roller and isn’t afraid to lose some money.
He’s a high roller from way back.high signn. a hand signal meaning okay.
(The tip of the index or middle finger
touches the tip of the thumb, and the
hand is raised into the air.) Tom got the
high sign and began to open the door.
Give me the high sign when you want me
to start.
high ups and higher upsn. the people in
charge. I have to speak to the high ups
about the refund. One of the higher ups
is coming down to talk to you.
highway robberyn. a charge that is un-
believably high, but nonetheless un-
avoidable. (As if one had been accosted
and robbed on the open road.) But this
is highway robbery. I demand to see the
manager. Four thousand dollars! That’s
highway robbery!
high, wide, and handsomemod. happy;
carefree. Wally is high, wide, and hand-
some after his great triumph. He sure
looks high, wide, and handsome. I’m glad
he’s happy.
hijinksGo to highjinks.
hike 1. n. a monetary increase. I need a
pay hike. Another hike in the electric
rates takes place this spring. 2. tv. to in-
crease an amount of money. I wanted
them to hike my salary, but they refused.
The utilities all hike their rates at least
once a year.
theHilln. the U.S. Congress; the U.S. capi-
tol building located on Capitol Hill in
Washington, D.C. I really can’t tell
what’s happening up on the Hill. The
Hill moves at its own speed.
hincty[“hINkti] mod. snobbish; fussy; aloof.
(Black.) Some of those people are so
hincty. That hincty lady told me to turn
my radio down.
hip 1. mod. informed; aware. (See also
hep.) The guy is just not hip. He’s a
nerd. Get hip, Tom! 2. tv. to tell some-
one; to inform someone. Hey, man, hip
me to what’s going on! What’s happen-
ing? Take a minute and hip me!
hipeGo to hype.
hippy and hippie[“hIpi] n. a long-haired,
drug-using youth of the 1960s and 1970s.
That guy looks like a hippy left over
from the sixties. Who’s that has-been
hippie who just came in?
hip-shootern. someone who talks without
thinking; someone who speaks very
frankly. (See also shoot from the hip.)
He’s just a loudmouthed hip-shooter. Pay
no attention. The press secretary is a hy-
per and a hip-shooter. She won’t last long.hipster[“hIpst#] n. a youth of the 1950s,
characterized by an interest in jazz and
cool things. Can you imagine your fa-
ther as a hipster? Were the hipsters the
ones with the big shoulder pads?hired gunn. a paid assassin. (Underworld.)
Bruno is Mr. Big’s hired gun. The
cops are holding a well-known hired gun
until they can prepare charges.
hi-resGo to high-res.historyn. someone or something in the
past. (See also ancient history; I’m his-
tory.) Dave? Oh, he’s just history. I never
go out with him anymore. Susan is just
history. We’re through. Don’t make a
move! If this gun goes off, you’re history.hit 1. n. a success; something that meets
with approval. (Often with with.) The
play was a hit. The fudge with nuts in
it was a great hit at the sale. 2. n. a suc-
cessful result; something that is exactly as
intended. It was a hit—a real winner.
Your idea was right on target—a hit for
sure. 3. n. a drink of liquor; a dose of a
drug. (See also bop.) He had a hit of
sauce and went out to finish his work.
She popped a hit by the watercooler. 4. tv.
to reach something; to achieve some-
thing. The car hit ninety in no time at
all. I hit sixty next month, and I’m go-
ing to retire. 5. tv. to kill someone; to as-
sassinate someone. (Underworld.) Sam
was told to hit Bart. The thug set out to
hit the mayor, but got nabbed first. 6. tv.
to attack or rob someone or something.
(Underworld.) Lefty and his gang hit
the bank for the second time. Can you
believe that they tried to hit a block party
on Fourth Street? 7. n. a robbery; an as-hit