hat
a shaped covering for the head, usually with a crown and brim, especially for wear outdoors.
Roman Catholic Church.
the distinctive head covering of a cardinal.
the office or dignity of a cardinal.: Compare red hat.
to provide with a hat; put a hat on.
Idioms about hat
hat in hand, humbly; respectfully: He approached the boss, hat in hand.
pass the hat, to ask for contributions of money, as for charity; take up a collection: The lodge members passed the hat to send underprivileged children to summer camp.
take off one's hat to, to express high regard for; praise: We took off our hats to their courage and daring.
talk through one's hat, to speak without knowing the facts; make unsupported or incorrect statements: He is talking through his hat when he says he'll make the team.
throw / toss one's hat in the ring, to become a participant in a contest, especially to declare one's candidacy for political office: His friends are urging him to throw his hat in the ring.
under one's hat, confidential; private; secret: I'll tell you the real story, but keep it under your hat.
wear two / several hats, to function in more than one capacity; fill two or more positions: He wears two hats, serving as the company's comptroller as well as its chief executive officer.
Origin of hat
1Other words from hat
- hatless, adjective
- hat·less·ness, noun
- hatlike, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use hat in a sentence
An 18-year-old Swedish rapper/Internet meme has inspired legions of impressionable teens to get based in bucket hats.
The Cult of Yung Lean: ‘I’m Building An Anarchistic Society From the Ground Up’ | Marlow Stern | January 4, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThe cap devices on thousands of identical hats glinted in the late morning sun along with the shields worn by each of the cops.
Choking Back Tears, Thousands of Cops Honor Fallen Officer Ramos | Michael Daly | December 28, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTStetson returned east in 1865 and created his own hat company, which produced high-quality hats made for outdoor use.
There were little blond girls in knit hats next to elderly African American women hobbling on canes.
Sharpton Recalls Civil Rights Struggle in DC March Against Police Violence | Ben Jacobs | December 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAs a noted feminist/ illuminati member/ Goddess/ walking Instagram video, Beyoncé certainly wears many hats/ veils/ body suits.
The Beyoncé Manifesto: Quotes on Nihilism and Feminism | Amy Zimmerman | December 12, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
I went to a dinner at an American Legation once and two of your countrywomen came with their hats on.
Ancestors | Gertrude AthertonDirectly after them came a lot of palace attendants in curious hats and long robes of all colours of the rainbow.
Our Little Korean Cousin | H. Lee M. PikeMany of the officials had on high-crowned hats decorated with bunches of feathers and crimson tassels.
Our Little Korean Cousin | H. Lee M. PikeHe is known by all the poor people about, who never fail to take their hats off, as he passes, with great respect.
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, v. 2(of 2) | Charles DickensMost of the farmers wore linen dusters and broad straw hats, but their women had put on all their finery.
Ancestors | Gertrude Atherton
British Dictionary definitions for hat
/ (hæt) /
any of various head coverings, esp one with a brim and a shaped crown
(in combination): hatrack
informal a role or capacity
at the drop of a hat without hesitation or delay
I'll eat my hat informal I will be greatly surprised if (something that proves me wrong) happens: I'll eat my hat if this book comes out late
hat in hand humbly or servilely
keep something under one's hat to keep something secret
my hat (interjection) British informal
my word! my goodness!
nonsense!
old hat something stale or old-fashioned
out of a hat
as if by magic
at random
pass the hat round or send the hat round to collect money, as for a cause
take off one's hat to to admire or congratulate
talk through one's hat
to talk foolishly
to deceive or bluff
throw one's hat at it Irish to give up all hope of getting or achieving something: you can throw your hat at it now
throw one's hat in the ring or toss one's hat in the ring to announce one's intentions to be a candidate or contestant
(tr) to supply (a person, etc) with a hat or put a hat on (someone)
Origin of hat
1Derived forms of hat
- hatless, adjective
- hatlike, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with hat
In addition to the idioms beginning with hat
- hate someone's guts
- hat in hand
- hat in the ring
- hats off to
- hat trick
also see:
- at the drop of a hat
- brass hat
- eat one's hat
- hang on to your hat
- hang up (one's hat)
- hard hat
- hats off to
- keep under one's hat
- knock into a cocked hat
- pass the hat
- pull out of a hat
- take one's hat off to
- talk through one's hat
- throw one's hat in the ring
- wear another hat
Also see undercap.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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