on the hook

== English == === Pronunciation === === Prepositional phrase === on the hook (literally) Of an animal, slaughtered for food. Antonym: on the hoof (informal, idiomatic) In debt; obligated to pay or provide; liable; responsible or blamed. Antonym: off the hook ==== Usage notes ==== The idiomatic sense is often followed by the preposition for. ==== Translations ==== === References === “on the hook”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.