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

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Donahue contends the exemptions created in the bill are going to leave towns, cities and the state on the hook for an expensive cleanup. Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 17 Oct. 2025 The Riverside Church, however, may be on the hook for tens of millions of dollars. Luke Cyphers, Sportico.com, 17 Oct. 2025 Argentina is now on the hook for nearly half of all the IMF’s non-concessional lending in the world. Mark Weisbrot, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025 Taxpayers are on the hook for the city’s half of the project, at $91 million with costs expected to increase due to federal tariffs that are driving up construction material costs, according to the mayor. Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 15 Oct. 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 24 Oct. 2025.

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