the heat

heat

1. slang Adverse, hostile criticism. The senator has been facing a lot of heat in the media for his involvement in the scandal.
2. slang Intense pressure. Their defensive line has been cranking up on the heat on the other team's quarterback. We've been feeling a lot of heat from the government to improve our security infrastructure.
3. slang Increased police activity in response to some criminal activity. We'll have to wait until the heat dies down a bit before we try to sell the stolen goods.
4. slang One or more firearms, especially a handgun. Make sure you're packing heat before you meet with the rival gang leader. He lifted up his shirt to show them the heat he had tucked in his belt.

the heat

1. Central heating. Don't leave the heat on all night, or our energy bills will go through the roof! It's freezing in here! How long has the heat been off?
2. slang Intense police activity or pressure, especially following some crime. Tom's going to have to hide out until the heat is off. Could be a couple of months.
3. slang The police, collectively. The heat is showing a heavy presence in anticipation of the protests.
See also: heat
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

heat

1. and the heat n. the police. (Underworld.) The heat is gonna catch up with you, Ernie.
2. n. pressure. The boss put some heat on Willy, and things are moving faster now.
3. n. a gun; armaments. (see also heater.) Lefty has his heat on him at all times.

the heat

verb
See heat
See also: heat
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • jack
  • jacked
  • jacking
  • blimp
  • blimp out
  • gun
  • guns
  • brassic lint
  • flash
  • flashing
References in classic literature
And this theory allows us to infer that the heat of the solar disc is fed by a hail of meteors falling incessantly on its surface.
Round The Moon
"You will now readily understand, gentlemen, the apparatus that I have described to you is really a gas cylinder and blow-pipe for oxygen and hydrogen, the heat of which exceeds that of a forge fire.
"The descent, of course, is effected by lowering the heat of the cylinder, and letting the temperature abate.
Five Weeks in a Balloon
If all the great plain from the Missouri to the Rocky Mountains had been under glass, and the heat regulated by a thermometer, it could not have been better for the yellow tassels that were ripening and fertilizing the silk day by day.
I used to lie in my bed by the open window, watching the heat lightning play softly along the horizon, or looking up at the gaunt frame of the windmill against the blue night sky.
My Antonia
But as soon as two drops of blood have thus passed, one into each of the cavities, these drops which cannot but be very large, because the orifices through which they pass are wide, and the vessels from which they come full of blood, are immediately rarefied, and dilated by the heat they meet with.
Whence it happens, that if the blood be withdrawn from any part, the heat is likewise withdrawn by the same means; and although the heart were as-hot as glowing iron, it would not be capable of warming the feet and hands as at present, unless it continually sent thither new blood.
Reason For Discourse
They recoiled from the heat, and stood on a point of the rock, gazing in a stupor at the flames which were spreading rap idly down the mountain, whose side, too, became a sheet of living fire.
The heat of the conflagration had at length overcome the resistance of the spring, and the fire was slowly stealing along the half-dried moss; while a dead pine kindled with the touch of a forked flame, that, for a moment, wreathed around the stem of the tree, as it whined, in one of its evolutions, under the influence of the air.
Pioneers
However, considering the heat of the climate, I did not doubt but if I could find out any clay, I might make some pots that might, being dried in the sun, be hard enough and strong enough to bear handling, and to hold anything that was dry, and required to be kept so; and as this was necessary in the preparing corn, meal, &c., which was the thing I was doing, I resolved to make some as large as I could, and fit only to stand like jars, to hold what should be put into them.
Though I miscarried so much in my design for large pots, yet I made several smaller things with better success; such as little round pots, flat dishes, pitchers, and pipkins, and any things my hand turned to; and the heat of the sun baked them quite hard.
Robinson Crusoe
While groping over the successive panels with the greatest care, I endeavored not to lose a minute, for I was feeling more and more overcome with the heat and we were literally roasting in that blazing forest.
de Chagny and I had repeatedly taken off our coats and put them on again, finding at one time that they made us feel still hotter and at another that they protected us against the heat. I was still making a moral resistance, but M.
Phantom of the Opera
It really was not unpleasant traveling, aside from the heat. And they had expected that, coming as they had to a tropical land.
Tom Swift In The Land Of Wonders
The cook did so, and the Six sitting round the table felt it grow very warm, and they thought this was because of their good fare; but when the heat became still greater and they wanted to go out, but found the doors and windows fastened, then they knew that the King meant them harm and was trying to suffocate them.
Yellow Fairy Book