go hat in hand
to humbly ask someone for something
TRANSLATION
go hat in hand = demütig um etwas bitten, mit dem Hute in der Hand… --- GOOGLE INDEX go hat in hand: approximately 5,300,000 Google hits
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
He told the BBC World Service's Business Daily that the IMF often GOES HAT IN HAND to emerging markets for money.
(BBC News)
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With the economy growing again — but unemployment stuck at double-digit levels — states and municipalities across the U.S. are scrambling to attract anyone with hiring plans, even if that means GOING HAT IN HAND to the same bunch that have been responsible for hundreds of thousands of jobs going overseas.
(BusinessWeek magazine)
(BBC News)
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With the economy growing again — but unemployment stuck at double-digit levels — states and municipalities across the U.S. are scrambling to attract anyone with hiring plans, even if that means GOING HAT IN HAND to the same bunch that have been responsible for hundreds of thousands of jobs going overseas.
(BusinessWeek magazine)
Did you
know?
go hat in hand/cap in hand
idiom
- to ask someone in a polite and sincere way for something, especially money or to be forgiven
(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)
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If one believes the media, there are no gentlemen in the world today. Actress Joan Collins put it this way: "Gone are the days when a gentleman lightly took your hand in his and brushed his lips across it, or tipped his hat to acknowledge you as he chivalrously stepped aside to let you pass. Comedian Fred Allen had another view: "A gentleman is any man who wouldn't hit a woman with his hat on."
Men and hats have a long history. And there was indeed a time when many men would not be seen on the street without a hat. Even men of less means, whether homeless or very poor, used to wear hats. For such people, hats were also used to collect money on the street by doffing them in a show of respect and humility. Thus the expression "hat/cap in hand" means to ask for something in a humble manner.
Taking off your hat can also mean that you admire and respect someone for something they have done (Hats off to the IT department for a job well done!).
If you feel surprised about something, then simply "eat your hat" (If the the project is finished on on time, I'll eat my hat).
Need to warn someone about something? Then, "hang on to your hat" (Hang on to your hats, we're switching to a new IT system over the weekend!).
If you've had enough of work and are old enough to retire, then hang up your hat (John is hanging up his hat after 30 years with the company).
If you don't want anyone to know you are planning on retiring however, keep it under your hat (John kept his retirement plans under his hat until last week).
Your colleagues will likely think you made a sudden decision for no apparent reason (I can't believe John just retired at the drop of a hat!)
Need extra money for retirement? Just pass the hat around the office before you go (We're passing the hat around for John's retirement present).
if that doesn't work, you may have to just find a surprising solution to your financial problem (I'm not sure where John got that money for his retirement home on the coast. He must have pulled a rabbit out of a hat).
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SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"If you want a pay raise, you'll have to go hat in hand to the boss."
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Thanks to Hans for suggesting today's word!
idiom
- to ask someone in a polite and sincere way for something, especially money or to be forgiven
(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)
---
If one believes the media, there are no gentlemen in the world today. Actress Joan Collins put it this way: "Gone are the days when a gentleman lightly took your hand in his and brushed his lips across it, or tipped his hat to acknowledge you as he chivalrously stepped aside to let you pass. Comedian Fred Allen had another view: "A gentleman is any man who wouldn't hit a woman with his hat on."
Men and hats have a long history. And there was indeed a time when many men would not be seen on the street without a hat. Even men of less means, whether homeless or very poor, used to wear hats. For such people, hats were also used to collect money on the street by doffing them in a show of respect and humility. Thus the expression "hat/cap in hand" means to ask for something in a humble manner.
Taking off your hat can also mean that you admire and respect someone for something they have done (Hats off to the IT department for a job well done!).
If you feel surprised about something, then simply "eat your hat" (If the the project is finished on on time, I'll eat my hat).
Need to warn someone about something? Then, "hang on to your hat" (Hang on to your hats, we're switching to a new IT system over the weekend!).
If you've had enough of work and are old enough to retire, then hang up your hat (John is hanging up his hat after 30 years with the company).
If you don't want anyone to know you are planning on retiring however, keep it under your hat (John kept his retirement plans under his hat until last week).
Your colleagues will likely think you made a sudden decision for no apparent reason (I can't believe John just retired at the drop of a hat!)
Need extra money for retirement? Just pass the hat around the office before you go (We're passing the hat around for John's retirement present).
if that doesn't work, you may have to just find a surprising solution to your financial problem (I'm not sure where John got that money for his retirement home on the coast. He must have pulled a rabbit out of a hat).
---
SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"If you want a pay raise, you'll have to go hat in hand to the boss."
---
Thanks to Hans for suggesting today's word!
