hatch

Everyday

1. To hatch is for a baby bird, reptile or fish to break out of its egg. tree →
2. To hatch an egg is for the egg to open and the baby come out. tree →
3. To hatch a plan is to make a secret plan. tree →
4. A hatch is a small door or opening in a floor, wall, ship or plane. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons pupils watch chicks or butterflies hatch and learn life cycles: egg → chick → hen; caterpillars hatch from eggs too. In stories children hatch a plan or climb through a hatch into the loft. Phrases: hatch out, hatch a plan, escape hatch, don't count your chickens before they've hatched.

Examples

• The chick hatched out of its egg. tree →
• Turtle eggs hatch in the warm sand. tree →
• Three eggs hatched this morning. tree →
• They hatched a plan to surprise Mum. tree →
• Climb up through the hatch into the attic. tree →
• The submarine's hatch closed. tree →
• Don't count your chickens before they've hatched. tree →
• Do not count your chickens before they are hatched. tree →

Note

Regular verb (hatched). Plural noun: hatches (add -es). The proverb means don't be sure of good results before they really happen. In maths, «12 eggs, 9 hatched» means 3 did not hatch.

In Jewish tradition

Used for snakes and nests, as in Isaiah, meaning to bring forth young; also for wicked people hatching evil plans.

Interpretation. Isaiah pictures wicked plans as deadly eggs, and the ruined land is left to wild creatures.

Examples

• They hatch basilisks' eggs, and weave the spider's web; he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper. (Prophets ISA.59.5, JPS 1917) tree →
• There shall the arrowsnake make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and brood under her shadow; yea, there shall the kites be gathered, every one with her mate. (Prophets ISA.34.15, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Regular verb (hatched). Plural noun: hatches (add -es). The proverb means don't be sure of good results before they really happen. In maths, «12 eggs, 9 hatched» means 3 did not hatch.