off the hook—
1. (of a telephone receiver) not on its rest:
- Another phone crossed Sneed’s mind, the one in his own flat with its receiver off the hook.
2. (of a telephone)—ringing incessantly:
- Ever since his name appeared in the newspapers his telephone has been ringing off the hook.
3. (coll.) no longer in difficulty or trouble:
- She was being kept by the senator, and now he’s off the hook, the hypocritical son of a bitch.
4. (sl.) excellent, fantastic:
- Wow, this party was off the hook! What else is there to say?
off the hooks—(sl.)
1. (dated) without delay; immediately:
- Baronets with twelve thousand a year cannot be married off the hooks.
2. out of humor; not feeling very well:
- I am not surprised to hear that he is ill; he has been off the hooks for the past week or so.
3. (dated) dead:
- He is dying; or dead probably by this time…. When old Golightly is off the hooks altogether, another guardian will be chosen.
See also: on one’s own hook / on the hook.