/hʊk ||; hυk/noun[C] 1 a curved piece of metal, plastic, etc that is used for hanging sth on or for catching fish 钩；鱼钩: Put your coat on the hook over there. 把你的外套挂在那边的钩子上。a fish-hook 鱼钩
2 (used in boxing) a way of hitting sb that is done with the arm bent （拳击比赛）钩拳: a right hook (= with the right arm) 右钩拳
off the hook (used about the top part of a telephone) not in position, so that telephone calls cannot be received （指电话听筒）没有挂好（因此电话打不进来）
get/let sb off the hook(
informal 非正式) to free yourself or sb else from a difficult situation or punishment 使摆脱困境或惩罚:
My father paid the money I owed and got me off the hook. 爸爸帮我还了债，为我解了围。