Idioms beginning with H

Idiom

Meaning

Hit the nail on the head

To describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem

Have a whale of a time

To have a great or enjoyable experience

Hold your horses

To wait or be patient

High as a kite

Intoxicated or under the influence of drugs

Have your head in the clouds

To be unrealistic or impractical

Hit the jackpot

To achieve great success or luck

Hear it through the grapevine

To hear rumors or information indirectly

Have a chip on your shoulder

To be easily offended or hold a grudge

Hell or high water

Regardless of obstacles or difficulties

Head over heels

To be deeply in love or infatuated

Have a bone to pick

To have a complaint or issue to discuss

Have the last laugh

To ultimately emerge victorious or successful

Hit the ground running

To start something with great energy and enthusiasm

Hang tight

To wait or hold on

Have the upper hand

To have control or advantage in a situation

Horse of a different color

Something entirely different or unexpected

Hush money

Money paid to keep someone silent or prevent them from revealing information

Hold your tongue

To refrain from speaking or remain silent

Hold the fort

To maintain control or responsibility while someone is absent

Hush-hush

Kept secret or confidential

Hit the books

To study or engage in academic pursuits

Have a heart of gold

To be kind, generous, and compassionate

Hot under the collar

Angry or agitated

Hard pill to swallow

Something difficult to accept or come to terms with

Happy as a clam

Extremely content or satisfied

Have a soft spot for someone

To have a fondness or affection for someone or something

High and dry

Abandoned or left without assistance or support

Hit the road

To depart or start a journey

Hang by a thread

To be in a precarious or unstable situation

Hold your own

To compete or perform adequately against others

Hit the hay

To go to bed or sleep

Have second thoughts

To reconsider or have doubts about a decision or action

Head in the sand

Ignorant or unwilling to acknowledge a problem or reality

Happy-go-lucky

Carefree and optimistic

Have eyes in the back of your head

To be very observant or vigilant

Hold the line

To maintain the current situation or position

Haste makes waste

Acting too quickly can result in mistakes or inefficiency

Have butterflies in your stomach

To feel nervous or anxious

Hit the roof

To become very angry or upset

Have a field day

To have a joyful or highly successful experience

Hit the ground with a thud

To fail or encounter a setback suddenly

Have a ball

To have a great time or enjoy oneself immensely

Hook, line, and sinker

Completely or fully; without reservation or skepticism

Have your cake and eat it too

To want everything; to have both benefits of a situation

Have the Midas touch

To have the ability to be successful in all endeavors

Hold the reins

To have control or authority over something

Home free

Out of danger or trouble; successful and secure

Hit the spot

To satisfy completely or be exactly what is needed

Have a nose for

To have a talent or ability to sense or detect something

Hold the bag

To be left responsible or blamed for something

Have a good head on one’s shoulders

To be intelligent and sensible

Hoist with one’s own petard

To be harmed by one’s own plan or actions

Have a leg to stand on

To have a valid argument or justification

Have the best of both worlds

To enjoy advantages of two contrasting situations

Hit below the belt

To act unfairly or inappropriately

Have a lot on one’s plate

To have a lot of tasks or responsibilities to deal with

Head in the clouds

To be dreamy or not paying attention to reality

Have a heart of stone

To lack compassion or sympathy

House of cards

A weak or unstable situation or arrangement

Have a screw loose

To be mentally unstable or eccentric

Hold water

To be valid or plausible

Have a knack for

To have a natural talent or skill for something

Hit rock bottom

To reach the lowest point in one’s life or situation

Have the wool pulled over one’s eyes

To be deceived or misled