that made a customer very angry and my boss really hung me out to dry ! leave someone hanging—(coll.) keep smb. waiting for a deci- sion or answer: When Amal had to leave for work, he left his exciting story unfinished. We were frustrated that he left us hanging . hang up one’s fiddle • hang up one’s fiddle at the door hang up one’s fiddle—(dated) retire from business; give up an undertaking: I could see plain enough that it was time for me to hang up my fiddle . hang up one’s fiddle at the door—(UK dated) cease to be cheerful when in the company of one’s family: Jim is a happy man when he is with the boys, but he hangs the fiddle at the door when he gets home. happy day • happy days happy day—the day of marriage ceremony: “When’s the happy day ?” Cubitt said and they all smiled. happy days —is used as a toast: “Happy days !” cried Mobbs. “Cheers!” said the Major gloomily. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase heavenly days—(exclam.) used to express amazement and disbelief with negative coloring: Heavenly days ! Look what hap- pened. The dog did it again on the Persian carpet! Happy Families • happy family Happy Families—a game played with a pack of special cards: The well-known game of Happy Families is nothing but a variation of Spade the Gardener. happy family1. said of a group of people living together in harmony: All the Ashkenazic tribes lived very much like a happy family . 2. (Austral.) a popular name of the grey-crowned babbler: From their habit of associating in flocks, they are known as the “Twelve Apostles,” a name also shared in some parts with that of “Happy Family .” hard at it • hard put to it hard at it—very busy; working industriously: When we got to the field, the farmer and his son were already hard at it . hard put to it—find it very difficult to do smth.: Developing countries are hard put to it to raise the capital even for cheaper, though more pollutive, technologies. hard at something • hard on something hard at something—working diligently on smth.: She was hard at her lessons when we entered the room. hard on something—treating smth. severely or harshly: These rough roads are hard on your shoes. hard cash • hard coin hard cash—(also: hard money) money in its proper form, as distinguished from checks, etc.: Not enough pilots seem ready to lay out hard cash for weather and flight-planning informa- tion. hard coin —(U.S. sl.) lots of money: Old Freddie is earning some hard coin these days. hard drink • hard drinking hard drink—(of liquor) intoxicating; strong: With a hard drink in the hand the day lengthens and softens. Cf.: soft drink—a nonalcoholic, flavored, carbonated beverage: Sugary soft drinks have been given much of the blame for overweight children. hard drinking—indulging in alcohol to excess: It seemed as though no student’s education was complete without a spell of hard drinking in the Montparnasse cafes. hard for someone • hard on someone hard for someone—difficult for a person: It is hard for me to recall a face or a person’s appearance. hard on someone—treating smb. severely or harshly: You mustn’t be so hard on the poor child. hard-headed • soft-headed hard-headed—1. rational and shrewd, not influenced by sen- timents: She was hard-headed enough to be practical about the situation. 2. self-willed and obstinate: I was so hard- headed , I wouldn’t admit to being wrong even if I was at gun- point. soft-headed—(coll.) foolish: Saying that someone else is soft- headed is no way to convince people of anything. hard labor • hard work hard labor—imprisonment with hard physical work as a punishment: Glynn was sentenced to three months hard labor , but won an appeal. hard work—1. difficult and tiring work: It has been hard work to establish order here. 2. (coll.) said of smb. who is difficult to deal with: I had to sit next to Frank at dinner. I don’t know about you, but I find him such hard work . hard line • hard lines hard line—unyielding adherence to a firm policy: The hard line adopted by Australia’s conservative government proved popular among voters. hard lines —1. bad luck; misfortune: It was hard lines indeed for Mr. Watson to meet with such a demon of a hare. 2. (exclam.) is used to show sympathy and understanding: I’m not getting a holiday this year.” “Hard lines on you!” hard line money • hard money hard line money(Nautical) extra pay in consideration of special hardships (also: hard-lying money): Besides, there is hard- line money , which makes up for a good many discomforts. hard money—1. (also: hard cash) money in its proper form, as distinguished from checks, etc.: Husbandmen, like other laborers, are paid in hard money by the week. 2. a currency with a high exchange value, not easily subject to depreciation: International speculators trashed the ruble, Russia’s national currency, and looted the country’s hard-money reserves. 3. (also: tight money) money available to borrowers at high interest rates and short payback: Due to the immense amount of loans, the bank had a significant lack of “hard money ” available to its users. 4. (U.S.) political donations to party organizations subject to legal restrictions: Parties and candidates may use hard money donations for all political purposes. Note: The expression does not fully correlate in meaning with the phrase hard currency— = hard money 2: The trade imbal- ance and the drain of gold and hard currency reserves have lessened. See also: soft currency / soft money. hard nut to crack • hard row to hoe hard nut to crack—(also: tough nut to crack) 1. a difficult problem or task to undertake: Opinions vary, but the consen- sus is that the target is a hard nut to crack . 2. a difficult person to deal with: We all know that President Mugabe is not an easy man to bend. He is a hard nut to crack . Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase crack a nut—(UK dated) drink a glass of liquor: When a fresh guest arrived he was met by the laird, who made him “crack a nut ,” that is, drink a silver-mounted cocoanut-shell full of claret. hard row to hoe(also: tough row to hoe) = hard nut to crack 1: Even without money problems, many divorced single parents have a hard row to hoe . hang up one’s fiddle – 160 –