hammer (something) into (someone or something)
hammer (something) into (someone or something)
1. To strike something repeatedly, as with a hammer, until it penetrates some surface or thing. Next, you need to hammer these nails into the wall.
2. To commit some piece of information into one's or someone else's long-term memory, especially through intense repetition. How many times do I have to hammer it into your head? Do not drive my car unless I give you permission first! I've just been trying to hammer these formulas into my head for the big test tomorrow!
See also: hammer
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
hammer something into something
and pound something into somethinghammer something in; pound something in Lit. to drive something into something as with a hammer. Todd hammered the spike into the beam. He hammered in the spike. He hammered it in with two hard blows.
See also: hammer
hammer something into someone and pound something into someone
hammer someone in; pound someone in Fig. to teach something to someone intensively, as if one were driving the information in by force. Her parents had hammered good manners into her head since she was a child. They hammered in good manners every day. They pounded proper behavior into the children.
See also: and, hammer, pound
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
hammer into
v.
1. To drive something through some surface by striking it with a hammer: The carpenter hammered a nail into the board.
2. To teach or inculcate something to someone by constant, intense repetition: The teacher hammered the multiplication tables into the pupils.
See also: hammer
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
- hammer into
- hammer into and pound into
- pound (something) into (someone or something)
- hammer onto
- hammer (something) onto (something)
- hammer down
- come under the hammer
- come/go under the hammer
- go under the hammer
- go at (one) hammer and tongs