hard-hat

¹ American  

[hahrd-hat] / ˈhɑrdˌhæt /

Or hardhat

noun

Informal.

1. a construction worker, especially a member of a construction workers' union.

2. a working-class conservative.

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adjective

1. pertaining to or characteristic of hard-hats.

   enlisting hard-hat support for his policies.

hard hat ² American  

noun

1. a protective helmet of metal or plastic, especially as worn by construction or factory workers.

2. a uniformed soldier of a regular army, as opposed to a guerrilla.

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hard hat British  

noun

1. a hat made of a hard material for protection, worn esp by construction workers, equestrians, etc

2. informal  a construction worker

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adjective

1. informal  characteristic of the presumed conservative attitudes and prejudices typified by construction workers

hard hat Idioms  

1. A working-class ultraconservative. For example, They were counting on a large number of votes from the hard hats. This term alludes to the rigid protective headgear worn by construction workers, who were noted for their conservatism during the tumultuous 1960s. [c. 1960]

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Etymology

Origin of hard-hat¹

First recorded in 1960–65

Origin of hard hat¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

They use hard hats and vests to disguise themselves.

From The Wall Street Journal

The investors donned hard hats and piled into five-person buggies to get a tour of the Abilene campus, which has a 5,000-car parking lot built just for its construction workers.

From The Wall Street Journal

Mr James, of Ida Road, and a 16-year-old boy were doing hazardous work in darkness without hard hats or adequate training, the court was told on Friday.

From BBC

Rows of factory workers donning white hard hats cheered him on.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Our members are ready to don their hard hats, their work boots, their tool belts and start moving dirt,” said Medrano, who began his career loading and unloading trucks at the Convention Center.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• helmet