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on the hook for

idiom

US, informal
: owing money for (something) : responsible for (something)
He's still on the hook for the cost of the repairs.

Examples of on the hook for in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Since pension benefits promised to government workers are constitutionally protected, taxpayers are on the hook for that debt. Zachary Christensen, Oc Register, 23 Nov. 2025 The current financial regulations, known as Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR), have dragged Everton (twice), Nottingham Forest and Leicester City into legal battles and appeals since 2023, with the latter still on the hook for a potential points deduction. Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2025 Any crime exceeding $950 in damages could reportedly result in felony charges, with parents on the hook for paying the cost of their child’s actions. Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 19 Nov. 2025 But a recent Harvard Law School paper found that Virginia and Maryland ratepayers are on the hook for the lion’s share of transmission being built to accommodate, not residential customers, but Virginia’s data center growth. Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 14 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for on the hook for

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Cite this Entry

“On the hook for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20hook%20for. Accessed 3 Dec. 2025.

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