Expression with the word hot

In this English lesson, you will learn some interesting English expressions with the  word “HOT”, Hot usually refers to the weather or the temperature.  However, when this word is used in combination with some other words you get some really interesting English expressions that you can adopt in your everyday English communication..

Let’s look at what they are:

1) Hotline-a telephone line that gives quick and direct access to help or information

Different types of hotlines include Child protection services, Book my show,911 or a tourism hotline.

Eg: You can call the hotline for all the information you will need when you are on your vacation.  (As you can see this hotline refers to all the travel information you can get while you’re on holiday).

2) Hotbed-a place that provides very good conditions for something to grow and develop fully or in a wholesome way

Eg: Our Company is a hotbed for innovation.  The management always rewards people who come up with ideas that are out of the ordinary.

3) Hotshot-someone very skilled successful, might be arrogant showing off their success

Eg: She is some hotshot actress who rose to fame after some reality show she starred in

4) Hotheaded-easily angered

Eg: As children we were afraid of our father who was very hotheaded.  He would yell at us when we made the slightest mistakes

5) Selling like hotcakes-Referred to products which are sold very fast in the market and those which are very profitable

Eg: The new Apple iphone was selling like hotcakes.  The company grossed over 30 million in the first week of its launch.

6) Hotspot-This word has two different meaning and therefore, can be used in two different ways

A lively place which is popular (nightclub, coffee shop, busy tourist place)

Eg: Central Perk is apparently the hotspot on this side of the town.  We can talk over a cup of coffee over there after we’ve finished work.

An area with lots of violence, war, tension and conflict (strip of Gaza, border of Jammu-Kashmir)

Eg: After the Palestine war, the strip of Gaza which is a hotspot for violence is now considered to be uninhabitable.  Civilians are moving and to find safer accommodation facilities.

7) Hot button issues-a controversial topic makes people angry, passionate or emotional discussing about it (Sexuality, Abortion, Religion, Vegetarianism)

Eg: It’s better to keep hot button issues out of the way while conducting an interview.

Hot off the press-Newly released book or a book that has been recently printed and released

Eg: Harry Potter fans were waiting in line outside the store to get their hands on the last book of their favorite author which came hot off the press today morning.

9) Full of hot air-a person who takes too much nonsense, a person who shouldn’t be taken seriously

Eg: Please ignore Mr.Waters, he is just full of hot air.

10) In hot water-getting in trouble for doing something wrong

Eg: You better study well or you will be in hot water when your exams approach.

11) Having the hots for someone-being romantically or Sexually attracted to someone.

Eg: Poor Harry had the hots for his neighbor ever since he was 19, but was too shy to do anything about it.

12) Hot on someone’s heels-someone is following closely behind

Eg: The thief won’t get too far; the police are hot on their heels since last night.

We are having a very hot summer, in fact we do nothing but talk about how hot it is every day and we are always waiting for the weather forecast in case they tell us that the temperatures are going to drop a little. Unfortunately, just when we think we have reached the limit of heat that can be withstood, we realise that the temperature can still rise a few more degrees.

What can we do about it? Well, we can be patient, look for cool places, if there are any, and repeat over and over again that this ordeal will soon be over.

In the meantime, we’ll learn English, which won’t help to cool us down, but at least it will distract us a bit from the unbearable heat.

Expressions to describe how hot it is.

We are having quite a heatwave (a period of unusually hot weather, especially one that continues for a long time), and when this happens we say that it is extremely hot, it’s boiling / scorching / baking / roasting hot. We can say that «it looks like we are in for a hot one» when we want to express that it will soon be very hot; or that «the sun is beating down«, which means that the sun shines very brightly and the weather is hot. When we enter a place and we want to tell people that it’s hot outside, we can use the expression: «It’s a hot one out there».

When the heat is intense, humid and suffocating we say: «It’s muggy today» and we tend to «sweat buckets«. We will try to «beat the heat» as best we can, whether at the beach or at the swimming pool. Of course, let’s «stay out of the sun» in the middle of the day and protect our skin with a good sunscreen.

Now that we have talked about heat, it is time to learn other uses of the word hot, which is also found in certain expressions. Let’s look at some of them:

1. A hot issue / topic. A subject that a lot of people are discussing, especially one that causes a lot of disagreement.
Global warming has become a very hot topic over the last few years.

2. Hot off the press. Newly printed or published.
We’ve just received a copy of her latest book, hot off the press.

3. Blow hot and cold. To keep changing your attitude towards someone or something
I can’t tell what he wants — he keeps blowing hot and cold.

4. Get hot under the collar. To become angry – used especially when people get angry in an unreasonable way about something that is not important.
You don’t need to get hot under the collar. I didn’t mean to offend you.

5. Too hot to handle. Too difficult or dangerous to get involved with.
This situation is too hot to handle.

6. Hot and bothered. Upset and confused, for example because you have too much to do.
She was struggling with her bags and cases, looking hot and bothered.

7. Sell like hot cakes. To sell quickly and in large amounts.
These T-shirts are selling like hot cakes.

8. Get into hot water. To be in trouble because they have done something wrong.
You’ll get into hot water if you are caught cheating in an exam.

9. In the hot seat. In a position in which one must face intense questioning, criticism, punishment, or scrutiny.
The director will be in the hot seat for the recent scandal.

10. Be like a cat on hot bricks. To be anxious and unable to sit still or relax.
I will be like a cat on hot bricks till I know my marks.

Аудио-запись с сайта learningenglish.voanews.com

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Now, the VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.

Every language has its own special words and expressions. And a story can be told about each of them.

Hot is a simple, easily understood word. So are most of the expressions made with the word hot. But not always, as we shall see.

The words hot potato, for example, give you no idea at all to the meaning of the expression, hot potato.

The potato is a popular vegetable in the United States. Many people like baked potatoes, cooked in an oven or fire. Imagine trying to carry a hot, baked potato in your hand. It would be difficult, even painful, to do so.

Now we are getting close to the meaning of hot potato.

Some publicly disputed issues are highly emotional. The issues must be treated carefully, or they will be difficult and painful if an elected official has to deal with them. As difficult and painful as holding a hot potato.

One such hot potato is taxes.

Calling for higher taxes can mean defeat for a politician. And yet, if taxes are not raised, some very popular government programs could be cut. And that also can make a politician very unpopular. So the questions must be dealt with carefully, the same way you would handle any other hot potato.

Another expression is not so hot. If you ask someone how she feels, she may answer «not so hot.» What she means is she does not feel well.

Not so hot also is a way of saying that you do not really like something. You may tell a friend that the new play you saw last night is not so hot. That means you did not consider it a success.

A hot shot is a person, often a young person, who thinks he can do anything. At least he wants to try. He is very sure he can succeed. But often he fails. The expression was born in the military forces. A hot shot was a soldier who fired without aiming carefully.

Hot is a word that is often used to talk about anger.

A person who becomes angry easily is called a hothead. An angry person’s neck often becomes red. We say he is hot under the collar. You could say that your friend is no hothead. But he got hot under the collar when someone took his radio.

In nineteen sixty-three, hot line appeared as a new expression.

The hot line was a direct communications link between the leaders of the Soviet Union and the United States. The hot line had an important purpose: to prevent accidental war between the two competitors during the period known as the Cold War. The American president and the Soviet leader were able to communicate directly and immediately on the hot line. This helped prevent any conflict during an international crisis.

You have been listening to the VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. Our program was written by Marilyn Rice Christiano. I’m Warren Scheer.

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Горячеголовый горячий выстрел

А сейчас, специальная программа по изучению английского языка радио «Голос Америки» — «Слова и их истории происхождения».

В каждом языке есть свои собственные особые слова и выражения. И о каждом из них можно рассказать историю.

Горячий – простое, легко понятное слово. Как и большинство выражений со словом «горячий». Но не всегда, как мы увидим.

Слова «горячий картофель», к примеру, не дают нам представления о значении выражения «горячий картофель».

Картофель – популярный овощ в Соединенных Штатах. Многим людям нравится печеный картофель, приготовленный в духовке или на огне. Представьте, что Вы несете горячий, зажаренный картофель в руках. Это будет сложно, даже болезненно сделать.

Теперь мы подходим ближе к значению выражения «горячий картофель».

Некоторые публично обсуждаемые темы высоко эмоциональны. Этих тем следует касаться осторожно, иначе для избираемого представителя власти они могут оказаться сложными или болезненными. Такими же сложными и болезненными, как удержание горячего картофеля в руках.

Одна из таких «горячих картофелин» — тема налогов.

Призыв к повышению налогов может означать поражение для политика. И тем не менее, если не поднять налоги, некоторые очень популярные правительственные программы придется урезать. А это также сделает политика крайне непопулярным. Поэтому этих вопросов следует касаться осторожно, так же, как обращаться с любым другим «горячим картофелем».

Другое выражение не настолько «горячее». Если Вы спросите кого-то, как она себя чувствует, она может ответить «не так горячо». Это значит, что она чувствует себя не очень хорошо.

«Не так горячо» — это также способ сказать, что Вам что-то не особенно нравится. Вы можете сказать другу, что новая пьеса, которую Вы смотрели прошлым вечером, не очень горячая. Это значит, что Вы не считаете ее успешной.

Горячий выстрел – это человек, обычно молодой, который считает, что может сделать все. Как минимум, он хочет попытаться. Он абсолютно уверен, что преуспеет. Но зачастую он проигрывает. Это выражение родилось в вооруженных силах. Горячий выстрел – солдат, который стреляет, не прицеливаясь тщательно.

Горячий – слово, часто используемое в разговорах о гневе.

Если человека легко разозлить, его называют «горячая голова». Шея разозленного человека часто становится красной. Мы говорим, что он горячий под воротником. Вы можете сказать, что Ваш друг – не горячая голова. Но он погорячел под воротником, когда кто-то взял его радио.

В 1963 году появилось новое выражение «горячая линия».

Горячая линия была прямой линией связи между лидерами Советского Союза и Соединенных Штатов. Горячая линия имела важную цель: предотвратить случайную войну между двумя соперничающими державами в период, известный как Холодная Война. Американский президент и лидер Советов могли связаться напрямую и немедленно по горячей линии. Это помогало предотвратить любой конфликт во время международного кризиса.

Вы слушали специальную программу по изучению английского языка радио «Голос Америки» «Слова и их истории происхождения». Наша программа была написана Мэрилин Райс Кристиано. С вами был Уоррен Шир.

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горячий, жаркий, горячо, жарко, горячить, нагревать, пустая болтовня

прилагательное ↓

наречие ↓

глагол

- разг. (тж. hot up) разогревать, подогревать, нагревать
- разжигать, раздувать; усиливать
- оживлять, вливать новую жизнь

Словосочетания

a hot young guitar player — страстный молодой гитарист  
a hot piece of software — обалденная программа  
one of the hot young talents — один из этих юных дарований  
a hot week on the stock market — горячая неделя на фондовом рынке  
to bend hot — гнуть в горячем состоянии  
hot-water bottle — грелка  
a journal box is hot — букса горит  
to go / sell like hot cakes — раскупаться, продаваться нарасхват  
to drink hot chocolate — выпить горячего шоколада  
to get hot under the collar — рассердиться, выйти из себя  
fanny full of hot tea — полная кружка горячего чая  
hot-air furnace — печь, работающая на горячем воздухе  

Примеры с переводом

Примеры, ожидающие перевода

Фразовые глаголы

hot up — нагревать, подогревать, усиливать, разжигать, усиливаться, раскаляться

Возможные однокоренные слова

hotty  — грелка
hotly  — горячо, жарко, пылко, страстно, остро, с перцем, с жаром, взволнованно
hottish  — довольно горячий

Формы слова

adjective
срав. степ. (comparative): hotter
прев. степ. (superlative): hottest

A lot of English idioms refer to heat, but not all ‘hot idioms‘ are actually about temperature.

Heat idioms like ‘hot potato’ and ‘in hot water’ can’t be taken literally. If you want to understand them, you must learn the meaning of each one individually.

So, here is a list of idioms about heat, with meanings and example sentences for each one. But before that, let’s look at some of the most common meanings of ‘hot’ in English.

Before we get onto some hot idioms, it’s important to understand some common meanings of the word ‘hot’ in English.

This is because some phrases using ‘hot’ might look like idioms, but they are in fact just regular uses of the word ‘hot’ in its different definitions.

The most common meaning of the word ‘hot’ is to refer to high temperature – the opposite of ‘cold’. But here are some other meanings you might not know:

• Spicy; causing a burning sensation in the mouth: a hot curry, hot sauce
• Intense in emotion: a hot temper
• Arousing interest, excitement or controversy: a hot topic, a hot discussion
• Wanted by the police: a hot suspect
• Currently successful or popular: hot new talent, hot fashion
• The most favored: a hot tip, a hot favorite
• Following closely: in hot pursuit
• Sexually attractive (slang): a hot date, a hot guy, hot stuff

We could go on… in fact there are more than 20 ways to use the word ‘hot’ – and that’s before we even start looking at heat idioms or describing the weather. Many idioms about summer also refer to the fact that it is the hottest season of the year.

The point is, if you see the word ‘hot’ used to describe something and you’re unsure of the correct meaning, it may be an idiom or it may just be one of the many definitions of ‘hot’.

In hot water

In hot water means in trouble as the result of doing something wrong.

“I can’t stay out any longer or I’ll be in hot water with my Mum.”
“The angry email that Yolanda sent to her boss has landed her in hot water.”

This is a well-known water idiom, but there are many more for you to discover.

In the hot seat

To be in the hot seat is to be in a position where you face scrutiny or judgment and have to answer difficult questions. It can also mean that you are in a position of making hard but important decisions.

“Our CEO is in the hot seat after that news story about poor working conditions.”
“After Clive resigned as chairman of the cricket club, Alan stepped up to the hot seat.”

A variant of this heat idiom used in American English is on the hot seat.

Hot to trot

Be careful how you use the idiom hot to trot. On the one hand, it can mean impatient and eager to do something. But it may also be used as a slang term meaning sexually aroused or arousing.

“We have a day out at the zoo planned tomorrow and the kids are hot to trot.”
“That girl in the blue dress looks hot to trot.”

If you think your meaning may be misinterpreted, it’s best to avoid using this one!

Hot shot

The idiom hot shot may be used as a noun or an adjective. It describes someone who is very confident and successful.

“I hear that Darius has become a hot shot in the world of medicine.”
“Sounds like you’ll need to hire a hot-shot lawyer if you want to get any compensation for the accident.”

This is often used as a derogatory term for someone who is too self-confident and who shows off their success.

Hot potato

A hot potato is a controversial or sensitive issue which nobody wants to deal with. It keeps getting passed from one person to another (like a potato which is too hot to hold).

“Tax rises have been a hot potato for years, but the new governor isn’t afraid to address the matter.”

You can discover some more food idioms in our separate guide.

Hot and bothered

Hot and bothered relates to a flustered or anxious state. It could be caused by heat, by stress, or by some other aggravating factor.

“There’s no need to get so hot and bothered just deciding what to wear tonight!”

Note that we often use this hot idiom when we think that the person is overreacting.

In the heat of the moment

If you do something in the heat of the moment, you do it based on impulse and emotion rather than thinking about it rationally and considering the consequences.

“The couple were arguing, and in the heat of the moment they both said things they didn’t really mean.”

Hot under the collar

Someone who gets hot under the collar is someone who becomes angry easily, or who gets irritated about things which aren’t really important.

“Why do you always get so hot under the collar when we’re out shopping?”
“My new co-worker seems quite hot under the collar. I’d better be careful how I speak to him.”

Find more idioms about anger in our separate post.

Hot off the press

We say that news is hot of the press when it is very new and fresh. It could be a news story or some gossip that’s being passed around.

“I have some news about Lilly’s new boyfriend, hot off the press!”
“Hot off the press, we have an update about the new royal baby.”

This idiom originally referred to physical printing presses, which slightly heat paper as they print on it. But nowadays, it can refer to any kind of publishing, including online news.

Hot on the trail

To be hot on the trail of something or someone is to be close to finding it or them.

“The dog sped off, hot on the trail of the squirrel.”
“The police are hot on the trail of the thief.”

Dead heat

A dead heat is a competition in which the opponents or teams are so closely matched that there is no definitive winner.

“After much anticipation, the match ended in a dead heat.”

Another word for this hot idiom is a tie.

Like a cat on a hot tin roof

We say that someone is like a cat on a hot tin roof when they are restless, anxious, and unable to relax or sit still.

“Jessie was like a cat on a hot tin roof waiting for her date to pick her up.”

An alternative term is like a cat on hot bricks. Would you like some more idioms with cats?

More (of something) than you’ve had hot dinners

If someone says “I’ve had more … than you’ve had hot dinners“, it simply means they have had a lot of that thing.

“I’ve had more cars than you’ve had hot dinners!”

You can switch around the people referred to in each part of this expression:

“Kelly has has more girlfriends than I’ve had hot dinners lately!”

Strike while the iron is hot

To strike while the iron is hot means to take advantage of an opportunity immediately, while you have the chance.

“This deal seems too good to be true. I think we should strike while the iron’s hot.”

This hot idiom originates in blacksmithing. The metal iron is only malleable when it is hot, so a blacksmith must work on it as soon as it comes out of the fire.

Sell like hot cakes

When something sells like hot cakes it sells very quickly.

“These new handbags are selling like hot cakes. You’d better get one before they’re gone.”

Discover more money idioms about buying and selling.

Turn up the heat

To turn up the heat (on someone or something) means to put increased pressure on them or it.

“The detective had to turn up the heat when the suspect wouldn’t talk.”
“We’re going to have to turn up the heat on our sales team this quarter.”

Take the heat off someone

Conversely, to take the heat off (someone or something) means to relieve the pressure placed on them or it.

“The government is about to announce emergency measures to take the heat off the economy.”

Can’t take the heat

If you can’t take the heat, you are unable to handle the pressure put on your in a particular situation.

“Michael’s failure to reach the semi-finals proved that he can’t take the heat of a tournament.”

The opposite could be described as keeping your cool. Find this and other cool idioms in our separate article.

That’s all for our list of hot idioms. Did you find them useful? If you can think of any others, you’re welcome to share them below.