hay

(and) that ain't hay

And that's significant. Often used in reference to an amount of money. He got a $5,000 bonus this year, and that ain't hay.
See also: hay, that

between hay and grass

Unable to be easily categorized. Our inventory is between hay and grass—it will take weeks to summarize everything in the warehouse. Bill's interest in the position is between hay and grass—I still can't figure out what his motive is.
See also: and, between, grass, hay

dance the antic hay

To lead a life of hedonism. The "hay" was a lively country dance that emerged in the 16th century. Bill doesn't even have a job! He just parties all the time, dancing the antic hay without a care in the world!
See also: dance, hay

hay burner

1. An old horse, particularly one that is a poor racehorse. Bring that hay burner back to the stables—it's not even worth racing him.
2. slang Someone who smokes marijuana. I used to be a real hay burner in high school, but I stay away from pot these days.
See also: burner, hay

hay head

slang Someone who uses marijuana. I used to be a real hay head in high school, but I stay away from pot these days.
See also: hay, head

hay is for horses

cliché Used as a humorous or sarcastic retort to someone who has attempted to get one's attention by saying or shouting, "Hey!" A: "Hey, Dad!" B: "Hay is for horses, Billy. Say 'excuse me' if you want my attention."
See also: hay, horse

hayseed

An unsophisticated person, particularly from a rural place; a bumpkin. When I knew John, he was a total hayseed, but I guess he's converted to city life now.

hit the hay

To get into bed and go to sleep. I have to get up early for work tomorrow, so I think I'd better hit the hay.
See also: hay, hit

hit the sack

To get into bed and go to sleep. I have to get up early for work tomorrow, so I think I'd better hit the sack.
See also: hit, sack

in (one's) heyday

In, at, or during the period of one's greatest success, power, vigor, etc. In my heyday as a stock broker, I was making millions of dollars each year, but when the economy crashed, I lost nearly everything.

make hay

To take advantage; to make the most of an opportunity. Chicago better be careful about turnovers, or you can be sure the defending champs will make hay in those situations. We'll be able to make hay with so little traffic on the road.
See also: hay, make

make hay while the sun is shining

To take advantage of favorable conditions; to make the most of an opportunity when it is available. We finally have the full group assembled, so let's make hay while the sun is shining and get this thing done. The skiing conditions won't be this good for another several months, so let's make hay while the sun is shining
See also: hay, make, shine, sun, while

make hay while the sun shines

To take advantage of favorable conditions; to make the most of an opportunity when it is available. We finally have the full group assembled, so let's make hay while the sun shines and get this thing done. The skiing conditions won't be this good for another several months, so let's make hay while the sun shines.
See also: hay, make, shine, sun, while

roll in the hay

A sexual encounter, often one considered casual. You know, you can try to get to know the girls you date before you have a roll in the hay.
See also: hay, roll

what the hay

slang "Hay" is used as a euphemistic substitution for the word "hell."
1. An exclamation of confusion or disbelief. A: "It looks like your account is in arrears." B: "What the hay? That can't be right!" What the hay? Why did my computer just shut down?
2. Why not? An aside used to emphasize one's nonchalance toward something. A: "Do you want to skip school and go the beach instead?" B: "Sure, what the hay?"
See also: hay, what

what the hey

slang Why not? An aside used to emphasize one's nonchalance toward something. Often used as a euphemistic substitution for "what the hell." Sure, I'm not doing anything today, let's go to the beach—what the hey? What the hey, I'll go to the movies with you tonight.
See also: hey, what
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

hit the hay

 and hit the sack
Fig. to go to bed. I have to go home and hit the hay pretty soon. Let's hit the sack. We have to get an early start in the morning.
See also: hay, hit

Make hay while the sun shines.

Prov. If you have an opportunity to do something, do it before the opportunity expires. Jane: While my husband's out of town, I'm going to watch all the movies he wouldn't take me to see. Jane: Why not? Make hay while the sun shines.
See also: hay, make, shine, sun, while

That ain't hay.

Inf. That is not a small amount of money. (The highly informal word ain't is built into the expression.) I paid forty dollars for it, and that ain't hay! Bob lost his wallet with $200 in it—and that ain't hay.
See also: hay, that
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

hit the hay

Also, hit the sack. Go to bed, as in I usually hit the hay after the eleven o'clock news, or I'm tired, let's hit the sack. The first colloquial expression dates from the early 1900s, the variant from about 1940.
See also: hay, hit

make hay while the sun shines

Take advantage of favorable circumstances, as in Car sales have finally improved so we're making hay while the sun shines. This expression alludes to optimum dry weather for cutting grass. [Early 1500s]
See also: hay, make, shine, sun, while

roll in the hay

Sexual intercourse, as in The main character in the movie was always looking for a roll in the hay. This phrase alludes to secret lovemaking in a hayloft. [Slang; mid-1900s]
See also: hay, roll

that ain't hay

That's a great deal, especially of money; also, that's important. For example, He's making ten thousand a month, and that ain't hay. Originally used to describe a sum of money that is large, this phrase was later extended to other circumstances, as in She married a titled lord, and that ain't hay. [Colloquial; first half of 1900s]
See also: hay, that
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

and that ain't hay

AMERICAN, INFORMAL
People say and that ain't hay after an amount of money to emphasize that it is a large amount. For 13 out of the last 20 years Canadian bonds produced returns of more than 10%, and that ain't hay.
See also: and, hay, that

make hay while the sun shines

If you make hay while the sun shines, you take advantage of a good situation which is not likely to last. With house prices at an all-time high, both property developers are making hay while the sun shines. You've got to make hay while the sun shines — and it doesn't shine long in a sporting life. Note: You can also just say that someone makes hay. The New Zealand media made hay with the issue.
See also: hay, make, shine, sun, while

hit the sack

INFORMAL or

hit the hay

mainly AMERICAN, INFORMAL
If someone hits the sack, they go to bed. We were tired, so we only half-unpacked the car and then hit the sack. Do you want me to take you up to your bed? Are you ready to hit the hay? Note: In the past, people sometimes used sacks and hay as bedding.
See also: hit, sack
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

hit the hay

go to bed. informal
See also: hay, hit

make hay

make good use of an opportunity while it lasts.
This is a shortened version of the proverb make hay while the sun shines , which dates from the mid 16th century.
1998 Simon Winchester The Surgeon of Crowthorne The British papers, always eager to vent editorial spleen on their transatlantic rivals, made hay with this particular aspect of the story.
See also: hay, make

a roll in the hay (or the sack)

an act of sexual intercourse. informal
1998 Barbara Kingsolver The Poisonwood Bible He just treats me like his slave-girlfriend-housemaid, having a roll in the hay when he feels like it and then running off doing God knows what for months at a time.
See also: hay, roll

hit the sack

go to bed. informal
See also: hit, sack
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

make hay while the ˈsun shines

(saying) make the best use of opportunities and favourable conditions while they last: Opportunities for starting your own business will never be better, so make hay while the sun shines and go and see your bank manager today.
See also: hay, make, shine, sun, while

hit the ˈsack/ˈhay

(informal) go to bed: I think it’s time to hit the sack. Sack and hay both refer to simple beds. In the past a bed was often just a sack or piece of rough cloth with hay inside. Sailors in the navy also slept in hammocks (= a type of bed hung between two posts, etc.) similar to sacks.
See also: hay, hit, sack
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

hay burner

1. n. a worthless racehorse; any old and worn-out horse. I went to a dude ranch, and they gave me an old hay burner to ride.
2. and hay head n. a marijuana smoker. (Drugs.) Some hay head was around trying to sell raffle tickets that looked handmade.
See also: burner, hay

hay head

verb
See hay burner
See also: hay, head

hayseed

n. a farmer; a rustic character, usually a male. I’m not just some hayseed fresh off the farm.

hit the hay

and hit the sack
tv. to go to bed. Time to go home and hit the hay! Let’s hit the sack. We have to get an early start in the morning.
See also: hay, hit

hit the sack

verb
See hit the hay
See also: hit, sack

That ain’t hay!

exclam. That’s money, not something worthless. That car cost $40,000, and that ain’t hay!
See also: that
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

make hay

To turn to one's advantage: The candidate's opponents made hay of the scandal.
See also: hay, make

roll in the hay

Slang
Sexual intercourse.
See also: hay, roll
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.

hit the hay/sack, to

Go to bed, go to sleep. The first expression dates from about 1900 and presumably alludes to a hayloft as a soft bed. A sports book of 1905 held it to be baseball players’ slang. The second term dates from World War II, although sack for “bed” originated in the U.S. Navy in the 1820s.
See also: hay, hit

make hay while the sun shines

Take advantage of any good opportunity. This adage, dating from the early sixteenth century, alludes to the need for dry conditions in order to cut grass. R. C. Trench, the Archbishop of Canterbury, was quite specific about it (On the Lessons in Proverbs, 1852): “Make hay while the sun shines is truly English, and could have had its birth only under such variable skies as ours.”
See also: hay, make, shine, sun, while

that ain't hay

That’s a lot; also, that’s important. This American colloquialism, with its ungrammatical “ain’t” for “isn’t,” dates from the first half of the 1900s and at first was used mainly to describe a large amount of money. It was used in this sense in the motion picture The Killers (1946), where a character says, “I’m out ten G’s and that ain’t hay for me these days.” But it was also extended to other matters. Thus, a 1994 television serial, Sally Jessy Raphaël, had it: “Seven husbands! That ain’t hay!”
See also: hay, that
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • and that ain't hay
  • (and) that ain't hay
  • That ain’t hay!
  • that ain't hay
  • a roll in the hay
  • roll in the hay
  • hay head
  • hit the hay
  • hit the hay/sack, to
  • hit the sack/hay
References in periodicals archive
Palatine zoning board of appeals members are to consider the proposal and a variation request to build the hay barn at a meeting at 7 p.m.
Stables hoping to construct barn for hay
Unexpectedly, they find that the more volatile hay and cattle prices are, the more valuable the fence that is built.
THE DECISION TO BUILD A FENCE: A REAL-OPTION PROBLEM
Before you commit yourself and buy all the tools and baling hay on your own, do you have enough tractor?
BALING HAY ON THE HOMESTEAD
Hay was later charged and pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of his cellmate.
Prisoner gets life for cell attack
can hay but it "The gusts can lift deposited pollen from surfaces and the downdraughts can bring pollen down from higher levels in the air where it has been lifted by convection currents," said Dr Emberlin.
Summer misery for 18m Brits is not to be sneezed at
A ball over the top saw the ex-Neilston frontman in acres of space before he hit a low leftfooted drive under Hay. Next to try his luck was Keiren Wood, who hit a pile driver from the edge of the area that Hay somehow tipped over.
Sad end to season for Arthurlie; Stopper Hay saves the day
When my father purchased his first hydraulic stacker in the early 1940s, one of his neighbors scoffed, saying he could pitch a lot of hay for $600 (its cost).
Building stacks of hay
I hear the chorus of the Sinatra and Beatles generations expressing such profound love for Baguio and Camp John Hay.
Baguio favorites come back to life
Hay fever affects one in four of us in the UK and it's a major burden to quality of life.
Summer ..STOP RUINING MY LIFE; HEALTH MATTERS
It is not clear whether or not the young John Hay, an office secretary busy with envelopes and ink working for Abraham Lincoln, longed for any greater political future.
All the Great Prizes: The Life of John Hay from Lincoln to Roosevelt
By this moment Naryn region has not yet finished collecting the hay, some of the region's residents afraid there will be a shortage of hay during the winter season.
Some residents of Naryn expect shortage of hay in winter
When one specifically gets affected through airborne allergens such as pollen or fungi sores, it is called as hay fever.
Avoid pollen to keep hay fever at bay
There are more than 20 bookshops, many selling specialist and second-hand books, in Hay.
Heading off to...Hay-on-Wye
In the heartland, the latest scourge is hay rustling--the seizure of bales of hay, which is currently worth more than it has been in ages due to a drought and grass fires in the region.
Can telecom address the rise in agricultural crime?
Mr John Hay, 61, of Fenay Bridge, was murdered by businessman Kenneth Bill at an industrial unit in Meltham Mills, on March 15 this year.
Murdered ex-cop's inquest is opened