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[hat] /hæt/
Roman Catholic Church.
  1. the distinctive head covering of a cardinal.
  2. the office or dignity of a cardinal.
    Compare red hat.
verb (used with object), hatted, hatting.
to provide with a hat; put a hat on.
hat in hand, humbly; respectfully:
He approached the boss, hat in hand.
We took off our hats to their courage and daring.
under one's hat, confidential; private; secret:
Origin of hat
Related forms
hatless, adjective
hatlessness, noun
hatlike, adjective Unabridged
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British Dictionary definitions for throw one's hat in the ring


  2. (in combination): hatrack
(informal) a role or capacity
at the drop of a hat, without hesitation or delay
hat in hand, humbly or servilely
keep something under one's hat, to keep something secret
(interjection) (Brit, informal) my hat
  1. my word! my goodness!
  2. nonsense!
old hat, something stale or old-fashioned
out of a hat
  1. as if by magic
  2. at random
take off one's hat to, to admire or congratulate
talk through one's hat
  1. to talk foolishly
  2. to deceive or bluff
verb hats, hatting, hatted
Derived Forms
hatless, adjective
hatlike, adjective
Word Origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for throw one's hat in the ring




Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Slang definitions & phrases for throw one's hat in the ring

throw down

verb phrase

  1. To threaten or challenge; start trouble: I told him about Sam throwing down on me with a gun/ irate macho mesomorphs about to throw down (1950s+)
  2. To challenge a rival break dancer by performing a particularly difficult feat or gyration (1980s+ Black teenagers)
  3. To have fun; get down, party: I'm going to throw down at the party Saturday night (1980s+ Teenagers)
  4. To eat, esp voraciously: threw down some burgers

[first two senses perhaps fr late 1800s throw down on, ''aim one's pistol at''; perhaps fr throw down the gauntlet, ''issue a challenge,'' found by 1548]

Copyright (C) 2007 by HarperCollins Publishers.
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throw one's hat in the ring in the Bible


Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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Idioms and Phrases with throw one's hat in the ring

throw one's hat in the ring

Also, toss one's hat in the ring. Announce one's candidacy or enter a contest, as in The governor was slow to throw his hat in the ring in the senatorial race. This term comes from boxing, where throwing a hat in the ring formerly indicated a challenge; today the idiom nearly always refers to political candidacy. [ c. 1900 ]
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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