hoist

Everyday

1. To lift or pull something heavy up, often with ropes or a machine, as in «hoist the sails». tree →
2. To raise a flag up a pole. tree →
3. (noun) A machine for lifting heavy things or people, as in «a hospital hoist». tree →
4. (informal) To lift yourself or someone else up, as in «Dad hoisted me onto his shoulders». tree →

In the lessons

In history and stories of pirates and sailors: «Hoist the sails!» and «Hoist the Jolly Roger!». In science lessons, pulleys help hoist heavy loads with less effort. In everyday life, care homes and hospitals use a hoist to lift people safely. In a phrase: «hoist with his own petard» means caught by your own trick.

Examples

• The sailors hoisted the sails. tree →
• They hoisted the flag on the school's sports day. tree →
• A crane hoisted the steel beams onto the roof. tree →
• Dad hoisted me onto his shoulders to watch the parade. tree →
• The nurse used a hoist to lift the patient. tree →
• A pulley makes it easier to hoist a heavy bucket. tree →
• His brothers hoisted the stone to a great height, and then cut the rope. tree →

Note

Regular verb: hoisted. «Hoist» (not «hoisted») is also an old past form in the phrase «hoist with his own petard». Close words: «lift», «raise», «haul».