runner must touch to score. •/The runner slid across home plate ahead ofthe tag to score a run./

[home run]{n.} A hit in baseball that allows the batter to run aroundall the bases and score a run. •/Frank hit a home run over the left fieldwall in the second inning./

[honest broker]{n. phr.} A person hired or appointed to act as anagent in a legal, business, or political situation where impartial advice isneeded in order to settle a dispute. •/Michael has been asked to act as anhonest broker to settle the argument between the employees and themanagement./

[honestly] See: COME BY HONESTLY.

[honest to goodness] or [honest to God] {adj. phr.}, {informal}Really; truly; honestly. — Used to emphasize something said. •/When we werein Washington, we saw the President, honest to goodness./ •/"Honest togoodness, Jane, I think you are the messiest girl in the world," saidMother./

[bonest-to-goodness] or [honest-to-God] {adj. phr.}, {informal}Real; genuine. — Used for emphasis. •/She served him honest-to-goodness deepdish apple pie./ •/It was the first honest-to-goodness baseball game he’dseen since going abroad./

[honeymoon is over] The first happy period of friendship and cooperationbetween two persons or groups is over. •/A few months after a new Presidentis elected, the honeymoon is over and Congress and the President begin tocriticize each other./ •/The honeymoon was soon over for the new foremanand the men under him./

[honky-tonk]{n.} A cheap nightclub or dance hall. •/There were anumber of honky-tonks near the army camp./

[honor] See: DO THE HONORS, IN HONOR OF, ON ONE’S HONOR.

[hook] See: BY HOOK OR BY CROOK, GET THE HOOK at GET THE BOUNCE(2), GIVETHE HOOK at GIVE THE BOUNCE(2), OFF THE HOOK.

[hooked on]{adj.} 1. Addicted to a substance such as cigarettes,coffee, tea, drugs, or alcohol. •/Fred is hooked on grass, but Tim is onlyhooked on tea./ 2. Enthusiastic or very supportive of something. •/I amhooked on the local symphony./

[hookey] See: PLAY HOOKEY.

[hook, line and sinker]{adv. phr.}, {informal} Without question ordoubt; completely. •/Johnny was so easily fooled that he fell for Joe’sstory, hook, line and sinker./ •/Mary was such a romantic girl that sheswallowed the story Alice told her about her date, hook, line and sinker./•/Bobby trusted Jim so he was taken in by his hard-luck story hook, line andsinker./

[hookup]{n.} A connection, electrical or otherwise, between twoinstruments or two individuals. •/Edwin and Hermione are a perfect couple;they have got the right hookup./

[hook up]{v. phr.} To connect or fit together. •/The company sent aman to hook up the telephone./ •/They could not use the gas stove becauseit had not been hooked up./

[hoop] See: JUMP THROUGH A HOOP.

[hop] See: MAD AS A HORNET Or MAD AS HOPS.

[hop, skip and a jump] See: STONE’S THROW.

[hope] See: CROSS ONE’S HEART or CROSS ONE’S HEART AND HOPE TO DIE, INHOPES.

[hope against hope]{v. phr.} To try to hope when things look black;hold to hope in bad trouble. •/The mother continued to hope against hopealthough the plane was hours late./ •/Jane hoped against hope that Joewould call her./

[hop to it]{v. phr.}, {slang} To get started; start a job; getgoing. •/"There’s a lot to do today, so let’s hop to it," the boss said./

[hopped up]{adj.}, {slang} 1. Doped with a narcotic drug.•/Police found Jones hiding in an opium den, among other men all hopped upwith the drug./ 2. Full of eagerness; excited. •/Fred was all hopped upabout going over the ocean./

[horn] See: BLOW ONE’S OWN HORN or TOOT ONE’S OWN HORN, PULL IN ONE’S HORNSor DRAW IN ONE’S HORNS, TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS.

[hornet] See: MAD AS A HORNET or MAD AS HOPS or MAD AS A WET HEN, STIR UP AHORNET’S NEST.

[horn in]{v.}, {slang} To come in without invitation or welcome;interfere. Often used with "on". •/Jack would often horn in on conversationsdiscussing things he knew nothing about./ •/Lee horned in on Ray and Annieand wanted to dance with Annie./ Compare: BUTT IN.

[horns of a dilemma]{n. phr.} Two choices possible in a situation inwhich neither is wanted. Usually used after "on". •/Joe found himself on thehorns of a dilemma; if he went to work, he’d miss seeing Mary; if he stayedout, he’d he too broke to take her anywhere./

[horror] See: THROW UP ONE’S HANDS IN HORROR.

[horse] See: BET ON THE WRONG HORSE, CART BEFORE THE HORSE, CHANGE HORSESIN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREAM or CHANGE HORSES IN MIDSTREAM, EAT LIKE A HORSE,HOLD ONE’S HORSES. IRON HORSE, LOCK THE BARN DOOR AFTER THE HORSE IS STOLEN,LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH, OFF ONE’S HIGH HORSE, ON ONE’S HIGH HORSE, PUTONE’S MONEY ON A SCRATCHED HORSE, STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH.

[horsefeathers!]{n. phr.}, {slang} 1. Not true; I don’t believewhat you’re saying. •/"Horsefeathers!" Brad cried. "I can’t believe a word ofwhat you said about Jessica."/ 2. Exclamation of disgust.•/"Horsefeathers!" Fred cried. "We’ve just missed the bus."/ Compare:FIDDLESTICKS, BULLSHIT.

[horselaugh]{n. phr.} A loud, sarcastic, and derisive laugh. •/Whenthe speaker praised politics as one of the oldest and noblest professions, hisaudience of college students gave him a horselaugh./