hat

[ hat ]

/ hæt /

noun

a shaped covering for the head, usually with a crown and brim, especially for wear outdoors.

Roman Catholic Church.

the distinctive head covering of a cardinal.
the office or dignity of a cardinal.Compare red hat.

verb (used with object), hat·ted, hat·ting.

to provide with a hat; put a hat on.

Idioms for hat

hat in hand, humbly; respectfully: He approached the boss, hat in hand.

pass the hat, to ask for contributions of money, as for charity; take up a collection: The lodge members passed the hat to send underprivileged children to summer camp.

take off one's hat to, to express high regard for; praise: We took off our hats to their courage and daring.

talk through one's hat, to speak without knowing the facts; make unsupported or incorrect statements: He is talking through his hat when he says he'll make the team.

throw/toss one's hat in/into the ring, to become a participant in a contest, especially to declare one's candidacy for political office: His friends are urging him to throw his hat in the ring.

under one's hat, confidential; private; secret: I'll tell you the real story, but keep it under your hat.

wear two/several hats, to function in more than one capacity; fill two or more positions: He wears two hats, serving as the company's comptroller as well as its chief executive officer.

Origin of hat

before 900; Middle English; Old English hætt; cognate with Old Norse hǫttr hood; akin to hood¹

OTHER WORDS FROM hat

hat·less, adjective hat·less·ness, noun hat·like, adjective

Words nearby hat

hastie, hastings, hastings, battle of, hasty, hasty pudding, hat, hat dance, hat in hand, hat in the ring, hat stand, hat tree

British Dictionary definitions for hat in hand

hat

/ (hæt) /

noun

any of various head coverings, esp one with a brim and a shaped crown
(in combination)hatrack

informal a role or capacity

at the drop of a hat without hesitation or delay

I'll eat my hat informal I will be greatly surprised if (something that proves me wrong) happens I'll eat my hat if this book comes out late

hat in hand humbly or servilely

keep something under one's hat to keep something secret

my hat (interjection) British informal

my word! my goodness!
nonsense!

old hat something stale or old-fashioned

out of a hat

as if by magic
at random

pass the hat round or send the hat round to collect money, as for a cause

take off one's hat to to admire or congratulate

talk through one's hat

to talk foolishly
to deceive or bluff

throw one's hat at it Irish to give up all hope of getting or achieving something you can throw your hat at it now

throw one's hat in the ring or toss one's hat in the ring to announce one's intentions to be a candidate or contestant

verb hats, hatting or hatted

(tr) to supply (a person, etc) with a hat or put a hat on (someone)

Derived forms of hat

hatless, adjective hatlike, adjective

Word Origin for hat

Old English hætt; related to Old Norse höttr cap, Latin cassis helmet; see hood 1

Idioms and Phrases with hat in hand (1 of 2)

hat in hand

Also, cap in hand. In a humble manner. For example, They went to her, hat in hand, asking for a change of assignment. This expression alludes to removing one's headgear as a sign of respect and has survived the era of doffing one's hat. [c. 1700]

Idioms and Phrases with hat in hand (2 of 2)

hat

In addition to the idioms beginning with hat

hate someone's guts
hat in hand
hat in the ring
hats off to
hat trick

also see:

at the drop of a hat
brass hat
eat one's hat
hang on to your hat
hang up (one's hat)
hard hat
hats off to
keep under one's hat
knock into a cocked hat
pass the hat
pull out of a hat
take one's hat off to
talk through one's hat
throw one's hat in the ring
wear another hat

Also see undercap.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

hat

noun

verb (used with object), hat·ted, hat·ting.

Idioms for hat

Origin of hat

OTHER WORDS FROM hat

Words nearby hat

British Dictionary definitions for hat in hand

noun

verb hats, hatting or hatted

Derived forms of hat

Word Origin for hat

Idioms and Phrases with hat in hand (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with hat in hand (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

hat

noun

verb (used with object), hat·ted, hat·ting.

Idioms for hat

Origin of hat

OTHER WORDS FROM hat

Words nearby hat

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for hat in hand

noun

verb hats, hatting or hatted

Derived forms of hat

Word Origin for hat

Idioms and Phrases with hat in hand (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with hat in hand (2 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for hat in hand