hitch

Everyday

1. (noun) A small problem that delays something, as in «a technical hitch». tree →
2. (verb) To fasten something to something else, as in «hitch the horse to the cart» or «hitch a trailer to the car». tree →
3. (verb) To pull something up quickly, as in «He hitched up his trousers». tree →
4. (informal) To hitchhike: to get a free ride by asking drivers, as in «hitch a ride». tree →
5. (noun) A kind of knot used to tie a rope to a post or ring. tree →
6. (informal) «Get hitched» means get married. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life, «without a hitch» means everything went smoothly. In scouts and guides, children learn knots such as the clove hitch. In stories of the Wild West, cowboys hitch horses outside the saloon. Safety: children must never hitch rides with strangers.

Examples

• The school play went off without a hitch. tree →
• There was a technical hitch, so the film started late. tree →
• Dad hitched the caravan to the car. tree →
• He hitched up his socks before the race. tree →
• We practised tying a clove hitch at scouts. tree →
• Never hitch a ride with a stranger. tree →
• My aunt and uncle got hitched in Dublin. tree →

Note

Regular verb; «hitches» with -es. «Without a hitch» = perfectly. «Hitchhike» / «hitchhiker» is the full word. «Get hitched» is informal.