off the hook
US /ɔf ðə hʊk/
UK /ɔf ðə hʊk/
1.
擺脫困境, 免除責任
free from a difficult situation or obligation
:
•
I was really busy, but luckily my colleague let me off the hook for that meeting.
我真的很忙，但幸運的是我的同事讓我擺脫了那次會議。
•
After paying the fine, he was finally off the hook.
交了罰款後，他終於擺脫了困境。
2.
佔線, 聽筒未掛好
(of a telephone receiver) not in its proper place, preventing the phone from receiving calls
:
•
I tried to call you, but your phone was off the hook.
我試著給你打電話，但你的電話佔線了。
•
The constant ringing stopped when someone finally put the receiver back on the hook.
當有人最終把聽筒放回掛鉤上時，持續的鈴聲停止了。