From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishhookhook1 /hʊk/ ●●● S3 noun [countable] 1 hanging thingsD a curved piece of metal or plastic that you use for hanging things on → peg Tom hung his coat on the hook behind the door.2 
catching fishDSOTA a curved piece of thin metal with a sharp point for catching fish3 → let/get somebody off the hook4 → leave/take the phone off the hook5 → be ringing off the hook6 interest something that is attractive and gets people’s interest and attention SYN draw You always need a bit of a hook to get people to go to the theatre.7 → by hook or by crook8 hitting somebodyDSO a way of hitting your opponent in boxing, in which your elbow is bent → punch, jab9 → hook, line, and sinker → boat hook, curtain hook, → sling your hook at sling1(4)
catching fishDSOTA a curved piece of thin metal with a sharp point for catching fish3 → let/get somebody off the hook4 → leave/take the phone off the hook5 → be ringing off the hook6 interest something that is attractive and gets people’s interest and attention SYN draw You always need a bit of a hook to get people to go to the theatre.7 → by hook or by crook8 hitting somebodyDSO a way of hitting your opponent in boxing, in which your elbow is bent → punch, jab9 → hook, line, and sinker → boat hook, curtain hook, → sling your hook at sling1(4)Examples from the Corpus
hook• You have to find a hook to sell a new show.• The helmet hung from a hook next to Turner's jersey.• This was the first place I ever caught fish on a hook and line.• Lacing uses conventional D-rings and hooks.• a fish hook• Hanging from hooks on the wall were sets of wire-pulling devices, complete with chain winch and gripper.• Jackson knocked Cooper down with a left hook to the body.• When no one deserves to get the hook, what criteria can we use to determine who does?• Parents were let off the hook.• Apologising for ourselves Apologising and being self-deprecating can let you off the hook.• I took off my coat and shoes, and walked into the sea with the hooks and ropes in my hands.hookhook2 ●○○ verb [transitive] 1 fishDSO to catch a fish with a hook I hooked a 20-pound salmon last week.2 fasten [always + adverb/preposition]FASTEN/DO UP to fasten or hang something onto something elsehook something onto/to something Just hook the bucket onto the rope and lower it down.3 bend your finger/arm etc [always + adverb/preposition]BEND to bend your finger, arm, or leg, especially so that you can pull or hold something else Ruth hooked her arm through Tony’s. He tried to hook his leg over the branch.4 interest/attract informalMEET to succeed in making someone interested in something or attracted to something cigarette ads designed to hook young people5 electronic equipment [always + adverb/preposition] (also hook up) to connect a piece of electronic equipment to another piece of equipment or to an electricity supply → hook-up We’ve got a CD player, but it’s not hooked up yet.hook something together Computers from different manufacturers can often be hooked together.6 ball to throw or kick a ball so that it moves in a curve → hook up with somebody/something→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
hook• Only one strap of his overalls was hooked.• I hooked a 14-inch rainbow trout.• The ball just hooked a little bit to the left.• A young man sat slumped there, his index finger hooked down into his water glass, stirring the ice cubes around.• I believe it was the fact that the preaching was truly expository that hooked him.• Banks used to give away toasters and stuff to hook new customers.• Gorman stood there holding his hat, his umbrella hooked on his wrist.• While there he begged a look around a semi-derelict Dakota and realised he was hooked on propliners!• He reached out with his umbrella and hooked the hat back.• All the computers in the office are hooked together.• Alvin and I just sort of hooked up.• Clients who are truly hooked will go to any length to meet their dealers' demands.From Longman Business Dictionaryhookhook1 /hʊk/ verb [transitive]1American English informal to succeed in attracting someoneThese tactics have helped hook such big clients as Coca-Cola.2to connect one piece of electronic equipment to another piece of equipment or to an electricity supplyhook something to/into somethingHook one of the telephone lines to the fax machine. → hook into something → hook something → up → hook up to something → hook up with somebody/something→ See Verb tablehookhook2 noun [countable]1MARKETING something that attracts customersFree hotel rooms are one of the hooks designed to bring in new clients.2off the hook if a person or business is off the hook, they are allowed to get out of a difficult situation, especially one they might have been punished forThe broker isn’t off the hook yet for the security violations.3be on the hook (for something) American English to have to pay for something, especially something that is not really your responsibilityTwo dozen banks are on the hook for at least $100 million each.Origin hook1 Old English hoc 