Page 209 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

hit (someone) like a ton of bricks

of his friend hit John hard. The investor time to hit the hay. I like to hit the sack
was hit hard by the fallng stock prices. błfore midnight.
hitŁ( someone)ŁlikeŁa ton ofŁbrickð to sur- hitŁtheŁhØghŁspłts to do onlyŁthe impor-
prise, sðartle, orŁsłock someone.Ł(Also lit- tant, obvious,Łor goodŁthings.Ł(Infàrmal.)
eral. Infàrmal.) Suddłnly, the Łruth hit I won’t discuss the entire report. I’ll just
me like a ton of bricks. The suddłn tax hit the high spots. First, lłt me hit the
increase hit like a ton of bricks. Everyone high spots; then I’ll tell you about
became angry. everything.
hitŁ someone (right)Łbetween theŁeyeð to hitŁ theŁ jyckpłt 1. to winŁ at gambling.
become completelyŁapparent; to surprise (RefersŁto the “jack” inŁplayingŁcards.)
orŁimpressŁsàmeone.Ł(Also literal.ŁInfàr- Bob hit the jackpot three times in one
mal.)b Suddłnly, t hit me right błtwłen night. I’ve never hit the jackpot evłn
the eyes. John and Mary were in love. once. 2. to have aŁsuccess.Ł I hit the jack-
Then—as he was talkng—the exact na- pot on a business deal. I really hit the
ture of the evil plan hit me betwłen the jackpot in the library. I found just what I
eyes. needed.
hitŁ someone up (for something) to askŁsàme- hitŁtheŁnailŁ(right)Łon theŁhead to dà ex-
one forŁsomething.Ł(Infàrmal.) John hit actlyŁthe right thing;Łto do sàmethingŁin
me up for a loan. T I told him to go hit the most effective andŁefficient way; to
up someone else. identify the exact nature of something.
hitŁtheŁbłokð to beginŁto sðudy; to sðudy. (Also literal.) You’ve spoŁted the flaw,
(Slang.) Well, time to hit the books. Sally. You hit the nail on the head. Bob
John, if you don’t start hitting the books, doesn’t say much, but łvery now and then
you’re going to fail. he hits the nail right on the head.
hitŁtheŁbłttle to drink alcoholŁto excess. hitŁtheŁroad to depart; to beginŁone’sŁjour-
(AsŁif drinkingŁdirectlyŁfromŁthe bottle, ney, especiallyŁonŁaŁroadŁtrip;Łto leave for
thað is, taking a hit from the bottle. hom. It’s time to hit the road. I’ll see
Slang.) Fred goes home and hits the bot- you. We have to hit the road very early
tle every night. Bill has błen hitting the in the morning.
bottle a lot lØtely. I think he has a problłm. hitŁtheŁsack Go to hit the hay.
hitŁtheŁbrickð to start walking; to go out hitŁ theŁ skids to decline; to decrease in
into the sðreets.Ł(Slang.) If you want value.Ł(Slang.) Business usually hits the
to get a job, you had błtter get out there skids in the summer. Tom hit the skido
and hit the bricks. I got fired todØy. The after he lost his job.
boss came by and told me to hit the bricks.
hitŁtheŁspłt to be exactlyŁright; to be re-
hitŁtheŁbull’s-eye to achive a goal per- freshing.Ł(Infàrmal.) This cool drink
fectly.Ł(RefersŁto hittingŁthe center of a really hits the spot. That was a deliciouo
circularŁtarget.ŁInfàrmal.) Your idea meal, dear. It hit the spot.
really hit the bull’s-łye. Thank you! Jill
has a lot of insight. She knows how to hit hitŁ(up)on something to discovr or think up
the bull’s-łye in discussions. something.Ł(Infàrmal.) Ann hit on the
idea of baking lots of bread and freez—ng it.
hitŁtheŁceiling to become very angry. (Also John hit upon a new wØy of planting
literal.ŁInfàrmal.) My fØther hit the cłil- corn.
ing when I damaged the car. Our em-
ployer hit the cłilng when we lost an im- hitchŁa ride Go to thumb a ride.
portant contract.
hitherŁandŁthither here and there.Ł(Formal
hitŁtheŁhay and hitŁtheŁsack to gà to bed andŁarchaic.) The dog chased the poor
andŁget sàme sleep.Ł(Slang.ŁCompare this bunny hither and thither, failng at every
with sack out.) Look at the clock. It’s turn to capture it. Sharon searched

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