sling one's hook

English

Pronunciation

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Verb

sling one's hook (third-person singular simple present slings one's hook, present participle slinging one's hook, simple past and past participle slung one's hook)

1. (idiomatic, derogatory, colloquial) To leave, depart, especially if forced to do so.
   • 1897, Richard Marsh, The Beetle:

     ‘I don’t want none of your apologies, and I don’t want none of you neither; I don’t like the looks of you, and so I tell you. Before I let anybody into my house you’ll have to sling your hook.’

   • 2005, Kevin Muir, Run For Freedom:

     Placing his hand on the doorknob he could hear his father's indignant voice: "If he's no job he can damn well sling his hook, he's not living under my roof free gratis, I want him out."

   • 2007 March 6, Julie Rutterford, Life on Mars, Season 2, Episode 3:

     Landlady: O'Brien? He don't live here any more. Not lived here for months. I made him sling his hook. Never paid his lodgings.