on the hook
Related to on the hook: off the hook
on the hook
1. Held responsible (for something); obliged or committed (to something). I would think very carefully signing your name to those documents. If something goes wrong in the company, it could be you on the hook. I'm on the hook for nearly half a million dollars after my partner skipped town with the company's pension fund!
2. In a continually and/or indefinitely delayed condition or state. We've had the suspect on the hook in the interrogation room for about 12 hours now. We're keeping him guessing in the hopes that he'll let some information slip.
See also: hook, on
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
on the hook for
(in a financial context) responsible for. North American informal 2001 High Country News Taxpayers are currently on the hook for anywhere from $32 billion to $72 billion in abandoned mine cleanup costs.
See also: hook, on
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
- on the hook for
- be on the hook
- owe (something) to (someone or something)
- owe to
- pull in the reins
- tighten the reins
- pick through
- pick through (something)
- have (one's)/a beady eye on (someone or something)
- keep (one's)/a beady eye on (someone or something)