heave ho

heave ho

1. A sailor's cry to pull hard on a rope. We need to raise anchor, heave ho!
2. An abrupt dismissal or termination, often used in the phrase, "give (one) the (old) heave ho." I can't believe the boss gave me the old heave ho after five years on the job! A: "Did you hear that Liz broke up with Dan?" B: "Wow, I never expected her to give him the heave ho."
3. The disposal of something unimportant or unwanted. Give that printer the old heave ho, it doesn't work anymore. Ugh, this cereal is stale now—I'm giving it the heave ho!
See also: heave, ho
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • hand over hand
  • heave up
  • heave to
  • heave in view
  • old heave-ho
  • the (old) heave-ho
  • ho
  • rope or an animal up
  • rope up
  • skipping rope
References in periodicals archive
| Sunnysands Pirate Horatio Heave Ho, played by Dale Superville, and Liker Biker, played by Sam Worboys
ADAM AND HEAVE HO: Rotherham's Le Fondre lifts the ball over Rhys Taylor to score
Mutiny Bay also houses Marauder's Mayhem, with spinning barrels of rum and explosives; for smaller adventurers there's the Heave Ho tugboat.
Plus for smaller explorers, a ride aboard the rocking Heave Ho tug boat ensures even the youngest of adventurers can graduate from Mutiny Bay as fully-fledged pirates!
Kelly, 25, who is happily dating model LUKE WORRALL tried to give Harry the royal wave to let her in to say hi, but his people gave her the heave ho - leaving Kelly's face as red as the Prince's barnet.
ELEGANT: The newly restored Peter Pan sculpture; Picture: MARTIN BIRCHALL; RESTORED: Peter Pan arrives at Sefton Park; HEAVE HO: He's lifted into position; NEW HOME: A warm welcome at the Palm House
HEAVE HO: The submarine is being moved due to development work
cARingJ Help on beach HEAVE HO J Rescuers carry calf to the sea FREEDOMJ Final push before he swims off
HEAVE HO: Firefighters pull the horse from the river and, right, make friends with it later; Pictures: MARTIN BIRCHALL
HEAVE HO! Harry uses some strong-arm tactics Pictures: TOBY MELVILLE/PA; STRIPE ME!
FREEDOM Final push before he swims off HEAVE HO Rescuers carry calf to the sea CARING Help on beach
TALLY NO: Sabs and huntsman with horse trapped up to stomach in mud; HEAVE HO: They go to work to free trapped animal, it took 30 minutes
A puerile wish, I know, but I'd love to fly it into shot as some prim BBC announcer is introducing Pomp And Circumstance, then press a button that releases gallons of KY Jelly over the heads of the imbecilic Promenaders while they're shouting: "Heave ho!" at the piano movers.
Jonny-the-Jerk and Mopey Sophie are up for the heave ho. Jonny has rattled us all with his false bonhomie and he has been nominated twice.
CHOPPY WATERS: The rock had to be retrieved from the Irish Sea; HEAVE HO: The scrapped project started badly...then went downhill