| 词源 |
give the hook. Amateurs competing in early vaudeville tal- ent nights were sometimes difficult to coax off the stage no matter how unfavorably the audience reacted to their perfor- mances. In order to prevent egg and tomato damage to the theater, all obstinate hams were yanked offstage and into the wings before the audience got violent. The instrument used was a long pole with a hook on the end, which inspired the ex- pression to give the hook. Today the phrase is used to describe anyone fired for incompetence. See get the hook. |