| old habits die hard | This expression means that people are often reluctant to change the way they do something, especially if they have been doing it for a long time. My grandfather refuses to use a mobile phone - old habits die hard! |
| hair of the dog | Using as a remedy a small amount of what made you ill, for example a drop of alcohol when recovering from drinking too much, is called 'a hair of the dog that bit you'. Here, have a drop of this. It's a hair of the dog that bit you! |
| hair's breadth | If you avoid or miss something by a hair's breadth, you only just manage to escape from a danger. A slate fell off the roof and missed the child by a hair's breadth. |
| get in hair | If you are getting in someone's hair, you are annoying them so much that they can't get on with what they are doing. I'd finish the report more quickly if my colleague wasn't getting in my hair all the time. |
| (not) hair out of place | If someone does not have a hair out of place, their appearance is perfect. Angela is always impeccably dressed - never a hair out of place. |
| let your hair down | If you suggest that someone should let their hair down, you are telling them to relax and enjoy themselves. Come on! We're not in the office now. You can let your hair down! |
| tear hair out | If someone is tearing their hair out, they are extremely agitated or distressed about something. I've been tearing my hair out all morning trying to find the error. |
| split hairs | If you split hairs, you pay too much attention to differences that are very small or unimportant. If we start splitting hairs, we'll never reach an agreement! |
| hairy at the heel | A person who is hairy at the heel is thought to be untrustworthy or even dangerous. Rumour has it that the owner of the club is a bit hairy at the heel. |
| hale and hearty | Someone, especially an old person, who is hale and hearty is in excellent health. My grandmother is still hale and hearty at the age of ninety. |
| half the battle | This expression refers to a significant part of the effort or work needed to achieve something. We've already obtained a loan for the project - that's half the battle! |
| half an eye | If you have or keep half an eye on something, you watch it without giving it your full attention. She kept half an eye on the TV screen while she was preparing dinner. |
| half a mind | If you have half a mind to do something, you are thinking seriously about it but have not yet reached a decision. I've half a mind to start up my own business but first I need some advice. |
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