hither and thither
hither and yon
In one direction and then in another.
Bob wandered hither and thither looking for a playmate.
hold all the trumps
To have the best chance of winning; have all the advantages; have full control.
Most of the team wants John for captain and he is the best player. He will he elected captain because he holds all the trumps.
Freddy has a quarter and I have no money, so he holds all the trumps and can buy whatever he wants with it.
hold the bag
To be made liable for or victimized.
We went out to dinner together but when it was time to pay I was left holding the bag.
hold the fort
To defend a fort successfully; fight off attackers.
The little group held the fort for days until help came.
To keep a position against opposing forces.
Friends of civil liberties held the fort during a long debate.
to keep service or operations going.
It was Christmas Eve, and a few workers held the fort in the office.
Mother and Father went out and told the children to hold the fort.
hold the line
To keep a situation or trouble from getting worse; hold steady; prevent a setback or loss.
The mayor held the line on taxes.
The company held the line on employment.
hold the stage
To continue to be produced and to attract audiences.
"Peter Pan" holds the stage year after year at its annual Christmas showing in London.
To be active in a group; attract attention.
We had only an hour to discuss the question and Mr. Jones held the stage for most of it.
Jane likes to hold the stage at any party or meeting, so she does and says anything.
hole-in-the-wall
hole in the wall
A small place to live, stay in, or work in; a small, hidden, or inferior place.
The jewelry store occupied a tiny hole-in-the-wall.
When Mr. and Mrs. Green were first married, they lived in a little hole-in-fhe-wall in a cheap apartment building.
A tunnel.
Let's get through this hole in the wall, then we'll change seats.
horse of a different color
horse of another color
Something altogether separate and different.
Anyone can be broke, but to steal is a horse of a different color.
Do you mean that the boy with that pretty girl is her brother? I thought he was her boyfriend. Well, that's a horse of another color.