on the hop

The idiom 'on the hop' has versatile meanings, often implying unexpected activity or surprise, with regional variations like truancy in Ireland.

🇺🇸 US Voice:

🇬🇧 UK Voice:

Definition

B2General

(informal)In a state of being busy or active, often without prior planning.

Example

I've been on the hop all day, running errands and attending meetings.

B2General

(informal, British English)Caught by surprise or unprepared.

Example

The sudden change in plans really caught me on the hop.

B2Ireland

(informal, slang)Skipping school without permission.

Example

He was on the hop again today, missing all his classes.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "on the hop":

caught on the hop on the jump hop into hop on on the hoof bunny hop hop up hopped up jump on hop the twig on the fly jump about on the trot hop off bunny hopper jump around frog jump jump up hit and hope jump in bounce around on the ball fence hopper on the wing in stride bounce off on the come on the front foot on the spot hippy jump at the double shoot from the hip on the run over the fence jump off skip rope on the up on the turn jump out on tiptoe