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
That left the sales team on the hook for an unwieldy volume of make-good units, some of which were carved out of the subsequent Alabama-Clemson title game.
—
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 8 Jan. 2026
The contract is prorated, meaning the Blue Jackets will be on the hook for approximately $500,000 for the rest of the season.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2026
Taxpayers are on the hook for half the costs, which are expected to exceed the $91 million figure estimated by the Wu administration in December of 2024, due to federal tariffs that the mayor says are driving up construction costs.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 5 Jan. 2026
To make matters worse, while private schools take the funding, Orange County Public Schools remains on the hook for providing special education services to some of those very same charter and private school students.
—Dick Batchelor, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
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Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 8 Jan. 2026
The contract is prorated, meaning the Blue Jackets will be on the hook for approximately $500,000 for the rest of the season.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2026
Taxpayers are on the hook for half the costs, which are expected to exceed the $91 million figure estimated by the Wu administration in December of 2024, due to federal tariffs that the mayor says are driving up construction costs.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 5 Jan. 2026
To make matters worse, while private schools take the funding, Orange County Public Schools remains on the hook for providing special education services to some of those very same charter and private school students.
—Dick Batchelor, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for on the hook for
Cite this Entry
“On the hook for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20hook%20for. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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