Dictionary
Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.
on the hook en · ADP
Pronunciation
Meanings
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(literally) Of an animal, slaughtered for food.
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(idiomatic, informal) In debt; obligated to pay or provide; liable; responsible or blamed.
Could taxpayers really be on the hook for UAW pensions? Yes.
2010 April 15, Joseph R. Szczesny, “GM's Pension: A Ticking Time Bomb for Taxpayers?”, in Time:For now, at least, Mr. Wedell, who is a vice president at the Robinson-Humphrey Company, a subsidiary of Shearson Lehman, is still on the hook for unsettled claims.
1991 October 27, Barbara Presley Noble, “Making a Difference: Lloyd's 'Indentured Servant'”, in New York Times, retrieved 15 Jun 2011:Cameron was getting pressure from the studio to try and have something that would be an additional powerful marketing tool. And because the studio was on the hook for this picture, for what they’d spent they were looking for every marketing opportunity that they could get.
2017 May 18, Mickey Rapkin, “The Oral History of Celine Dion’s ‘My Heart Will Go On’: Controversies, Doubts & ‘Belly Pains’ In the Studio”, in billboard.com:Yes, incumbents of both parties—especially those incumbents facing tough re-election campaigns—don't want to be on the hook for this vote.
2008 September 29, “Washington to Wall Street: Drop Dead”, in Newsweek, retrieved 15 Jun 2011:Well, you're off the hook for next Tuesday's meeting, but you're still on the hook for this Friday's deadline.
on the hook for
Antonyms
on the hoof · off the hook
Relateds
on one's own hook