Page 209 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary
P. 209

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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